Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ: Its role in metabolic syndrome

New stilbenes from Cajanus cajan inhibit adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through down-regulation of PPARγ

Two new stilbenes, denominated Cajanotone B (CAB) and Cajanotone C (CAC), were isolated from the leaves of Cajanus cajan. In this study, the structures of CAB and CAC were unambiguously elucidated by a combination of various spectral methods. Both compounds significantly inhibited the adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by reducing the lipid accumulation, triglyceride content and FFA secretion. CAB and CAC also substantially inhibit the mRNA expression of HSL, ATGL, C/EBPα and PPARγ as deciphered based by RT-PCR assay. Down-regulation of PPAR is believed to be the primary mechanism underlying which CAB and CAC inhibited adipogenic differentiation because the lipid-promoting activity of PPAR agonists can be counteracted by these compounds. The molecular interaction between CAB/CAC and PPARγ was revealed with the help of molecular docking. Taken together, CAB and CAC could serve as new lead compounds with the potential to speed up the development of novel lipid-lowering and weight-control therapies.

Do In Seung Gi‑Tang extract suppresses adipocyte differentiation in 3T3‑L1 cells

Blood stasis syndrome (BSS), additionally called Eohyul, is a basic pathological concept in Traditional Korean Medicine. Do In Seung Gi‑Tang (DISGT) is herbal medicine used for the treatment of BSS. It primarily treats metabolic diseases (MDs) including obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and gynecological diseases, by promoting blood circulation. The present study aimed to investigate the anti‑adipogenesis effect of DISGT in 3T3‑L1 adipocytes using Oil Red O staining, and assessing levels of triglycerides (TGs) and leptin in adipocytes by ELISA and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that DISGT treatment had inhibitory effects on fat droplet formation, TG accumulation, leptin production and cytokine content, during 3T3‑L1 adipocyte differentiation, without affecting cell viability. Additionally, DISGT treatment significantly suppressed the protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor γ and CAAT/enhancer binding protein α. These results provide evidence that DISGT has anti‑adipogenesis effects on preadipocytes and adipocytes by significantly blocking adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation, and suppressing adipogenic gene expression. Therefore, the present study demonstrated the potential of DISGT as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of MDs.

Discovery of Isoquinolinoquinazolinones as a Novel Class of Potent PPARγ Antagonists with Anti-adipogenic Effects

Conformational change in helix 12 can alter ligand-induced PPARγ activity; based on this reason, isoquinolinoquinazolinones, structural homologs of berberine, were designed and synthesized as PPARγ antagonists. Computational docking and mutational study indicated that isoquinolinoquinazolinones form hydrogen bonds with the Cys285 and Arg288 residues of PPARγ. Furthermore, SPR results demonstrated strong binding affinity of isoquinolinoquinazolinones towards PPARγ. Additionally, biological assays showed that this new series of PPARγ antagonists more strongly inhibit adipocyte differentiation and PPARγ2-induced transcriptional activity than GW9662.

Isoflavonoids from Crotalaria albida Inhibit Adipocyte Differentiation and Lipid Accumulation in 3T3-L1 Cells via Suppression of PPAR-γ Pathway

Two 2″-isopropenyl dihydrofuran isoflavonoids (1 and 3), one 2″-isopropenyl dihydrofuran chromone (2), as well as 13 known compounds were isolated from the herbs of Crotalaria albida. Their structures and relative configurations were elucidated via NMR and HRESIMS analyses. The 2″ S absolute configuration of 1 and 2 were deduced by comparing their NOESY spectra with that of 3, which was determined via single crystal X-ray diffraction (CuKα). The 3R absolute configuration of 1 was determined by CD. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 inhibit the adipocyte differentiation and lipid accumulation of 3T3-L1 through down-regulation of PPAR-γ activity.

The Role of PPAR-gamma and Its Interaction with COX-2 in Pancreatic Cancer

In recent years, the study of the peroxisome proliferators activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) as a potential target for cancer prevention and therapy has gained a strong interest. However, the overall biological significance of PPAR-γ in cancer development and progression is still controversial. While many reports documented antiproliferative effects in human cancer cell and animal models, several studies demonstrating potential tumor promoting actions of PPAR-γ ligands raised considerable concerns about the role of PPAR-γ in human cancers. Controversy also exists about the role of PPAR-γ in human pancreatic cancers. The current review summarizes the data about PPAR-γ in pancreatic cancer and highlights the biologically relevant interactions between the cyclooxygenase and PPAR system.

Peroxisome Proliferators-Activated Receptor (PPAR) Modulators and Metabolic Disorders

Overweight and obesity lead to an increased risk for metabolic disorders such as impaired glucose regulation/insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Several molecular drug targets with potential to prevent or treat metabolic disorders have been revealed. Interestingly, the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), which belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily, has many beneficial clinical effects. PPAR directly modulates gene expression by binding to a specific ligand. All PPAR subtypes (alpha, gamma, and sigma) are involved in glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and energy balance. PPAR agonists play an important role in therapeutic aspects of metabolic disorders. However, undesired effects of the existing PPAR agonists have been reported. A great deal of recent research has focused on the discovery of new PPAR modulators with more beneficial effects and more safety without producing undesired side effects. Herein, we briefly review the roles of PPAR in metabolic disorders, the effects of PPAR modulators in metabolic disorders, and the technologies with which to discover new PPAR modulators.

Neuroprotective mechanisms of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common causes of dementia accounting for 50-60% of all cases. The pathological hallmarks of AD are the formation of extracellular plaques consisting of amyloid-β protein, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins and presence of chronic neuroinflammation causing progressive decline in memory and cognitive functions. The current therapeutic strategies to improve memory deficits aim at preventing the formation and accumulation of amyloid-β and tau phosphorylation. Beyond the plaque and tangle-related targets, other aspects of pathophysiology including molecular transport mechanism, oxidative damage, inflammation and glucose and lipid metabolism may also provide opportunities to slow down the progression of memory loss. A novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of AD is through the exploration of nuclear receptor agonists, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), which have been clinically used as antidiabetic and dyslipidemic agents. The findings that PPAR agonists may possess antiamyloidogenic, anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing, and cholesterol-lowering potential suggest that they could be interesting candidates for AD drugs. Through this review, we will discuss the probable pathophysiological mechanisms that may elicit the defending role of these receptors in brains of AD patients.

Role of heme oxygenase in inflammation, insulin-signalling, diabetes and obesity

Diabetes and obesity are chronic conditions associated with elevated oxidative/inflammatory activities with a continuum of tissue insults leading to more severe cardiometabolic and renal complications including myocardial infarction and end-stage-renal damage. A common denominator of these chronic conditions is the enhanced the levels of cytokines like tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-6), IL-1β and resistin, which in turn activates the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-κB pathways, creating a vicious cycle that exacerbates insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes and related complications. Emerging evidence indicates that heme oxygenase (HO) inducers are endowed with potent anti-diabetic and insulin sensitizing effects besides their ability to suppress immune/inflammatory response. Importantly, the HO system abates inflammation through several mechanisms including the suppression of macrophage-infiltration and abrogation of oxidative/inflammatory transcription factors like NF-κB, JNK and activating protein-1. This review highlights the mechanisms by which the HO system potentiates insulin signalling, with particular emphasis on HO-mediated suppression of oxidative and inflammatory insults. The HO system could be explored in the search for novel remedies against cardiometabolic diseases and their complications.

Atomic structure of mutant PPARgamma LBD complexed with 15d-PGJ2: novel modulation mechanism of PPARgamma/RXRalpha function by covalently bound ligands

15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) activates a nuclear receptor heterodimer, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma)/ retinoid X receptor (RXRalpha) through covalent binding to Cys285 in PPARgamma ligand-binding domain (LBD). Here, we present the 1.9A crystal structure of C285S mutant LBD complexed with 15d-PGJ(2), corresponding to the non-covalently bound state. The ligand lies adjacent to a hydrogen-bond network around the helix H2 and the nearby beta-sheet. Comparisons with previous structures clarified the relationships between PPARgamma function and conformational alterations of LBD during the process of covalently binding ligands, such as 15d-PGJ(2), and thus suggested a mechanism, by which these ligands modulate PPARgamma/RXRalpha function through conformational changes of the loop following helix H2' and the beta-sheet.

Effect of pioglitazone on atherogenic outcomes in type 2 diabetic patients: a comparison of responders and non-responders

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-atherogenic efficacy of pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione derivative, on the change in atherogenic outcomes by comparing responder and non-responder groups in type 2 diabetic patients. Twenty-three patients with poor diabetic control were treated with 15 mg of pioglitazone for 12 months. The levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (T-Cho), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured monthly, and those of remnant-like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C) and lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] were measured every 3 months. In Month 6, the patients were divided into two groups according to the decrease in HbA1c level: the responder group showed a decrease of > or =1%; the non-responder group, a decrease of <1%. In the responder group, the levels of FPG and HbA1c decreased significantly after Month 3. The values of the body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, LDL-C, and RLP-C were significantly higher in the responder group than in the non-responder group. Although the levels of T-Cho and HDL-C were unchanged in both groups, those of TG and RLP-C were drastically reduced in the responder group. Interestingly, the relative change in Lp (a) was significantly decreased in both groups. These results strongly suggest that pioglitazone is beneficial for type 2 diabetic patients with high levels of BMI, HOMA-IR, LDL-C, and RLP-C, as it helps to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis, including coronary heart diseases.

Berberine inhibits 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation through the PPARγ pathway

Berberine (BBR), a compound purified from Cortidis rhizoma, reduces serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol of hypercholesterolemic patients and high fat diet fed animals, and increases hepatic LDLR mRNA and protein levels through a post-transcriptional mechanism. BBR also enhances the hypoglycemic action of insulin in diabetic animal models. Here, we show that BBR inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes induced by DM and suppresses the mitotic clonal expansion of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Gene expression analysis and Western blot analysis reveal that the BBR inhibits the mRNA and protein levels of adipogenesis related transcription factors PPARgamma and C/EBPalpha and their upstream regulator, C/EBPbeta. Reporter gene assays demonstrate that the full-length PPARgamma and alpha transcription activities are inhibited by BBR. Using real-time PCR, we have also found that the PPAR target genes that are involved in adipocyte differentiation, such as aP2, CD36, ACO, LPL, and other adipocyte markers, are suppressed by BBR. These studies suggest that BBR works on multiple molecular targets as an inhibitor of PPARgamma and alpha, and is a potential weight reducing, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic drug.

Individual single tube genotyping and DNA pooling by allele-specific PCR to uncover associations of polymorphisms with complex diseases

BACKGROUND

The genotyping for the study of the SNPs in different complex diseases require a great number of patients. In this sense, the determination of allele frequencies and genotypes requires a rapid and economical procedure.

METHODS

The genotype has been carried out by allele-specific PCR in single tube with the discrimination of the products of PCR by its T(m). For this purpose a GC tail was added to 5' extreme of the specific primer. The allele frequencies were also calculated by DNA pooling and QRT-PCR using allele-specific primers.

RESULTS

The use of the genotyping in single tube through allele-specific PCR and melting curves has led us to the accurate genotype of three polymorphisms of vdr (cdx-2), osteoprotegerin (A-163G) and ppar-gamma (C-681G) genes in 225 postmenopausal women to be associated to osteoporosis. Only the cdx-2 polymorphism was associated with a reduced bone mineral density (BMD). These data were similar to those obtained when the allele frequencies were calculated using QRT-PCR in DNA pools.

CONCLUSIONS

Individual genotyping with allele-specific PCR in single tube and melting curve analysis is a fast, trustworthy and economic method to study any SNP. We propose the following approach to determine the possible association of SNPs with complex and multifactorial diseases like osteoporosis, in which hundreds of individuals should be analyzed: construct control and problem groups, make DNA pools, and calculate pooled allelic frequencies. Genotyping each individual further permits to determine the genotypic distribution when differences in allelic frequencies are observed, thus allowing more complex statistical analyses (including other variables like age, weight, etc.).

Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-??

Insulin resistance and obesity is a common health problem in the industrialized world. As a result of the availability of high-calorie food and a reduction in energy expenditure, maladaptive metabolic processes may interfere with the action of insulin and increase susceptibility for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. With the advent of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), the mechanisms of this maladaptation and its relationship to insulin resistance syndrome components have become less obscure, promising new therapeutic approaches for this common problem. In this review we first focus on the molecular structure and cellular mechanisms of action of these receptors and then discuss how PPAR-gamma, a PPAR isoform, provides a link between adiposity, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis.

Receptor-independent actions of PPAR thiazolidinedione agonists: is mitochondrial function the key?

Agonists of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR(gamma)) are currently used for treatment of type 2 diabetes due to their insulin sensitizing and glucose metabolism stabilizing effects. More recently some of these same agonists were shown to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects as well. Although PPAR(gamma) agonists can operate via receptor-mediated events occurring at the genomic level, thereby causing long lasting changes in gene expression patterns, recent studies demonstrate non-genomic as well as genomic actions, and receptor-dependent as well as receptor-independent effects of the thiazolidinedione (TZD) class of PPAR(gamma) agonists. In this review we will summarize data describing some of these novel, receptor independent actions of TZDs, review evidence that TZDs directly influence mitochondrial function, and attempt to reconcile how changes in mitochondrial function could contribute to other receptor-independent actions of these drugs.