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At least 19 records

Relationship Between Radiation Dose and Markers of Insulin Resistance and Inflammation in Atomic Bomb Survivors

Abstract Context In recent studies of childhood cancer survivors, diabetes has been considered a late effect associated with high therapeutic doses of radiation therapy. Our recent study of atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors also suggested an association between radiation dose and diabetes incidence, with exposure city and age at exposure as radiation dose effect modifiers. Insulin resistance mediated by systemic inflammation and abnormal body composition has been suggested as a possible primary mechanism for the incidence of diabetes after total body irradiation; however, no studies have examined low to moderate radiation exposure (<4 Gy) and insulin resistance in A-bomb survivors. Objective To examine the association between radiation dose and markers of inflammation and insulin resistance. Methods This study investigated 3152 survivors who underwent a health examination between 2008 and 2012 and who were younger than 15 years at exposure. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the radiation effects on levels of markers of inflammation and insulin resistance. Results Radiation dose was significantly and positively associated with levels of C-reactive protein, triglycerides, homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β), and HOMA of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) after adjustment for relevant covariates including sex, city, and age at exposure. Adiponectin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were also associated significantly and negatively with radiation dose. However, city was not a dose modifier of the radiation response on these markers of inflammation and insulin resistance. Conclusion Insulin resistance might be a possible factor in radiation-related diabetes incidence in A-bomb survivors.

Endocrinology & Metabolism↗

Metabolomic profiles are reflective of hypoxia-induced insulin resistance during exercise in healthy young adult males

Hypoxia-induced insulin resistance appears to suppress exogenous glucose oxidation during metabolically matched aerobic exercise during acute (<8 h) high-altitude (HA) exposure. However, a better understanding of this metabolic dysregulation is needed to identify interventions to mitigate these effects. The objective of this study was to determine if differences in metabolomic profiles during exercise at sea level (SL) and HA are reflective of hypoxia-induced insulin resistance. Native lowlanders ( n = 8 males) consumed 145 g (1.8 g/min) of glucose while performing 80-min of metabolically matched treadmill exercise at SL (757 mmHg) and HA (460 mmHg) after 5-h exposure. Exogenous glucose oxidation and glucose turnover were determined using indirect calorimetry and dual tracer technique ([ 13 C]glucose and [6,6- 2 H 2 ]glucose). Metabolite profiles were analyzed in serum as change (Δ), calculated by subtracting postprandial/exercised state SL (ΔSL) and HA (ΔHA) from fasted, rested conditions at SL. Compared with SL, exogenous glucose oxidation, glucose rate of disappearance, and glucose metabolic clearance rate (MCR) were lower ( P < 0.05) during exercise at HA. One hundred and eighteen metabolites differed between ΔSL and ΔHA ( P < 0.05, Q < 0.10). Differences in metabolites indicated increased glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, amino acid catabolism, oxidative stress, and fatty acid storage, and decreased fatty acid mobilization for ΔHA. Branched-chain amino acids and oxidative stress metabolites, Δ3-methyl-2-oxobutyrate ( r = -0.738) and Δγ-glutamylalanine ( r = -0.810), were inversely associated ( P < 0.05) with Δexogenous glucose oxidation. Δ3-Hydroxyisobutyrate ( r = -0.762) and Δ2-hydroxybutyrate/2-hydroxyisobutyrate ( r = -0.738) were inversely associated ( P < 0.05) with glucose MCR. Coupling global metabolomics and glucose kinetic data suggest that the underlying cause for diminished exogenous glucose oxidative capacity during aerobic exercise is acute hypoxia-mediated peripheral insulin resistance.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Estrogen has opposing effects on vascular reactivity in obese, insulin-resistant male Zucker rats

We hypothesized that estradiol treatment would improve vascular dysfunction commonly associated with obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance. A sham operation or 17beta-estradiol pellet implantation was performed in male lean and obese Zucker rats. Maximal vasoconstriction (VC) to phenylephrine (PE) and potassium chloride was exaggerated in control obese rats compared with lean rats, but estradiol significantly attenuated VC in the obese rats. Estradiol reduced the PE EC50 in all groups. This effect was cyclooxygenase independent, because preincubation with indomethacin reduced VC response to PE similarly in a subset of control and estrogen-treated lean rats. Endothelium-independent vasodilation (VD) to sodium nitroprusside was similar among groups, but endothelium-dependent VD to ACh was significantly impaired in obese compared with lean rats. Estradiol improved VD in lean and obese rats by decreasing EC50 but impaired function by decreasing maximal VD. The shift in EC50 corresponded to an upregulation in nitric oxide synthase III protein expression in the aorta of the estrogen-treated obese rats. In summary, estrogen treatment improves vascular function in male insulin-resistant, obese rats, partially via an upregulation of nitric oxide synthase III protein expression. These effects are counteracted by adverse factors, such as hyperlipidemia and, potentially, a release of an endothelium-derived contractile agent.

Non-NASA Center↗

Insulin resistance for glucose metabolism in disused soleus muscle of mice

Results of this study on mice provide the first direct evidence of insulin resistance for glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle that has undergone a previous period of reduced muscle usage. This lack of responsiveness to insulin developed in one day and in the presence of hypoinsulinemia. Future studies will utilize the model of hindlimb immobilization to determine the causes of these changes.

Seider, M. J.↗

Which Role Plays 2-Hydroxybutyric Acid on Insulin Resistance?

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) is defined as a chronic condition caused by beta cell loss and/or dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR). The discovering of novel biomarkers capable of identifying T2D and other metabolic disorders associated with IR in a timely and accurate way is critical. In this review, 2-hydroxybutyric acid (2HB) is presented as that upheaval biomarker with an unexplored potential ahead. Due to the activation of other metabolic pathways during IR, 2HB is synthesized as a coproduct of protein metabolism, being the progression of IR intrinsically related to the increasing of 2HB levels. Hence, the focus of this review will be on the 2HB metabolite and its involvement in glucose homeostasis. A literature review was conducted, which comprised an examination of publications from different databases that had been published over the previous ten years. A total of 19 articles fulfilled the intended set of criteria. The use of 2HB as an early indicator of IR was separated into subjects based on the number of analytes examined simultaneously. In terms of the association between 2HB and IR, it has been established that increasing 2HB levels can predict the development of IR. Thus, 2HB has demonstrated considerable promise as a clinical monitoring molecule, not only as an IR biomarker, but also for disease follow-up throughout IR treatment.

Sousa, André P. (ORCID:0000000314605361)↗

Melanoxetin: A Hydroxylated Flavonoid Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Modulates Insulin Resistance and Glycation Pathways in an Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to escalate, necessitating innovative therapeutic approaches that target distinct pathways and address DM complications. Flavonoids have been shown to possess several pharmacological activities that are important for DM. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo effects of the flavonoid melanoxetin using Goto-Kakizaki rats. Over a period of 14 days, melanoxetin was administered subcutaneously to investigate its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. The results show that melanoxetin reduced insulin resistance in adipose tissue by targeting protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. Additionally, melanoxetin counteracted oxidative stress by reducing nitrotyrosine levels and modulating superoxide dismutase 1 and hemeoxygenase in adipose tissue and decreasing methylglyoxal-derived hydroimidazolone (MG-H1), a key advanced glycation end product (AGE) implicated in DM-related complications. Moreover, the glyoxalase 1 expression decreased in both the liver and the heart, correlating with reduced AGE levels, particularly MG-H1 in the heart. Melanoxetin also demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects by reducing serum prostaglandin E2 levels, and increasing the antioxidant status of the aorta wall through enhanced acetylcholine-dependent relaxation in the presence of ascorbic acid. These findings provide valuable insights into melanoxetin’s therapeutic potential in targeting multiple pathways involved in type 2 DM, particularly in mitigating oxidative stress and glycation.

Rocha, Sónia (ORCID:0000000177862731)↗

A Long Non-coding RNA, LOC157273, Is an Effector Transcript at the Chromosome 8p23.1-PPP1R3B Metabolic Traits and Type 2 Diabetes Risk Locus

Causal transcripts at genomic loci associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are mostly unknown. The chr8p23.1 variant rs4841132, associated with an insulin-resistant diabetes risk phenotype, lies in the second exon of a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) gene, LOC157273, located 175 kilobases from PPP1R3B, which encodes a key protein regulating insulin-mediated hepatic glycogen storage in humans. We hypothesized that LOC157273 regulates expression of PPP1R3B in human hepatocytes. We tested our hypothesis using Stellaris fluorescent in situ hybridization to assess subcellular localization of LOC157273; small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of LOC157273, followed by RT-PCR to quantify LOC157273 and PPP1R3B expression; RNA-seq to quantify the whole-transcriptome gene expression response to LOC157273 knockdown; and an insulin-stimulated assay to measure hepatocyte glycogen deposition before and after knockdown. We found that siRNA knockdown decreased LOC157273 transcript levels by approximately 80%, increased PPP1R3B mRNA levels by 1.7-fold, and increased glycogen deposition by >50% in primary human hepatocytes. An A/G heterozygous carrier (vs. three G/G carriers) had reduced LOC157273 abundance due to reduced transcription of the A allele and increased PPP1R3B expression and glycogen deposition. We show that the lncRNA LOC157273 is a negative regulator of PPP1R3B expression and glycogen deposition in human hepatocytes and a causal transcript at an insulin-resistant T2D risk locus.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Hepatic SerpinA1 improves energy and glucose metabolism through regulation of preadipocyte proliferation and UCP1 expression

Lipodystrophy and obesity are associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome accompanied by fat tissue dysregulation. Here, we show that serine protease inhibitor A1 (SerpinA1) expression in the liver is increased during recovery from lipodystrophy caused by the adipocyte-specific loss of insulin signaling in mice. SerpinA1 induces the proliferation of white and brown preadipocytes and increases the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) to promote mitochondrial activation in mature white and brown adipocytes. Liver-specific SerpinA1 transgenic mice exhibit increased browning of adipose tissues, leading to increased energy expenditure, reduced adiposity and improved glucose tolerance. Conversely, SerpinA1 knockout mice exhibit decreased adipocyte mitochondrial function, impaired thermogenesis, obesity, and systemic insulin resistance. SerpinA1 forms a complex with the Eph receptor B2 and regulates its downstream signaling in adipocytes. These results demonstrate that SerpinA1 is an important hepatokine that improves obesity, energy expenditure and glucose metabolism by promoting preadipocyte proliferation and activating mitochondrial UCP1 expression in adipocytes.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

High Protein Intake Improves Insulin Sensitivity but Exacerbates Bone Resorption in Immobility (WISE Study)

Inactivity, like bed rest (BR), causes insulin resistance (IR) and bone loss even in healthy subjects. High protein intake seems to mitigate this IR but might exacerbate bone loss. We hypothesized that high protein intake (animal:vegetable protein ratio: 60:40), isocaloric, compared to the control group plus high potassium intake would prevent IR without affecting bone turnover. After a 20-day ambulatory adaptation to controlled confinement and diet, 16 women participated in a 60-day, 6 deg head-down-tilt BR and were assigned randomly to one of the two groups. Control subjects (CON, n=8) received 1g/kg body mass/d dietary protein. Nutrition subjects (NUT, n=8) received 1.45g/kg body mass/d dietary protein plus 7.2g branched chain amino acids per day during BR. All subjects received 1670 kcal/d. Bed rest decreased glucose disposal by 35% (p<0.05) in CON. Isocaloric high protein intake prevented insulin resistance, but exacerbated bed rest induced increase in bone resorption markers C-telopeptide (> 30%) and Ntelopeptide (>20%) (both: p<0.001). Bone formation markers were unaffected by high protein intake. We conclude from these results that high protein intake might positively affect glucose tolerance, but might also foster bone loss. Further long-duration studies are mandatory before high protein intake for diabetic patients, who have an increased fracture risk, might be recommended.

Heer, Martina↗

Insulin secretion and sensitivity in space flight: diabetogenic effects

Nearly three decades of space flight research have suggested that there are subclinical diabetogenic changes that occur in microgravity. Alterations in insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, and metabolism of protein and amino acids support the hypothesis that insulin plays an essential role in the maintenance of muscle mass in extended-duration space flight. Experiments in flight and after flight and ground-based bedrest studies have associated microgravity and its experimental paradigms with manifestations similar to those of diabetes, physical inactivity, and aging. We propose that these manifestations are characterized best by an etiology that falls into the clinical category of "other" causes of diabetes, including, but not restricted to, genetic beta-cell defects, insulin action defects, diseases of the endocrine pancreas, endocrinopathies, drug or chemically induced diabetes, infections, immune-mediated metabolic alteration, and a host of genetic related diseases. We present data showing alterations in tumor necrosis factor-alpha production, insulin secretion, and amino acid metabolism in pancreatic islets of Langerhans cultured in a ground-based cell culture bioreactor that mimics some of the effects of microgravity. Taken together, space flight research, ground-based studies, and bioreactor studies of pancreatic islets of Langerhans support the hypothesis that the pancreas is unable to overcome peripheral insulin resistance and amino acid dysregulation during space flight. We propose that measures of insulin secretion and insulin action will be necessary to design effective countermeasures against muscle loss, and we advance the "disposition index" as an essential model to be used in the clinical management of space flight-induced muscle loss.

Review↗

Effect of confinement in small space flight size cages on insulin sensitivity of exercise-trained rats

The effect of confinement in small cages (simulating the size to be used in future space Shuttle missions) on insulin sensitivity was studied in rats having an increased insulin sensitivity due to exercise training prior to confinement. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were given to both control and exercise-trained rats before and after placement in the small cages for 7 days. The insulin resistance was assessed by the product of the area of the insulin and glucose curves of the OGTT (IG index). Results show that the values obtained before confinement were one-half as high in exercise-trained rats as those in control rats, reflecting an increased sensitivity to insulin with exercise training. After 7 days confinement, the IG index was found to be not significantly different from initial values for both control and exercise-trained rats. These findings suggest that increased insulin sensitivity in exercise-trained rats persists 7 days after cessation of running activity. The data also indicate that exercise training, before flight, may be beneficial in minimizing the loss of insulin sensitivity expected with decreased use of gravity dependent muscles during exposure to hypogravity in space flight.

Mondon, C. E.↗

Mechanisms of insulin action on sympathetic nerve activity

Insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia may contribute to the development of arterial hypertension. Although insulin may elevate arterial pressure, in part, through activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the sites and mechanisms of insulin-induced sympathetic excitation remain uncertain. While sympathoexcitation during insulin may be mediated by the baroreflex, or by modulation of norepinephrine release from sympathetic nerve endings, it has been shown repeatedly that insulin increases sympathetic outflow by actions on the central nervous system. Previous studies employing norepinephrine turnover have suggested that insulin causes sympathoexcitation by acting in the hypothalamus. Recent experiments from our laboratory involving direct measurements of regional sympathetic nerve activity have provided further evidence that insulin acts in the central nervous system. For example, administration of insulin into the third cerebralventricle increased lumbar but not renal or adrenal sympathetic nerve activity in normotensive rats. Interestingly, this pattern of regional sympathetic nerve responses to central neural administration of insulin is similar to that seen with systemic administration of insulin. Further, lesions of the anteroventral third ventricle hypothalamic (AV3V) region abolished increases in sympathetic activity to systemic administration of insulin with euglycemic clamp, suggesting that AV3V-related structures are critical for insulin-induced elevations in sympathetic outflow.

Muntzel, Martin S.↗

EGLP-1 lowers body weight better than exendin-4 by reducing food intake and increasing basal energy expenditure in diet-induced obese mice

It is well known that GLP-1 activates GLP-1R to reduce body weight by inhibiting eating. GLP-1 is cleaved by the neutral endopeptidase (NEP) 24.11 into a pentapeptide GLP-1 (32–36) amide, which increases basal energy expenditure and inhibits weight gain in obese mice. It is well known that GLP-1 analogs can reduce weight by suppressing eating. However, there are few reports of reducing weight through the dual effects of inhibiting eating and increasing basic energy. Here, we report the peptide EGLP-1, a GLP-1 analogue, which can reduce food intake and increase basal energy expenditure. In C2C12 myotubes, EGLP-1 can increase both phosphorylation of acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) and the ratio between phosphorylation of ACC and the total expression of ACC (pACC/ACC). In diet-induced obese mice, EGLP-1 is more effective than exendin-4 in reducing body weight, reducing fat mass and improving hepatic steatosis. At the same time, EGLP-1 can improve hyperglycemia, reduce food intake, and improve insulin resistance, just like exendin-4. In addition, EGLP-1, not exendin-4, can improve physiological parameters associated with lipid metabolism and increase oxygen consumption by increasing uncoupling proteins 3 (UCP3) expression and pACC/ACC ratio in skeletal muscle. Taken together, this data showed that EGLP-1 is able to reduce body weight by reducing food intake and increasing basal energy expenditure, suggesting it may be more effective in treating diabetic and non-diabetic overweight or obese people than pure GLP-1R agonist exendin-4.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

The pesticide chlorpyrifos promotes obesity by inhibiting diet-induced thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue

Obesity results from a caloric imbalance between energy intake, absorption and expenditure. In both rodents and humans, diet-induced thermogenesis contributes to energy expenditure and involves the activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT). We hypothesize that environmental toxicants commonly used as food additives or pesticides might reduce BAT thermogenesis through suppression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and this may contribute to the development of obesity. Using a step-wise screening approach, we discover that the organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos suppresses UCP1 and mitochondrial respiration in BAT at concentrations as low as 1 pM. In mice housed at thermoneutrality and fed a high-fat diet, chlorpyrifos impairs BAT mitochondrial function and diet-induced thermogenesis, promoting greater obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and insulin resistance. This is associated with reductions in cAMP; activation of p38MAPK and AMPK; protein kinases critical for maintaining UCP1 and mitophagy, respectively in BAT. These data indicate that the commonly used pesticide chlorpyrifos, suppresses diet-induced thermogenesis and the activation of BAT, suggesting its use may contribute to the obesity epidemic.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Gene-environment interactions due to quantile-specific heritability of triglyceride and VLDL concentrations

"Quantile-dependent expressivity" is a dependence of genetic effects on whether the phenotype (e.g., triglycerides) is high or low relative to its distribution in the population. Quantile-specific offspring-parent regression slopes (β OP ) were estimated by quantile regression for 6227 offspring-parent pairs. Quantile-specific heritability (h 2 ), estimated by 2β OP /(1 + $\Gamma$ spouse ), decreased 0.0047 ± 0.0007 (P = 2.9 × 10 -14 ) for each one-percent decrement in fasting triglyceride concentrations, i.e., h 2 ± SE were: 0.428 ± 0.059, 0.230 ± 0.030, 0.111 ± 0.015, 0.050 ± 0.016, and 0.033 ± 0.010 at the 90th, 75th, 50th, 25th, and 10th percentiles of the triglyceride distribution, respectively. Consistent with quantile-dependent expressivity, 11 drug studies report smaller genotype differences at lower (post-treatment) than higher (pre-treatment) triglyceride concentrations. This meant genotype-specific triglyceride changes could not move in parallel when triglycerides were decreased pharmacologically, so that subtracting pre-treatment from post-treatment triglyceride levels necessarily created a greater triglyceride decrease for the genotype with a higher pre-treatment value (purported precision-medicine genetic markers). In addition, sixty-five purported gene-environment interactions were found to be potentially attributable to triglyceride's quantile-dependent expressivity, including gene-adiposity (APOA5, APOB, APOE, GCKR, IRS-1, LPL, MTHFR, PCSK9, PNPLA3, PPARγ2), gene-exercise (APOA1, APOA2, LPL), gene-diet (APOA5, APOE, INSIG2, LPL, MYB, NXPH1, PER2, TNFA), gene-alcohol (ALDH2, APOA5, APOC3, CETP, LPL), gene-smoking (APOC3, CYBA, LPL, USF1), gene-pregnancy (LPL), and gene-insulin resistance interactions (APOE, LPL).

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Biophysical characterization and a roadmap towards the NMR solution structure of G0S2, a key enzyme in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

In the United States non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease, affecting an estimated 80 to 100 million people. It occurs in every age group, but predominantly in people with risk factors such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. NAFLD is marked by fat accumulation in the liver leading to liver inflammation, which may lead to scarring and irreversible damage progressing to cirrhosis and liver failure. In animal models, genetic ablation of the protein G0S2 leads to alleviation of liver damage and insulin resistance in high fat diets. The research presented in this paper aims to aid in rational based drug design for the treatment of NAFLD by providing a pathway for a solution state NMR structure of G0S2. Here we describe the expression of G0S2 in an E. coli system from two different constructs, both of which are confirmed to be functionally active based on the ability to inhibit the activity of Adipose Triglyceride Lipase. In one of the constructs, preliminary NMR spectroscopy measurements show dominant alpha-helical characteristics as well as resonance assignments on the N-terminus of G0S2, allowing for further NMR work with this protein. Additionally, the characterization of G0S2 oligomers are outlined for both constructs, suggesting that G0S2 may defensively exist in a multimeric state to protect and potentially stabilize the small 104 amino acid protein within the cell. This information presented on the structure of G0S2 will further guide future development in the therapy for NAFLD.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗