The significance of phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) 1B in insulin signalling

Leptin signaling in skeletal muscle after bed rest in healthy humans

PURPOSE

This study aimed at determining the effects of bed rest on the skeletal muscle leptin signaling system.

METHODS

Deltoid and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies and blood samples were obtained from 12 healthy young men (mean ± SD, BMI 22.8 ± 2.7 kg/m(2)) before and after 7 days of bed rest. Leptin receptor isoforms (OB-Rs), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) protein expression and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation were analyzed by Western blot.

RESULTS

After bed rest basal insulin concentration was increased by 53% (P < 0.05), the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) by 40% (P < 0.05), and serum leptin concentration by 35% (P < 0.05) with no changes in body fat mass. Although the soluble isoform of the leptin receptor (s-OBR) remained unchanged, the molar excess of leptin over sOB-R was increased by 1.4-fold after bed rest (P < 0.05). OB-Rs and SOCS3 protein expression, and STAT3 phosphorylation level remained unaffected in deltoid and vastus lateralis by bed rest, as PTP1B in the deltoid. PTP1B was increased by 90% with bed rest in the vastus lateralis (P < 0.05). There was a linear relationship between the increase in vastus lateralis PTP1B and the increase in both basal insulin concentrations (r = 0.66, P < 0.05) and HOMA (r = 0.68, P < 0.05) with bed rest.

CONCLUSIONS

One week of bed rest is associated with increased leptin levels without augmenting STAT3 phosphorylation indicating some degree of leptin resistance in skeletal muscle, which can be explained, at least in part, by an elevation of PTP1B protein content in the vastus lateralis muscle.

Transgenic mouse models resistant to diet-induced metabolic disease: is energy balance the key?

The prevalence and economic burden of obesity and type 2 diabetes is a driving force for the discovery of molecular targets to improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. Here, we review several transgenic mouse models that identify promising targets, ranging from proteins involved in the insulin signaling pathway, alterations of genes affecting energy metabolism, and transcriptional metabolic regulators. Despite the diverse endpoints in each model, a common thread that emerges is the necessity for maintenance of energy balance, suggesting pharmacotherapy must target the development of drugs that decrease energy intake, accelerate energy expenditure in a well controlled manner, or augment natural compensatory responses to positive energy balance.

Leptin receptor 170 kDa (OB-R170) protein expression is reduced in obese human skeletal muscle: a potential mechanism of leptin resistance

To examine whether obesity-associated leptin resistance could be due to down-regulation of leptin receptors (OB-Rs) and/or up-regulation of suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in skeletal muscle, which blunt janus kinase 2-dependent leptin signalling and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation and reduce AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation. Deltoid and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained from 20 men: 10 non-obese control subjects (mean +/- s.d. age, 31 +/- 5 years; height, 184 +/- 9 cm; weight, 91 +/- 13 kg; and percentage body fat, 24.8 +/- 5.8%) and 10 obese (age, 30 +/- 7 years; height, 184 +/- 8 cm; weight, 115 +/- 8 kg; and percentage body fat, 34.9 +/- 5.1%). Skeletal muscle OB-R170 (OB-R long isoform) protein expression was 28 and 25% lower (both P < 0.05) in arm and leg muscles, respectively, of obese men compared with control subjects. In normal-weight subjects, SOCS3 protein expression, and STAT3, AMPKalpha and ACCbeta phosphorylation, were similar in the deltoid and vastus lateralis muscles. In obese subjects, the deltoid muscle had a greater amount of leptin receptors than the vastus lateralis, whilst SOCS3 protein expression was increased and basal STAT3, AMPKalpha and ACCbeta phosphorylation levels were reduced in the vastus lateralis compared with the deltoid muscle (all P < 0.05). In summary, skeletal muscle leptin receptors and leptin signalling are reduced in obesity, particularly in the leg muscles.

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B expression is induced by inflammation in vivo

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a major negative regulator of insulin and leptin sensitivity. PTP1B overexpression in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle of humans and rodents may contribute to insulin resistance and obesity. The mechanisms mediating PTP1B overexpression in obese and diabetic states have been unclear. We find that adipose tissue inflammation and the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) regulate PTP1B expression in vivo. High fat feeding of mice increased PTP1B expression 1.5- to 7-fold in adipose tissue, liver, skeletal muscle, and arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus. PTP1B overexpression in high fat-fed mice coincided with increased adipose tissue expression of the macrophage marker CD68 and TNFalpha, which is implicated in causing obesity-induced insulin resistance. TNFalpha increased PTP1B mRNA and protein levels by 2- to 5-fold in a dose- and time-dependent manner in adipocyte and hepatocyte cell lines. TNFalpha administration in mice increased PTP1B mRNA 1.4- to 4-fold in adipose tissue, liver, skeletal muscle, and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and PTP1B protein 2-fold in liver. Actinomycin D treatment blocked, and high dose salicylate treatment inhibited by 80%, TNFalpha-induced PTP1B expression in adipocyte cell lines, suggesting TNFalpha may induce PTP1B transcription via nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) activation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation from adipocyte cell lines and liver of mice demonstrated TNFalpha-induced recruitment of NFkappaB subunit p65 to the PTP1B promoter in vitro and in vivo. In mice with diet-induced obesity, TNFalpha deficiency also partly blocked PTP1B overexpression in adipose tissue. Our data suggest that PTP1B overexpression in multiple tissues in obesity is regulated by inflammation and that PTP1B may be a target of anti-inflammatory therapies.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B gene are associated with obesity in morbidly obese French subjects

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The development of insulin resistance may contribute to the occurrence and progression of the metabolic syndrome associated with obesity. Components contributing to the insulin pathway and its regulation are good candidates for the molecular study of metabolic syndrome pathogenesis. Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) is an important negative regulator of insulin. We investigated whether PTP 1B SNPs are associated with obesity and obesity-related traits as well as global metabolic syndrome in morbidly obese subjects.

METHODS

Untranslated and coding regions of the PTP 1B gene were screened in groups of non-diabetic and diabetic obese subjects and in non-obese subjects. Unrelated morbidly obese ( n=711) and non-obese ( n=427) French Caucasian subjects were genotyped for a case-control study.

RESULTS

Six SNPs were identified: two rare variants were located in 5'UTR (-109 C>T and -69 C>T), two in the intronic regions (IVS3+38 G>T and IVS5+3666delT) and two have been described previously (P303P in exon 8 and P387L in exon 9). A case-control study showed an association between the frequent IVS5+3666delT SNP and obesity ( p=0.02). In the obese group, associations between PTP 1B SNPs and features of dyslipidaemia were found. P303P was associated with lower apolipoprotein A1 levels ( p=0.05) whereas P387L was associated with higher triglyceride ( p=0.0003), apolipoprotein B ( p=0.09) and lipoprotein a concentrations ( p=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Our results support the hypothesis that the PTP 1B gene contributes to the polygenic basis of obesity. PTP 1B SNPs may interact with environmental factors to induce more severe phenotypes, e.g. atherogenic dyslipidaemia, in morbidly obese subjects.

Insulin stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation and inactivation of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B in vivo

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B has been implicated in negative regulation of insulin action, although little is known of the ability of insulin to regulate PTP1B itself. The ability of insulin to regulate phosphorylation and activation of PTP1B was probed in vivo. Challenge with insulin in vivo provoked a transient, sharp increase in the phosphotyrosine content of PTP1B in fat and skeletal muscle that peaked within 15 min. Insulin stimulated a decline of 60--70% in PTP1B activity. In mouse adipocytes, the inhibition of PTP1B activity and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the enzyme were blocked by the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1024. Phosphoserine content of PTP1B declined in response to insulin stimulation. Elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP provokes a sharp increase in PTP1B activity and leads to increased phosphorylation of serine residues and decreased tyrosine phosphorylation. Suppression of cyclic AMP levels or inhibition of protein kinase A leads to a sharp decline in PTP1B activity, a decrease in phosphoserine content, and an increase in PTP1B phosphotyrosine content. PTP1B appears to be a critical point for insulin and catecholamine counter-regulation.

Overexpression of protein-tyrosine phosphatase-1B in adipocytes inhibits insulin-stimulated phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity without altering glucose transport or Akt/Protein kinase B activation

Previous studies suggested that protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) antagonizes insulin action by catalyzing dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor (IR) and/or other key proteins in the insulin signaling pathway. In adipose tissue and muscle of obese humans and rodents, PTP1B expression is increased, which led to the hypothesis that PTP1B plays a role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Consistent with this, mice in which the PTP1B gene was disrupted exhibit increased insulin sensitivity. To test whether increased expression of PTP1B in an insulin-sensitive cell type could contribute to insulin resistance, we overexpressed wild-type PTP1B in 3T3L1 adipocytes using adenovirus-mediated gene delivery. PTP1B expression was increased approximately 3-5-fold above endogenous levels at 16 h, approximately 14-fold at 40 h, and approximately 20-fold at 72 h post-transduction. Total protein-tyrosine phosphatase activity was increased by 50% at 16 h, 3-4-fold at 40 h, and 5-6-fold at 72 h post-transduction. Compared with control cells, cells expressing high levels of PTP1B showed a 50-60% decrease in maximally insulin-stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of IR and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity associated with IRS-1 or with phosphotyrosine. Akt phosphorylation and activity were unchanged. Phosphorylation of p42 and p44 MAP kinase (MAPK) was reduced approximately 32%. Overexpression of PTP1B had no effect on basal, submaximally or maximally (100 nm) insulin-stimulated glucose transport or on the EC(50) for transport. Our results suggest that: 1) insulin stimulation of glucose transport in adipocytes requires </=45% of maximal tyrosyl phosphorylation of IR or IRS-1 and <50% of maximal activation of PI3K, 2) a novel PI3K-independent pathway may play a role in insulin-induced glucose transport in adipocytes, and 3) overexpression of PTP1B alone in adipocytes does not impair glucose transport.