Inhibition of protein kinase CbetaII increases glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through elevated expression of glucose transporter 1 at the plasma membrane

Involvement of distinct PKC gene products in T cell functions

It is well established that members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family seem to have important roles in T cells. Focusing on the physiological and non-redundant PKC functions established in primary mouse T cells via germline gene-targeting approaches, our current knowledge defines two particularly critical PKC gene products, PKCθ and PKCα, as the "flavor of PKC" in T cells that appear to have a positive role in signaling pathways that are necessary for full antigen receptor-mediated T cell activation ex vivo and T cell-mediated immunity in vivo. Consistently, in spite of the current dogma that PKCθ inhibition might be sufficient to achieve complete immunosuppressive effects, more recent results have indicated that the pharmacological inhibition of PKCθ, and additionally, at least PKCα, appears to be needed to provide a successful approach for the prevention of allograft rejection and treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Differential metabolic effects of glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine in human articular chondrocytes

OBJECTIVE

Aminosugars are commonly used to treat osteoarthritis; however, molecular mechanisms mediating their anti-arthritic activities are still poorly understood. This study analyzes facilitated transport and metabolic effects of glucosamine (GlcN) and N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) in human articular chondrocytes.

METHODS

Human articular chondrocytes were isolated from knee cartilage. Facilitated transport of glucose, GlcN and GlcNAc was measured by uptake of [3H]2-deoxyglucose, [3H]GlcN and [3H]GlcNAc. Glucose transporter (GLUT) expression was analyzed by Western blotting. Production of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (SGAG) was measured using [(35)S]SO4. Hyaluronan was quantified using hyaluronan binding protein.

RESULTS

Chondrocytes actively import and metabolize GlcN but not GlcNAc and this represents a cell-type specific phenomenon. Similar to facilitated glucose transport, GlcN transport in chondrocytes is accelerated by cytokines and growth factors. GlcN non-competitively inhibits basal glucose transport, which in part depends on GlcN-mediated depletion of ATP stores. In IL-1beta-stimulated chondrocytes, GlcN inhibits membrane translocation of GLUT1 and 6, but does not affect the expression of GLUT3. In contrast to GlcN, GlcNAc accelerates facilitated glucose transport. In parallel with the opposing actions of these aminosugars on glucose transport, GlcN inhibits hyaluronan and SGAG synthesis while GlcNAc stimulates hyaluronan synthesis. GlcNAc-accelerated hyaluronan synthesis is associated with upregulation of hyaluronan synthase-2.

CONCLUSION

Differences in GlcN and GlcNAc uptake, and their subsequent effects on glucose transport, GLUT expression and SGAG and hyaluronan synthesis, indicate that these two aminosugars have distinct molecular mechanisms mediating their differential biological activities in chondrocytes.

Characterization and performance of a near-infrared 2-deoxyglucose optical imaging agent for mouse cancer models

Malignant neoplasms exhibit an elevated rate of glycolysis over normal cells. This characteristic can be exploited for optical imaging of tumors in mice. A near-infrared fluorophore, IRDye 800CW, emission maximum 794 nm, was conjugated to 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG). An immunofluorescent cell-based assay was used to evaluate specificity and sensitivity of the conjugate in cultured cell monolayers. Dose-dependent uptake was established with increasing concentrations of IRDye 800CW 2-DG for epithelial and prostate carcinomas. IRDye 800CW 2-DG was specifically blocked by an antibody against GLUT1 glucose transporter, and by excess unlabeled 2-DG or d-glucose. Signal was increased by a phorbol ester activator of glucose transport. Fluorescence microscopy data confirmed localization of the conjugate in the cytoplasm. Subsequent in vivo studies optimized dose, clearance, and timing for signal capture in nude mouse xenografts. In all cases, tumors were clearly imaged with good signal-to-noise characteristics. These data indicate that IRDye 800CW 2-DG is a broadly applicable optical imaging agent for in vivo imaging of neoplasms in mice.

Coordinated phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 by glycogen synthase kinase-3 and protein kinase C betaII in the diabetic fat tissue

Serine/threonine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) is an important negative modulator of insulin signaling. Previously, we showed that glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) phosphorylates IRS-1 at Ser(332). However, the fact that GSK-3 requires prephosphorylation of its substrates suggested that Ser(336) on IRS-1 was the "priming" site phosphorylated by an as yet unknown protein kinase. Here, we sought to identify this "priming kinase" and to examine the phosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser(336) and Ser(332) in physiologically relevant animal models. Of several stimulators, only the PKC activator phorbol ester PMA enhanced IRS-1 phosphorylation at Ser(336). Treatment with selective PKC inhibitors prevented this PMA effect and suggested that a conventional PKC was the priming kinase. Overexpression of PKCalpha or PKCbetaII isoforms in cells enhanced IRS-1 phosphorylation at Ser(336) and Ser(332), and in vitro kinase assays verified that these two kinases directly phosphorylated IRS-1 at Ser(336). The expression level and activation state of PKCbetaII, but not PKCalpha, were remarkably elevated in the fat tissues of diabetic ob/ob mice and in high-fat diet-fed mice compared with that from lean animals. Elevated levels of PKCbetaII were also associated with enhanced phosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser(336/332) and elevated activity of GSK-3beta. Finally, adenoviral mediated expression of PKCbetaII in adipocytes enhancedphosphorylation of IRS-1 at Ser(336). Taken together, our results suggest that IRS-1 is sequentially phosphorylated by PKCbetaII and GSK-3 at Ser(336) and Ser(332). Furthermore, these data provide evidence for the physiological relevance of these phosphorylation events in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in fat tissue.

Homocysteine upregulates resistin production from adipocytes in vivo and in vitro

OBJECTIVE

Homocysteine (Hcy) is epidemiologically related to insulin resistance, which has been speculated to be a low-grade systemic inflammatory condition. Resistin acts as a critical mediator of insulin resistance associated with inflammatory conditions. We aimed to determine whether Hcy can induce insulin resistance by directly regulating the expression and secretion of resistin from adipose tissue.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The effect of Hcy on the expression and secretion of resistin and insulin resistance was investigated using primary rat adipocytes and mice with hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy).

RESULTS

Hcy impaired glucose transport and, particularly, the insulin signaling pathway as shown by decreased insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1, increased serine phosphorylation of IRS-1, and inhibited Akt phosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo, and these impairments were accompanied by an increase in resistin expression. Compared with normal mice, HHcy mice with a clinically relevant level of plasma Hcy (19 micromol/l) showed significantly increased resistin production from adipose tissue (33.38 +/- 3.08 vs. 19.27 +/- 1.71 ng/ml, P < 0.01). Hcy (300-1000 micromol/l) also increased mRNA expression of resistin in primary rat adipocytes in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, with maximal induction at 24 h of approximately fourfold with 1,000 micromol/l. In addition, Hcy-induced resistin expression attenuated by treatment with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers, protein kinase C (PKC), and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB inhibitors implies a role in the process for ROS, PKC, and NF-kappaB.

CONCLUSIONS

HHcy may promote insulin resistance through the induction of resistin expression and secretion from adipocytes via the activation of the ROS-PKC-NF-kappaB pathway.

Protein kinase C attenuates β-adrenergic receptor-mediated lipolysis, probably through inhibition of the β1-adrenergic receptor system

Lipolysis in rat white adipocytes is stimulated by beta-adrenergic agonists. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) attenuated the receptor-mediated lipolysis by causing a shift of the dose-response curve to the higher concentrations of norepinephrine and isoproterenol. Although the adipocytes possess beta1-, beta2-, and beta3-adrenergic receptor subtypes, the effect of PMA was observed only when a beta1-agonist (dobutamine) was used. No lipolysis-attenuating effect of PMA was found when cells were exposed to a beta2-agonist (procaterol) and beta3-agonists (BRL 37344 and CL 316243), or to forskolin and 8-bromo cAMP. CGP 20712A (beta1-antagonist) efficiently inhibited lipolysis by norepinephrine, isoproterenol, and dobutamine, but did not affect lipolysis by the beta2- and beta3-agonists. ICI 118551 (beta2-antagonist) had no significant effect on lipolysis by the beta-agonists examined. CGP 20712A abolished the lipolysis-attenuating effect of PMA, but ICI 118551 did not. The protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, GF 109203X or Gö 6976, suppressed the effect of PMA. Pretreatment of adipocytes with PMA for 6 h caused downregulation of conventional and novel PKCs in association with a decrease in the lipolysis-attenuating effect of PMA. These results indicate that conventional and novel PKCs attenuate lipolysis mediated by beta-adrenergic receptors, probably through inhibition of the beta1-adrenergic receptor system.

Protein kinase C family members as a target for regulation of blood-brain barrier Na,K,2Cl-cotransporter during in vitro stroke conditions and nicotine exposure

PURPOSE

The aim of the study is to identify specific protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms involvement in K(+) transport mediated at altered blood-brain barrier (BBB) response to stroke conditions with prior nicotine exposure, which provides ways to intervene pharmacologically in PKC-mediated molecular pathways that could lead to effective treatment for smoking stroke patients.

METHODS

Changes in PKC isoform levels were studied in the cytosolic and membrane fractions of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells subjected to stroke conditions as well as nicotine/cotinine exposure. Furthermore, abluminal Na,K,2Cl-cotransporter (NKCC) activity regulated by specific conventional PKC isoform activators and inhibitors was investigated using rubidium ((86)Rb) uptake studies.

RESULTS

Membrane-bound PKCalpha, PKCbetaI, and PKCepsilon levels were increased after 6 h hypoxia/aglycemia, and this was attenuated by 24-h nicotine/cotinine exposure. Interestingly, membrane-bound PKCgamma protein level was decreased after 6 h hypoxia/aglycemia and increased by 24-h nicotine/cotinine exposure. (86)Rb uptake studies showed that basolateral NKCC activity was down-regulated by both a conventional PKC inhibitor and specific inhibitors for PKCalpha, PKCbeta, and PKCvarepsilon and was up-regulated by an activator of conventional PKCs during 6-h hypoxia/aglycemia treatment.

CONCLUSION

Specific PKC inhibitors or activators might be designed to individualize stroke therapies and improve health outcome for smokers by rebalancing ion transport into and out of the brain.

Adrenergic receptor stimulation attenuates insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by inhibiting GLUT4 translocation

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system inhibits insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. However, the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Therefore, we studied the effects of catecholamines on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and insulin-stimulated translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We found that epinephrine (1 microM) nearly halved insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake. The beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (0.3 microM) completely antagonized the inhibitory effect of epinephrine on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, whereas the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (10 microM) had no effect. When norepinephrine was used instead of epinephrine, the results were identical. None of the individual selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (1 microM, beta(1): metoprolol, beta(2): ICI-118551, beta(3): SR-59230A) could counteract the inhibitory effect of epinephrine. Combination of ICI-118551 and SR-59230A, as well as combination of all three selective beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, abolished the effect of epinephrine on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. After differential centrifugation, we measured the amount of GLUT1 and GLUT4 in the plasma membrane and in intracellular vesicles by means of Western blotting. Both epinephrine and norepinephrine reduced insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane. These results show that beta-adrenergic (but not alpha-adrenergic) stimulation inhibits insulin-induced glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, most likely via the beta(2)- and beta(3)-adrenoceptor by interfering with GLUT4 translocation from intracellular vesicles to the plasma membrane.

Regulation of GLUT1-mediated glucose uptake by PKClambda-PKCbeta(II) interactions in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Members of the PKC (protein kinase C) superfamily play key regulatory roles in glucose transport. How the different PKC isotypes are involved in the regulation of glucose transport is still poorly defined. PMA is a potent activator of conventional and novel PKCs and PMA increases the rate of glucose uptake in many different cell systems. In the present study, we show that PMA treatment increases glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by two mechanisms: a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-dependent increase in GLUT1 (glucose transporter 1) expression levels and a PKClambda-dependent translocation of GLUT1 towards the plasma membrane. Intriguingly, PKClambda co-immunoprecipitated with PKCbeta(II) and did not with PKCbeta(I). Previously, we have described that down-regulation of PKCbeta(II) protein levels or inhibiting PKCbeta(II) by means of the myristoylated PKCbetaC2-4 peptide inhibitor induced GLUT1 translocation towards the plasma membrane in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Combined with the present findings, these results suggest that the liberation of PKClambda from PKCbeta(II) is an important factor in the regulation of GLUT1 distribution in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Neurobarrier coupling in the brain: a partner of neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling?

Neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling help the brain to maintain an appropriate energy flow to the neural tissue under conditions of increased neuronal activity. Both coupling phenomena provide us, in addition, with two macroscopically measurable parameters, blood flow and intermediate metabolite fluxes, that are used to dynamically image the functioning brain. The main energy substrate for the brain is glucose, which is metabolized by glycolysis and oxidative breakdown in both astrocytes and neurons. Neuronal activation triggers increased glucose consumption and glucose demand, with new glucose being brought in by stimulated blood flow and glucose transport over the blood-brain barrier. Glucose is shuttled over the barrier by the GLUT-1 transporter, which, like all transporter proteins, has a ceiling above which no further stimulation of the transport is possible. Blood-brain barrier glucose transport is generally accepted as a nonrate-limiting step but to prevent it from becoming rate-limiting under conditions of neuronal activation, it might be necessary for the transport parameters to be adapted to the increased glucose demand. It is proposed that the blood-brain barrier glucose transport parameters are dynamically adapted to the increased glucose needs of the neural tissue after activation according to a neurobarrier coupling scheme. This review presents neurobarrier coupling within the current knowledge on neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling, and considers arguments and evidence in support of this hypothesis.

Arsenite stimulated glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes involves both Glut4 translocation and p38 MAPK activity

The protein-modifying agent arsenite stimulates glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In the current study we have analysed the signalling pathways that contribute to this response. By subcellular fractionation we observed that arsenite, like insulin, induces translocation of the GLUT1 and GLUT4 glucose transporters from the low-density membrane fraction to the plasma membrane. Arsenite did not activate early steps of the insulin receptor (IR)-signalling pathway and the response was insensitive to inhibition of phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase (PI-3') kinase by wortmannin. These findings indicate that the 'classical' IR-IR substrate-PI-3' kinase pathway, that is essential for insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation, is not activated by arsenite. However, arsenite-treatment did induce tyrosine-phosphorylation of c-Cbl. Furthermore, treatment of the cells with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tyrphostin A25, abolished arsenite-induced glucose uptake, suggesting that the induction of a tyrosine kinase by arsenite is essential for glucose uptake. Both arsenite and insulin-induced glucose uptake were inhibited partially by the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, SB203580. This compound had no effect on the magnitude of translocation of glucose transporters indicating that the level of glucose transport is determined by additional factors. Arsenite- and insulin-induced glucose uptake responded in a remarkably similar dose-dependent fashion to a range of pharmacological- and peptide-inhibitors for atypical PKC-lambda, a downstream target of PI-3' kinase signalling in insulin-induced glucose uptake. These data show that in 3T3-L1 adipocytes both arsenite- and insulin-induced signalling pathways project towards a similar cellular response, namely GLUT1 and GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake. This response to arsenite is not functionally linked to early steps of the IR-IRS-PI-3' kinase pathway, but does coincide with c-Cbl phosphorylation, basal levels of PKC-lambda activity and p38 MAPK activation.