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 orphan nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma, is implicated in mediating expression of fat-specific genes and in activating the program of adipocyte differentiation. The potential for regulation of PPAR gamma gene expression in vivo is unknown. We cloned a partial mouse PPAR gamma cDNA and developed an RNase protection assay that permits simultaneous quantitation of mRNAs for both gamma l and gamma 2 isoforms encoded by the PPAR gamma gene. Probes for detection of adipocyte P2, the obese gene product, leptin, and 18S mRNAs were also employed. Both gamma l and gamma 2 mRNAs were abundantly expressed in adipose tissue. PPAR gamma 1 expression was also detected at lower levels in liver, spleen, and heart; whereas, gamma l and gamma 2 mRNA were expressed at low levels in skeletal muscle. Adipose tissue levels of gamma l and gamma 2 were not altered in two murine models of obesity (gold thioglucose and ob/ob), but were modestly increased in mice with toxigene-induced brown fat ablation uncoupling protein diphtheria toxin A mice. Fasting (12-48 h) was associated with an 80% fall in PPAR gamma 2 and a 50% fall in PPAR gamma mRNA levels in adipose tissue. Western blot analysis demonstrated a marked effect of fasting to reduce PPAR gamma protein levels in adipose tissue. Similar effects of fasting on PPAR gamma mRNAs were noted in all three models of obesity. Insulin-deficient (streptozotocin) diabetes suppressed adipose tissue gamma l and gamma 2 expression by 75% in normal mice with partial restoration during insulin treatment. Levels of adipose tissue PPAR gamma 2 mRNA were increased by 50% in normal mice exposed to a high fat diet. In obese uncoupling protein diphtheria toxin A mice, high fat feeding resulted in de novo induction of PPAR gamma 2 expression in liver. We conclude (a) PPAR gamma 2 mRNA expression is most abundant in adipocytes in normal mice, but lower level expression is seen in skeletal muscle; (b) expression of adipose tissue gamma1 or gamma2 mRNAs is increased in only one of the three models of obesity; (c) PPAR gamma 1 and gamma 2 expression is downregulated by fasting and insulin-deficient diabetes; and (d) exposure of mice to a high fat diet increases adipose tissue expression of PPAR gamma (in normal mice) and induces PPAR gamma 2 mRNA expression in liver (in obese mice). These findings demonstrate in vivo modulation of PPAR gamma mRNA levels over a fourfold range and provide an additional level of regulation for the control of adipocyte development and function.
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PMID:Regulation of PPAR gamma gene expression by nutrition and obesity in rodents. 864 48

The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR gamma) plays a key role in adipogenesis and adipocyte gene expression and is the receptor for the thiazolidinedione class of insulin-sensitizing drugs. The tissue expression and potential for regulation of human PPAR gamma gene expression in vivo are unknown. We have cloned a partial human PPAR gamma cDNA, and established an RNase protection assay that permits simultaneous measurements of both PPAR gamma1 and PPAR gamma2 splice variants. Both gamma1 and gamma2 mRNAs were abundantly expressed in adipose tissue. PPAR gamma1 was detected at lower levels in liver and heart, whereas both gamma1 and gamma2 mRNAs were expressed at low levels in skeletal muscle. To examine the hypothesis that obesity is associated with abnormal adipose tissue expression of PPAR gamma, we quantitated PPARgamma mRNA splice variants in subcutaneous adipose tissue of 14 lean and 24 obese subjects. Adipose expression of PPARgamma 2 mRNA was increased in human obesity (14.25 attomol PPAR gamma2/18S in obese females vs 9.9 in lean, P = 0.003). This increase was observed in both male and females. In contrast, no differences were observed in PPAR gamma1/18S mRNA expression. There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.70, P < 0.001) between the ratio of PPAR gamma2/gamma1 and the body mass index of these patients. We also observed sexually dimorphic expression with increased expression of both PPAR gamma1 and PPAR gamma2 mRNAs in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of women compared with men. To determine the effect of weight loss on PPAR gamma mRNA expression, seven additional obese subjects were fed a low calorie diet (800 Kcal) until 10% weight loss was achieved. Mean expression of adipose PPAR gamma2 mRNA fell 25% (P = 0.0250 after a 10% reduction in body weight), but then increased to pretreatment levels after 4 wk of weight maintenance. Nutritional regulation of PPAR gamma1 was not seen. In vitro experiments revealed a synergistic effect of insulin and corticosteroids to induce PPAR gamma expression in isolated human adipocytes in culture. We conclude that: (a) human PPAR gamma mRNA expression is most abundant in adipose tissue, but lower level expression of both splice variants is seen in skeletal muscle; to an extent that is unlikely to be due to adipose contamination. (b) RNA derived from adipose tissue of obese humans has increased expression of PPAR gamma 2 mRNA, as well as an increased ratio of PPAR gamma2/gamma1 splice variants that is proportional to the BMI; (c) a low calorie diet specifically down-regulates the expression of PPAR gamma2 mRNA in adipose tissue of obese humans; (d) insulin and corticosteroids synergistically induce PPAR gamma mRNA after in vitro exposure to isolated human adipocytes; and (e) the in vivo modulation of PPAR gamma2 mRNA levels is an additional level of regulation for the control of adipocyte development and function, and could provide a molecular mechanism for alterations in adipocyte number and function in obesity.
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PMID:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gene expression in human tissues. Effects of obesity, weight loss, and regulation by insulin and glucocorticoids. 915 84

Members of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family might be involved in pathologies with altered lipid metabolism. They participate in the control of the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and adipocyte differentiation. In addition, thiazolidinediones improve insulin resistance in vivo by activating PPAR gamma. However, little is known regarding their tissue distribution and relative expression in humans. Using a quantitative and sensitive reverse transcription (RT)-competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, we determined the distribution and relative mRNA expression of the four PPARs (alpha,beta, gamma1, and gamma2) and liver X receptor-alpha (LXR alpha) in the main tissues implicated in lipid metabolism. PPAR alpha and LXR alpha were mainly expressed in liver, while PPAR gamma1 predominated in adipose tissue and large intestine. We found that PPAR gamma2 mRNA was a minor isoform, even in adipose tissue, thus causing question of its role in humans. PPAR beta mRNA was present in all the tissues tested at low levels. In addition, PPAR gamma mRNA was barely detectable in skeletal muscle, suggesting that improvement of insulin resistance with thiazolidinediones may not result from a direct effect of these agents on PPAR gamma in muscle. Obesity and NIDDM were not associated with change in PPARs and LXR alpha expression in adipose tissue. The mRNA levels of PPAR gamma1, the predominant form in adipocytes, did not correlate with BMI, leptin mRNA levels, or fasting insulinemia in 29 subjects with various degrees of obesity. These results indicated that obesity is not associated with alteration in PPAR gene expression in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue in humans.
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PMID:Tissue distribution and quantification of the expression of mRNAs of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and liver X receptor-alpha in humans: no alteration in adipose tissue of obese and NIDDM patients. 923 57

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.
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PMID:BRL 49653 blocks the lipolytic actions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha: a potential new insulin-sensitizing mechanism for thiazolidinediones. 956 6

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a transcription factor that has a pivotal role in adipocyte differentiation and expression of adipocyte-specific genes. The PPARgamma1 and gamma2 isoforms result from alternative splicing and have ligand-dependent and -independent activation domains. PPARgamma2 has an additional 28 amino acids at its amino terminus that renders its ligand-independent activation domain 5-10-fold more effective than that of PPARgamma1. Insulin stimulates the ligand-independent activation of PPARgamma1 and gamma2 (ref. 5), however, obesity and nutritional factors only influence the expression of PPARgamma2 in human adipocytes. Here, we report that a relatively common Pro12Ala substitution in PPARgamma2 is associated with lower body mass index (BMI; P=0.027; 0.015) and improved insulin sensitivity among middle-aged and elderly Finns. A significant odds ratio (4.35, P=0.028) for the association of the Pro/Pro genotype with type 2 diabetes was observed among Japanese Americans. The PPARgamma2 Ala allele showed decreased binding affinity to the cognate promoter element and reduced ability to transactivate responsive promoters. These findings suggest that the PPARgamma2 Pro12Ala variant may contribute to the observed variability in BMI and insulin sensitivity in the general population.
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PMID:A Pro12Ala substitution in PPARgamma2 associated with decreased receptor activity, lower body mass index and improved insulin sensitivity. 980 49

We cloned 537 basepairs (bp) of rat partial peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 (PPARgamma2) cDNA and examined the effect of fasting or obesity on the expression of two isoforms of rat PPARgamma, gamma1 and gamma2, in either subcutaneous or mesenteric adipose tissue specimens using an RNase A protection assay. In Wistar rats, expression of both isoforms was dramatically reduced after 48 hours of fasting in the two fat tissue specimens. In comparing genetically obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats and lean control rats, no significant difference was observed in expression of the two isoforms in either type of adipose tissue. From these findings, we conclude that the adipose tissue level of rat PPARgamma depends on nutritional deprivation but is not closely associated with either obesity or insulin resistance in obese Zucker rats.
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PMID:Subcutaneous or visceral adipose tissue expression of the PPARgamma gene is not altered in the fatty (fa/fa) Zucker rat. 986 80

Both bone mass and serum leptin levels are increased in obesity. Because osteoblasts and adipocytes arise from a common precursor in bone marrow, we assessed the effects of human recombinant leptin on a conditionally immortalized human marrow stromal cell line, hMS2-12, with the potential to differentiate to either the osteoblast or adipocyte phenotypes. By RT-PCR and Western immunoblot analysis, the hMS2-12 cells expressed messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein for the leptin receptor. Leptin did not affect hMS2-12 cell proliferation, but resulted in dose- and time-dependent increases in mRNA and protein levels of alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen, and osteocalcin, and in a 59% increase in mineralized matrix. Leptin increased mRNA levels of lipoprotein lipase at 3 days, but decreased mRNA levels of adipsin and leptin at 9 days and decreased lipid droplet formation by 50%. Leptin did not affect the expression of Cbfa1 or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2, transcription factors involved in commitment to the osteoblast and adipocyte pathways, respectively. Thus, leptin acts on human marrow stromal cells to enhance osteoblast differentiation and to inhibit adipocyte differentiation. Our data support the hypothesis that leptin is a previously unrecognized, physiological regulator of these two differentiation pathways, acting primarily on maturation of stromal cells into both lineages.
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PMID:Leptin acts on human marrow stromal cells to enhance differentiation to osteoblasts and to inhibit differentiation to adipocytes. 1009 97

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma is one of the key actors of adipocyte differentiation. This study demonstrates 1) that PPAR-gamma mRNA expression is not altered in subcutaneous adipose tissue (n = 44) or in skeletal muscle (n = 19) of subjects spanning a wide range of BMIs (20-53 kg/m2) and 2) that insulin acutely increases PPAR-gamma mRNA expression in human adipocytes both in vivo and in vitro. The effect of insulin was investigated in abdominal subcutaneous biopsies obtained before and at the end of a 3-h euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. Insulin significantly increased PPAR-gamma mRNA levels in lean subjects (88 +/- 17%, n = 6), in type 2 diabetic patients (100 +/- 19%, n = 6), and in nondiabetic obese patients (91 +/- 20%, n = 6). Both PPAR-gamma1 and PPAR-gamma2 mRNA variants were increased (P < 0.05) after insulin infusion. In isolated human adipocytes, insulin induced the two PPAR-gamma mRNAs in a dose-dependent manner, with half-maximal stimulation at a concentration of approximately 1-5 nmol/l. However, PPAR-gamma2 mRNA was rapidly (2 h) and transiently increased, whereas a slow and more progressive induction of PPAR-gamma1 was observed during the 6 h of incubation. In explants of human adipose tissue, PPAR-gamma protein levels were significantly increased (42 +/- 3%, P < 0.05) after 12 h of incubation with insulin. These data demonstrate that PPAR-gamma belongs to the list of the insulin-regulated genes and that obesity and type 2 diabetes are not associated with alteration in the expression of this nuclear receptor in adipose tissue.
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PMID:Insulin acutely regulates the expression of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma in human adipocytes. 1010 84

We have examined the effects of underfeeding and obesity on the density of hypothalamic melanocortin MC3 and MC4 receptors (MC3-R and MC4-R, respectively), which may mediate the hypophagic effects of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) in the rat. MC3-R and MC4-R were measured by quantitative autoradiography in brain sections using 125I-labeled Nle4-D-Phe7-alpha-MSH (125I-NDP-MSH) and discriminated by masking MC3-R with excess unlabelled gamma2-MSH. High densities of MC4-R occurred in the ventromedial (VMH) and arcuate (ARC) nuclei, median eminence (ME), and medial habenular nucleus (MHb), with lower densities in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) and forebrain regions. MC3-R were confined to the VMH, ARC, and MHb. After 10-days of food restriction (14% weight loss), density of MC4-R was significantly increased by 20-65% in the VMH, ARC, ME, and DMH, with no changes elsewhere. Similarly, obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats showed 43-98% increases in MC4-R in the same regions. By contrast, rats with diet-induced obesity (18% heavier than controls) showed significantly decreased binding to MC4-R, especially in the VMH, ARC, and ME. MC3-R showed no significant alterations in any model. We suggest that increased density of MC4-R with food restriction and in obese Zucker rats reflects receptor upregulation secondary to decreased release of alpha-MSH, consistent with increased hunger in these models. Conversely, downregulation of MC4-R in diet-induced obesity may indicate increased alpha-MSH secretion in an attempt to limit overeating. This alpha-MSH/MC4-R system may be inhibited by leptin and/or insulin. MC3-R are not apparently involved in regulating feeding.
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PMID:Altered energy balance causes selective changes in melanocortin-4(MC4-R), but not melanocortin-3 (MC3-R), receptors in specific hypothalamic regions: further evidence that activation of MC4-R is a physiological inhibitor of feeding. 1033

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 (PPARgamma2) is almost uniquely expressed in adipose tissue and is of major importance for fat cell differentiation and lipid metabolism. This study was undertaken to assess whether two missense variants in the PPARgamma2 gene are associated with early-onset obesity. A previously described polymorphism encoding for an amino acid exchange in codon 12 (Pro12Ala) was detected with allele frequencies of 0.13 in 296 markedly obese children and adolescents and 0.14 in 130 lean individuals. A Pro115Gln variant, which had been linked to obesity in Germans in a previous association study, was not detected in any of our obese or lean subjects, who are also of German origin. We conclude from our data that these two variants in the PPARgamma2 gene are unlikely to contribute to the high prevalence of early-onset obesity.
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PMID:Missense variants in the human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 gene in lean and obese subjects. 1040 29


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