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

The three beta AR (beta-adrenergic receptor) subtypes (beta(1)AR, beta(2)AR, and beta(3)AR) are members of the large family of G protein-coupled receptors, each of which is coupled to G alpha s and increases in intracellular cAMP levels. In white adipose tissues, catecholamine activation of the beta ARs leads to the mobilization of stored fatty acids and regulates release of several adipokines, whereas in brown adipose tissue they stimulate the specialized process of adaptive nonshivering thermogenesis. Noteworthy, in most models of obesity the beta AR system is dysfunctional, and its ability to stimulate lipolysis and thermogenesis are both impaired. Nevertheless, selective agonists for the beta(3)AR, a subtype that is found predominantly in adipocytes, have been able to prevent or reverse obesity and accompanying insulin resistance in animal models. Whether this is a viable therapeutic option for human obesity is much debated with regard to the existence of brown adipocytes in humans or their ability to be recruited. Nevertheless, probing the physiological changes in adrenoceptor function in rodent obesity, as well as the process by which beta(3)AR agonists promote a thermogenic shift in fuel use, have yielded unexpected new insights into beta AR signaling and adipocyte physiology. These include the recent discovery of an essential role of p38 MAPK in mediating adaptive thermogenesis, as well as the accessory role of the ERK MAPK pathway for the control of lipolysis. Because these metabolic events were traditionally ascribed solely to the cAMP/protein kinase A system, the integration of these signaling mechanisms may pose new therapeutic directions in the quest to counter the obesity epidemic in our midst.
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PMID:Learning new tricks from old dogs: beta-adrenergic receptors teach new lessons on firing up adipose tissue metabolism. 1524 32

Phosphorylation of the cell adhesion protein CEACAM1 increases insulin sensitivity and decreases insulin-dependent mitogenesis in vivo. Here we show that CEACAM1 is a substrate of the EGFR and that upon being phosphorylated, CEACAM1 reduces EGFR-mediated growth of transfected Cos-7 and MCF-7 cells in response to EGF. Using transgenic mice overexpressing a phosphorylation-defective CEACAM1 mutant in liver (L-SACC1), we show that the effect of CEACAM1 on EGF-dependent cell proliferation is mediated by its ability to bind to and sequester Shc, thus uncoupling EGFR signaling from the ras/MAPK pathway. In L-SACC1 mice, we also show that impaired CEACAM1 phosphorylation leads to ligand-independent increase of EGFR-mediated cell proliferation. This appears to be secondary to visceral obesity and the metabolic syndrome, with increased levels of output of free fatty acids and heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor from the adipose tissue of the mice. Thus, L-SACC1 mice provide a model for the mechanistic link between increased cell proliferation in states of impaired metabolism and visceral obesity.
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PMID:CEACAM1 modulates epidermal growth factor receptor--mediated cell proliferation. 1546 33

Green tea catechins, especially (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), have been proposed as a chemopreventative for obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. However, relatively little is known about the mechanism of the action of EGCG on fat cell function. This study was designed to investigate the pathways of EGCG's modulation of the mitogenesis of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Preadipocyte proliferation as indicated by an increased number of cells and greater incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was inhibited by EGCG in dose-, time-, and growth phase-dependent manners. Also, EGCG dose and time dependently decreased levels of phospho-ERK1/2, Cdk2, and cyclin D(1) proteins, reduced Cdk2 activity, and increased levels of G(0)/G(1) growth arrest, p21(waf/cip), and p27(kip1), but not p18(ink), proteins and their associations to Cdk2. However, neither MEK1, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, phospho-p38, JNK, nor phospho-JNK was changed. Increased phospho-ERK1/2 content and Cdk2 activity, respectively, via the transfection of MEK1 and Cdk2 cDNA into preadipocytes prevented EGCG from reducing cell numbers. These data demonstrate the ERK- and Cdk2-dependent antimitogenic effects of EGCG. Moreover, EGCG was more effective than epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin in changing the mitogenic signals. The signal of EGCG in reducing growth of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differed from that of 3T3 fibroblasts. Results of this study may relate to the mechanism by which EGCG modulates body weight.
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PMID:Antimitogenic effect of green tea (-)-epigallocatechin gallate on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes depends on the ERK and Cdk2 pathways. 1564 88

The results presented herein demonstrate that apelin is expressed and secreted by both human and mouse adipocytes. Apelin mRNA levels in isolated adipocytes are close to other cell types present in white adipose tissue or other organs known to express apelin such as kidney, heart, and to a lesser extent brown adipose tissue. Apelin expression is increased during adipocyte differentiation stage. A comparison of four different models of obesity in mice showed a large increase in both apelin expression in fat cells and apelin plasma levels in all the hyperinsulinemia-associated obesities and clearly demonstrated that obesity or high-fat feeding are not the main determinants of the rise of apelin expression. The lack of insulin in streptozotocin-treated mice is associated with a decreased expression of apelin in adipocytes. Furthermore, apelin expression in fat cells is strongly inhibited by fasting and recovered after refeeding, in a similar way to insulin. A direct regulation of apelin expression by insulin is observed in both human and mouse adipocytes and clearly associated with the stimulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase C, and MAPK. These data provide evidence that insulin exerts a direct control on apelin gene expression in adipocytes. In obese patients, both plasma apelin and insulin levels were significantly higher, suggesting that the regulation of apelin by insulin could influence blood concentrations of apelin. The present work identifies apelin as a novel adipocyte endocrine secretion and focuses on its potential link with obesity-associated variations of insulin sensitivity status.
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PMID:Apelin, a newly identified adipokine up-regulated by insulin and obesity. 1567 59

Derivatives of 3-guanidinopropionic acid, such as leptin, reduce body weight in obese, diabetic mice. We have assessed whether one of these analogues, BVT.12777 activates intracellular signalling pathways in the arcuate nucleus in a manner analogous to leptin and insulin. In addition, because these hormones have been shown to activate K(ATP) channels in a subset of arcuate neurones, we examined whether this channel is also a functional endpoint for BVT.12777 in the arcuate nucleus. BVT.12777 transiently increased phosphorylation of MAPK, STAT3, PKB and GSK3, in a manner identical to that observed for leptin and insulin. BVT.12777 also hyperpolarized glucose-responsive neurones by increasing the activity of K(ATP) channels. The increase in K(ATP) activity driven by BVT.12777 was PI3-kinase independent, unlike leptin and insulin activation of this channel, and could also be elicited in isolated patches. However, K(ATP) activity induced by BVT.12777 was dependent on actin filament dynamics, both in intact neurones and isolated patches. Thus, BVT.12777 modulates arcuate neurone K(ATP) activity by re-organization of the cytoskeleton, a mechanism that has also been ascribed to leptin and insulin. Consequently, BVT.12777 appears to act as a leptin and insulin mimetic with respect to at least some elements of arcuate neurone intracellular signalling and the activation of K(ATP) channels. Resistance to leptin and insulin, associated with obesity has, at least in part, been postulated to be due to aberrant intracellular signalling in arcuate neurones. The data presented here indicate that it may be possible to develop drugs, which by-pass up-stream signalling components associated with adiposity hormone resistance, such as PI3-kinase, but can still induce functional outputs from arcuate neurones by targeting downstream components of the leptin and insulin signalling cascades.
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PMID:Activation of hypothalamic ATP-sensitive K+ channels by the aminoguanidine carboxylate BVT.12777. 1584 36

Body fat distribution determines obesity-related morbidity in adults but little is known of the aetiology or pathophysiology in children. This study investigates differences in insulin-mediated metabolism in primary cell cultures of subcutaneous and visceral preadipocytes derived from prepubertal children. The impact of differentiation and responses to TNFalpha exposure was also investigated. Proliferation rates were greater in subcutaneous versus visceral preadipocytes (41 h3 versus 69 h4; P=0.008). Insulin caused a dose-dependent increase in GSK-3 phosphorylation and an increase in MAPK phosphorylation over time, with increased sensitivity in subcutaneous preadipocytes. Post-differentiation, dose-dependent increases in GSK-3 phosphorylation were maintained, while MAPK phosphorylation was identical in both subtypes. No changes were observed in insulin receptor abundance pre-/post-differentiation. GLUT4 abundance was significantly increased in visceral versus subcutaneous adipocytes by 76(4)%; P=0.03), coincidental with increased insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy-glucose transport (+150(26)% versus +79(10)%; P=0.014) and further elevated by acute exposure to TNFalpha (+230(52)%; P=0.019 versus +123(24)%; P=0.025, respectively). TNFalpha also significantly increased basal glucose transport rates (+44(14)%; P=0.006 versus +34(11)%; P=0.007) and GLUT1 localisation to the plasma membrane. These data establish site-specific differences in subcutaneous and visceral fat cells from children. Responses to insulin varied with differentiation and TNFalpha exposure in the two depots, consistent with parallel changes in GLUT1/4 abundance and localisation.
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PMID:Site-specific differences of insulin action in adipose tissue derived from normal prepubertal children. 1593 53

The plasma lactate concentration in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes is often higher than that in nondiabetic individuals. Although it is known that increased lactate concentration is an independent risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Because inflammation plays an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes, we postulated that increased lactate level might contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes by enhancing inflammation. In the present study, we demonstrated that preexposure of U937 macrophage-like cells to sodium lactate increased LPS-stimulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, IL-1beta, and IL-6 secretion. Augmentation of LPS-stimulated MMP-1 secretion was diminished when sodium lactate was replaced by lactic acid that reduced pH in the culture medium. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR indicated that the increased secretion of MMP-1, IL-1beta, and IL-6 was due to increased mRNA expression. To explore the underlying signaling mechanism, blocking studies using specific inhibitors for NF-kappaB and MAPK cascades were performed. Results showed that blocking of either NF-kappaB or MAPK pathways led to the inhibition of MMP-1, IL-1beta, and IL-6 expression stimulated by sodium lactate, LPS, or both. Finally, electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed a synergy between sodium lactate and LPS on AP-1 and NF-kappaB transcriptional activities. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated for the first time that sodium lactate and LPS exert synergistic effect on MMP and cytokine expression through NF-kappaB and MAPK pathways and revealed a novel mechanism potentially involved in the development of type 2 diabetes and its complications.
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PMID:Sodium lactate increases LPS-stimulated MMP and cytokine expression in U937 histiocytes by enhancing AP-1 and NF-kappaB transcriptional activities. 1594 82

Increased activity of proinflammatory/stress pathways has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in obesity. However, the effects of obesity on the activity of these pathways in skeletal muscle, the major insulin-sensitive tissue by mass, are poorly understood. Furthermore, the mechanisms that activate proinflammatory/stress pathways in obesity are unknown. The present study addressed the effects of diet-induced obesity (DIO; 6 wk of high-fat feeding) and acute (6-h) hyperlipidemia (HL) in rats on activity of IKK/IkappaB/NF-kappaB c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK in three skeletal muscles differing in fiber type [superficial vastus (Vas; fast twitch-glycolytic), soleus (Sol; slow twitch-oxidative), and gastrocnemius (Gas; mixed)]. DIO decreased the levels of the IkappaBalpha in Vas (24 +/- 3%, P = 0.001, n = 8) but not in Sol or Gas compared with standard chow-fed controls. Similar to DIO, HL decreased IkappaBalpha levels in Vas (26 +/- 5%, P = 0.006, n = 6) and in Gas (15 +/- 4%, P = 0.01, n = 7) but not in Sol compared with saline-infused controls. Importantly, the fiber-type-dependent effects on IkappaBalpha levels could not be explained by differential accumulation of triglyceride in Sol and Vas. HL, but not DIO, decreased phospho-p38 MAPK levels in Vas (41 +/- 7% P = 0.004, n = 6) but not in Sol or Gas. Finally, skeletal muscle c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activity was unchanged by DIO or HL. We conclude that diet-induced obesity and acute HL reduce IkappaBalpha levels in rat skeletal muscle in a fiber-type-dependent manner.
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PMID:Diet-induced obesity and acute hyperlipidemia reduce IkappaBalpha levels in rat skeletal muscle in a fiber-type dependent manner. 1608 81

Several lines of evidence have supported a link between obesity and inflammation. The present study investigated the capacity of leptin and globular adiponectin to affect tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production in murine peritoneal macrophages. Leptin stimulated TNF-alpha production at mRNA as well as protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Intracellular cAMP concentration was increased and protein kinase A (PKA) was activated with the treatment of leptin, subsequently downstream MAPK signal proteins, ERK1/2 and p38, were phosphorylated. Specific inhibitors for the signal proteins, Rp cAMPS, H89, PD98059, and U0126, or SB203580, suppressed the signaling pathway and TNF-alpha expression. Although gAd partially increased cAMP concentration and PKA activity, it directly reduced leptin-induced ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation thus inhibiting TNF-alpha production. In conclusion, leptin promotes inflammation by stimulating TNF-alpha production, which is mediated by cAMP-PKA-ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK pathways. gAd inhibited leptin-induced TNF-alpha production through suppressing phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 pathways.
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PMID:Globular adiponectin decreases leptin-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression by murine macrophages: involvement of cAMP-PKA and MAPK pathways. 1643 46

The epidemic of obesity in the developed world over the last two decades is driving a large increase in type 2 diabetes and consequentially setting the scene for an impending wave of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is only now being recognized that the major antecedent of type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance with its attendant syndrome, is the major underlying cause of the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In metabolic tissues, insulin signaling via the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathway leads to glucose uptake so that in insulin resistance a state of hyperglycemia occurs; other factors such as dyslipidemia and hypertension also arise. In cardiovascular tissues there are two pathways of insulin receptor signaling, one that is predominant in metabolic tissues (mediated by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase) and another being a growth factor-like pathway (mediated by MAPK); the down-regulation of the former and continued activity of the latter pathway leads to atherosclerosis. This review addresses the metabolic consequences of the insulin resistance syndrome, its relationship with atherosclerosis, and the impact of insulin resistance on processes of atherosclerosis including insulin signaling in cells of the vasculature.
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PMID:Insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. 1649 3


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