Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0028754 (obesity)
 124,988 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is involved in the control of energy balance and has been demonstrated to be activated through beta 3-adrenoceptor (beta 3-AR) occupation in rodents. The ability to specifically activate energy expenditure via this receptor is of great interest for the treatment of obesity. Nevertheless, the extent of BAT and the presence of a functional beta 3-AR in humans are now debated, and this situation is difficult to clarify for evident practical and ethical reasons. We investigated the occurrence of brown adipocytes in fat deposits of prepubertal baboons using antibodies raised against uncoupling protein (UCP) in Western blotting and immunocytology experiments. UCP was detected in all types of fat pads studied and was revealed in multilocular cells. Pericardiac and axillary adipose tissues displayed large amounts of UCP and can be assimilated to typical BAT. Most of the other pads looked like white adipose tissue, but exhibited areas with clusters of brown adipocytes and, thus, can be assimilated to the convertible adipose tissue as previously described in rodents. The presence of beta 3-ARs was evaluated by both beta 2-agonist-stimulated lipolysis and messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression studies. There was no significant lipolytic effect of any of the beta 3-AR agonists tested (SR 58611A, BRL 37344, CGP 12177, or CL 316243) in either white or brown tissues. PCR analysis demonstrated that beta 3-AR mRNA expression is not related to the UCP content of fat pads and that beta 3-AR expression is low. This study demonstrates the presence of great proportions of brown adipocytes in adipose tissue and the heterogeneity of the fat pads in baboons. The lack of a metabolic effect of beta 3-agonists combined with the weak expression of beta 3-AR mRNAs raise the question of the role of beta 3-ARs in adipose tissues of primates.
 ...
PMID:Evidence for numerous brown adipocytes lacking functional beta 3-adrenoceptors in fat pads from nonhuman primates. 855 Jul 79

The desensitization process of beta-adrenergic system was assessed by in vivo administration to 7-week old rats of a mixed beta-agonist, metaproterenol (3,5-dehydroxyphenyl-N-isopropyl-amine-beta-ethanol sulphate; T1/2=6 hours), (2 mg/kg/d) in treatments of 12 hours, 2 days and 10 days. The in vitro lipolytic effect of selective beta-adrenergic agonists, dobutamine, salbutamol and BRL 37344, as well as plasma free fatty acid concentrations were measured in treated and control animals given vehicle. Different times of exposure to a beta-agonist induced a loss of responsiveness on lipolytic response mediated by beta1 and beta2-adrenoceptors, as demonstrated by decreased affinity and intrinsic activity (maximal effect) of dobutamine and salbutamol. In contrast, no changes were found in beta3 mediated lipolysis. These observations suggest that beta1, beta2 and beta3-adrenoceptors follow different regulatory patterns. Lack of beta3-adrenoceptor desensitization may have important physiological and therapeutic consequences in the treatment of diseases such as obesity and heart failure.
 ...
PMID:Desensitization effect of in vivo treatment with metaproterenol on beta1, beta2 and beta3-adrenergic responsiveness in rat adipocytes. 859 5

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a mediator of chloride ion (Cl-) secretion in the intestine which can be seen as a rise in short circuit current (Isc) in the Ussing chamber model. We investigated the 5-HT receptor mediating 5-HT-induced Cl- secretion in the human jejunum in vitro. Jejunal segments obtained from patients having gastric bypass surgery for obesity, were stripped of muscularis and mounted in Ussing chambers and short-circuited. The 5-HT receptor agonist-induced change (delta) in Isc was recorded in the presence and and absence of 5-HT receptor antagonists. The rank order of agonist potency was: 5-HT > 5-methoxytryptamine > renzapride (BRL 24924 > alpha-methyl-5-HT >> 2-methyl-5-HT. In the presence of Cl(-)-free media or 100 microM furosemide, 5-HT-induced delta Isc was significantly reduced. It was also antagonized by > or = 1 microM tropisetron (a 5-HT 3/5-HT4 receptor antagonist) and > or = 10 nM GR 113808 (a selective 5-HT4 receptor antagonist) with pA2 values of 6.5 and 7.9, respectively. Another 5-HT4 receptor antagonist, SC 53606 (0.1 microM), antagonized the 5-HT-induced response with a pA2 of 7.3 5-HT1-like/5-HT2 (methysergide), 5-HT1P [N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptophyl 5-hydroxytryptophan amide (5-HT-DP], 5-HT2A (ketanserin) and 5-HT3 (ondansetron) receptor antagonists and tetrodotoxin, had no significant effect on the EC50 for 5-HT. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that in the human muscle-stripped jejunum in vitro, 5-HT induced change in short circuit current is mediated by a 5-HT4 receptor via a non-neural pathway.
 ...
PMID:The role of the 5-HT4 receptor in Cl- secretion in human jejunal mucosa. 895 25

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) such as BRL 49653 are a class of antidiabetic agents that are agonists for the peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptor (PPAR-gamma2). In vivo, TZDs reduce circulating levels of free fatty acids (FFAs) and ameliorate insulin resistance in individuals with obesity and NIDDM. Adipocyte production of TNF-alpha is proposed to play a role in the development of insulin resistance, and because BRL 49653 has been shown to antagonize some of the effects of TNF-alpha, we examined the effects of TNF-alpha and BRL 49653 on adipocyte lipolysis. After a 24-h incubation of TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) with 3T3-L1 adipocytes, glycerol release increased by approximately 7-fold, and FFA release increased by approximately 44-fold. BRL 49653 (10 pmol/l) reduced TNF-alpha-induced glycerol release by approximately 50% (P < 0.001) and FFA release by approximately 90% (P < 0.001). BRL 49653 also reduced glycerol release by approximately 50% in adipocytes pretreated for 24 h with TNF-alpha. Prolonged treatment (5 days) with either BRL 49653 or another PPAR-gamma2 agonist, 15-d delta-12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15-d deltaPGJ2), blocked TNF-alpha-induced glycerol release by approximately 100%. Catecholamine (isoproterenol)-stimulated lipolysis was unaffected by BRL 49653 and 15-d deltaPGJ2. BRL 49653 partially blocked the TNF-alpha-mediated reduction in protein levels of hormone-sensitive lipase and perilipin A, two proteins involved in adipocyte lipolysis. These data suggest a novel pathway that may contribute to the ability of the TZDs to reduce serum FFA and increase insulin sensitivity.
 ...
PMID:BRL 49653 blocks the lipolytic actions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha: a potential new insulin-sensitizing mechanism for thiazolidinediones. 956 6

Expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNFalpha) in adipocytes has been reported to correlate with insulin resistance associated with obesity. The thiazolidinediones such as BRL 49653 have been reported to improve insulin sensitivity in obese animals and humans. Although its exact mechanism of action is not known, BRL 49653 has been shown to antagonize some of the inhibitory actions of TNFalpha. BRL 49653 binds and activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARgamma2), an important nuclear transcription factor in adipocyte differentiation; however, its regulation of PPARgamma2 in differentiated adipocytes is unknown. In this paper, we find that BRL 49653 blocked the ability of TNFalpha to down-regulate the expression and transcription of several adipocyte genes, but BRL 49653 did not prevent TNFalpha from down-regulating PPARgamma2. Moreover, BRL 49653 alone initially decreased the expression of PPARgamma2 mRNA and protein greatly. After 24 h of treatment in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, BRL 49653 down-regulated PPARgamma2 by greater than 90% and potentiated the decrease of PPARgamma2 mRNA by TNFalpha at this time. These unexpected results prompted us to repeat the experiments for a longer time to determine whether BRL 49653 would continue to down-regulate PPARgamma2. With prolonged BRL 49653 treatment, PPARgamma2 mRNA expression was not decreased as greatly, and the protein levels were decreased 20-30% below control at 72 h compared to 90% at 24 h. Although BRL 49653 continued to prevent the inhibitory effects of TNFgamma on perilipin and aP2 mRNA, by 72 h, BRL 49653 was not as potent an inhibitor of TNFalpha's down-regulation of perilipin protein. Since PPARgamma2 protein was more abundant at this time, these results suggest that the level of PPARgamma2 protein is not the sole factor that regulates the transcriptional control by BRL 49653.
 ...
PMID:The short- and long-term effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and BRL 49653 on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma2 gene expression and other adipocyte genes. 971 41

1. The thermogenic activity of the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor sibutramine (BTS 54524; Reductil) was investigated by measuring oxygen consumption (VO2) in rats treated with sibutramine or its two pharmacologically-active metabolites. 2. Sibutramine caused a dose-dependent rise in VO2, with a dose of 10 mg kg(-1) of sibutramine or its metabolites producing increases of up to 30% that were sustained for at least 6 h, and accompanied by significant increases (0.5-1.0 degrees C) in body temperature. 3. Based on the accumulation in vivo of radiolabelled 2-deoxy-[3H]-glucose, sibutramine had little or no effect on glucose utilization in most tissues, but caused an 18 fold increase in brown adipose tissue (BAT). 4. Combined high, non-selective doses (20 mg kg(-1)) of the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, atenolol and ICI 118551, inhibited completely the VO2 response to sibutramine, but the response was unaffected by low, beta1-adrenoceptor-selective (atenolol) or beta2-adrenoceptor-selective (ICI 118551) doses (1 mg kg(-1)). 5. The ganglionic blocking agent, chlorisondamine (15 mg kg(-1)), inhibited completely the VO2 response to the metabolites of sibutramine, but had no effect on the thermogenic response to the beta3-adrenoceptor-selective agonist BRL 35135. 6. Similar thermogenic responses were produced by simultaneous injection of nisoxetine and fluoxetine at doses (30 mg kg(-1)) that had no effect on VO2 when injected individually. 7. It is concluded that stimulation of thermogenesis by sibutramine requires central reuptake inhibition of both serotonin and noradrenaline, resulting in increased efferent sympathetic activation of BAT thermogenesis via beta3-adrenoceptor, and that this contributes to the compound's activity as an anti-obesity agent.
 ...
PMID:Thermogenic effects of sibutramine and its metabolites. 1021 44

The recently identified uncoupling protein-3 (UCP-3) gene, predicted to encode a new member of the family of uncoupling proteins, is preferentially expressed in skeletal muscle and has been related to phenotypes of obesity and type 2 diabetes. We have established that during mouse ontogeny, the expression of the UCP-3 gene is switched on in skeletal muscle just after birth. The induction of UCP-3 gene expression is dependent on the initiation of suckling and particularly on lipid intake. Treatment of newborn mice with activators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), such as clofibrate, bezafibrate, or (4-chloro-6-(2,3-xylidine)-pirimidinylthio)acetic acid (WY 14,643), mimics the action of food intake on UCP-3 gene expression. The specific ligand of PPAR-alpha WY 14,643 induces UCP-3 gene expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner, whereas the thiazolidinedione BRL 49653, specific for PPAR-gamma, has no effect. These treatments act without altering circulating free fatty acids. During development, skeletal muscle expresses constitutive levels of PPAR-delta mRNA, whereas expression of the PPAR-gamma gene is undetectable. PPAR-alpha gene expression is developmentally regulated in muscle as it is first expressed at birth, just before UCP-3 gene induction occurs. The induction of UCP-3 gene expression by WY 14,643 is impaired in skeletal muscle of premature neonates, which do not express PPAR-alpha. It is proposed that the UCP-3 gene is predominantly regulated in neonatal muscle by PPAR-alpha activation.
 ...
PMID:Activators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha induce the expression of the uncoupling protein-3 gene in skeletal muscle: a potential mechanism for the lipid intake-dependent activation of uncoupling protein-3 gene expression at birth. 1034 7

BRL 26830A, a beta adrenoceptor agonist, has been shown to have antiobesity and antidiabetic properties in rodents. The aim of this study was to study the effects of chronic BRL 26830A treatment (20 mg/kg/day for 9 weeks) on weight gain and the development of insulin resistance in gold-thioglucose-injected mice (GTG). BRL 26830A slowed the rate of weight gain in GTG such that mice weighed significantly less between 2 w and 7 w of treatment. However, at the time of sacrifice (9 w), there was no difference in body weight between treated and untreated GTG. The obesity-induced reduction in lipogenesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) was increased 9 fold to greater than CON levels. However, weight and fatty acid (FA) content of BAT were reduced, suggesting increased lipid turnover and thermogenesis. Lipogenesis, FA content and fat pad weight were unchanged in white adipose tissue (WAT) and decreased in liver of GTG. Glucose tolerance was improved in both CON and GTG. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and changes in cardiac and hepatic glucose oxidation as indicated by PDHC activity were normalized. Serum triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids were reduced. Thus, chronic BRL 26830A treatment prevented the development of insulin resistance and attenuated weight gain, but did not prevent the development of obesity in this model.
 ...
PMID:Chronic administration of BRL 26830A for 9 weeks improves insulin sensitivity but does not prevent weight gain in gold-thioglucose obese mice. 1042 27

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), secreted by cells of the macrophage-monocyte lineage, has a well established role in inflammation and host-defence. The more recent discovery that adipocytes also secrete TNF-alpha has led to a substantial body of research implicating this molecule in the insulin resistance of obesity. However, little is known about the normal regulation of TNF-alpha release from human adipose tissue. In particular, it is not known whether adipocyte production of TNF-alpha is responsive to similar or different molecular regulators than those relevant to macrophages. TNF-alpha release from cultured human adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes was examined using an ELISA. Insulin, cortisol or the thiazolidinedione, BRL 49653, did not have a significant effect on TNF-alpha release from adipose tissue or isolated adipocytes. In contrast, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major stimulus of TNF-alpha protein production in monocytes and macrophages, resulted in a fivefold stimulation of TNF-alpha release from human adipose tissue. Significant stimulation of TNF-alpha release was also seen from isolated adipocytes, indicating that the increase in TNF-alpha release from adipose tissue in the presence of LPS is unlikely to be entirely attributable to contaminating monocytes or macrophages. Consistent with this observation was the finding that mRNA for CD14, a known cellular receptor for LPS, is expressed in human adipocytes. The increase in TNF-alpha protein release in response to LPS was blocked by an inhibitor of the matrix metalloproteinase responsible for the cleavage of the membrane-bound proform of TNF-alpha, indicating that this release represented regulated secretion and was not due to cell lysis. In conclusion, the regulation of TNF-alpha protein release from human adipose tissue and isolated adipocytes appears to be similar to its regulation in cell types more traditionally implicated in host defence. The production by the adipocyte of a range of molecules involved in host defence-TNF-alpha, factors D, B and C3, interleukin-6, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor--suggest that this cell type may make a significant contribution to innate immunity.
 ...
PMID:Regulation of tumour necrosis factor-alpha release from human adipose tissue in vitro. 1049 4

Expression of the gene encoding resistin, a low molecular weight protein secreted from adipose tissue postulated to link obesity and type II diabetes, was examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Resistin mRNA was detected in 3T3-L1 cells by day 3 following induction of differentiation into adipocytes; by day 4 the level of resistin mRNA peaked and remained high. The PPARgamma activators, rosiglitazone or darglitazone, reduced the level of resistin mRNA. Dexamethasone upregulated resistin mRNA level, but no effect was observed with the beta(3)-adrenoceptor agonist, BRL 37344. A substantial reduction in resistin mRNA level was observed with insulin, which induced decreases at physiological concentrations. Insulin may be a major inhibitor of resistin production, and this does not support a role for resistin in insulin resistance.
 ...
PMID:Inhibition by insulin of resistin gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. 1168 67


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 Next >>