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A Vidal-Puig

Publications and source records attributed to A Vidal-Puig.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

WNT10B mutations in human obesity.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Recent studies suggest that wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 10B (WNT10B) may play a role in the negative regulation of adipocyte differentiation in vitro and in vivo. In order to determine whether mutations in WNT10B contribute to human obesity, we screened two independent populations of obese subjects for mutations in this gene. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We studied 96 subjects with severe obesity of early onset (less than 10 years of age) from the UK Genetics of Obesity Study and 115 obese Italian subjects of European origin. RESULTS: One proband with early-onset obesity was found to be heterozygous for a C256Y mutation, which abrogated the ability of WNT10B to activate canonical WNT signalling and block adipogenesis and was not found in 600 control alleles. All relatives of the proband who carried this allele were either overweight or obese. Three other rare missense variants were found in obese probands, but these did not clearly cosegregate with obesity in family studies and one (P301S), which was found in three unrelated subjects with early-onset obesity, had normal functional properties. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These mutations represent the first naturally occurring missense variants of WNT10B. While the pedigree analysis in the case of C256Y WNT10B does not provide definitive proof of a causal link of this variant with obesity, the finding of a non-functioning WNT10B allele in a human family affected by obesity should encourage further study of this gene in other obese populations.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed2006

Liver-specific deletion of insulin receptor substrate 2 does not impair hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism in mice.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Hepatic insulin resistance is thought to be a critical component in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes but the role of intrinsic insulin signalling pathways in the regulation of hepatic metabolism remains controversial. Global gene targeting in mice and in vitro studies have suggested that IRS2 mediates the physiological effects of insulin in the liver. Reduced hepatic production of IRS2 is found in many cases of insulin resistance. To investigate the role of IRS2 in regulating liver function in vivo, we generated mice that specifically lack Irs2 in the liver (LivIrs2KO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatic insulin signalling events were examined in LivIrs2KO mice by western blotting. Glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity were assessed by glucose tolerance tests and hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp studies. The effects of high-fat feeding upon glucose homeostasis were also determined. Liver function tests were performed and expression of key metabolic genes in the liver was determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Proximal insulin signalling events and forkhead box O1 and A2 function were normal in the liver of LivIrs2KO mice, which displayed minimal abnormalities in glucose and lipid homeostasis, hepatic gene expression and liver function. In addition, hepatic lipid homeostasis and the metabolic response to a high-fat diet did not differ between LivIrs2KO and control mice. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggest that liver IRS2 signalling, surprisingly, is not required for the long-term maintenance of glucose and lipid homeostasis, and that extra-hepatic IRS2-dependent mechanisms are involved in the regulation of these processes.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2006

Anaplerotic roles of pyruvate carboxylase in mammalian tissues.

Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) catalyzes the ATP-dependent carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate. PC serves an anaplerotic role for the tricarboxylic acid cycle, when intermediates are removed for different biosynthetic purposes. In liver and kidney, PC provides oxaloacetate for gluconeogenesis. In adipocytes PC is involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis and glyceroneogenesis, and is regulated by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, suggesting that PC is involved in the metabolic switch controlling fuel partitioning toward lipogenesis. In islets, PC is necessary for glucose-induced insulin secretion by providing oxaloacetate to form malate that participates in the 'pyruvate/malate cycle' to shuttle 3C or 4C between mitochondria and cytoplasm. Hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia impair this cycle and affect glucose-stimulated insulin release. In astrocytes, PC is important for de novo synthesis of glutamate, an important excitatory neurotransmitter supplied to neurons. Transcriptional studies of the PC gene pinpoint some transcription factors that determine tissue-specific expression.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Expression of the thermogenic nuclear hormone receptor coactivator PGC-1alpha is reduced in the adipose tissue of morbidly obese subjects.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC1alpha) is an accessory protein which can potentiate the transcriptional activation function of many nuclear hormone receptors. Its tissue distribution and physiological studies suggest that its principal in vivo roles are to promote cold-induced thermogenesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, hepatic gluconeogenesis, and fatty acid beta-oxidation. It is expressed in the white adipose tissue of both humans and rodents, and in rodents it has been suggested to mediate in part the leptin-induced conversion of white adipocytes from fat storing to fat oxidising cells. In this study, quantitative real-time PCR has been used in human tissue to demonstrate that (1) PGC1alpha mRNA levels in subcutaneous fat are three-fold lower in morbidly obese than in slim subjects; (2) there are no differences in PGC1alpha mRNA between omental and subcutaneous mature adipocytes; (3) there is a robust induction of PGC1alpha expression during subcutaneous human preadipocyte differentiation ex vivo. Whether low PGC1alpha expression is a prelude to the development of obesity, or a consequence of that obesity, attempts to upregulate endogenous white adipose tissue expression may prove a valuable new avenue to explore in obesity therapy.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed2002

Differential effects of adiposity on peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma1 and gamma2 messenger ribonucleic acid expression in human adipocytes.

Both genetic and pharmacological studies raise the possibility that a primary increase in the amount or activity of peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) in adipocytes could play a role in common types of human obesity. Using real-time RT-PCR assays we examined the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and PPARgamma isoform expression in freshly isolated human adipocytes. There were no consistent differences in the expression of either PPARgamma1 mRNA or PPARgamma2 mRNA between omental and sc adipocytes. In a group of 17 subjects (BMI range, 17-34 kg/m(2)) there was a strong and highly significant inverse correlation (r = -0.68; P < 0.005) between PPARgamma1 mRNA expression in adipocytes and BMI, whereas no significant relationship was apparent for PPARgamma2. In an independent study PPARgamma1 mRNA levels were decreased (1.1 +/- 0.1 vs. 3.7 +/- 0.8 arbitrary units; P < 0.01) in adipocytes from morbidly obese (BMI, 50.6 +/- 14.1 kg/m(2)) vs. lean (BMI, 21.1 +/- 1.0 kg/m(2)) subjects. In contrast, there was a significant increase in the expression of PPARgamma2 mRNA levels between the morbidly obese and lean groups (1.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.2 arbitrary units; P < 0.05). Treatment of isolated human adipocytes with TNFalpha resulted in a significant decrease in both PPARgamma1 and PPARgamma2 mRNA levels [40.6 +/- 5.5% relative to control (P = 0.01) and 60.9 +/- 24.8% (P = 0.02) respectively]. The strong inverse relationship between BMI and PPARgamma1 expression in human adipocytes is striking and may represent part of an autoregulatory mechanism restraining the expansion of individual adipocytes in states of positive energy balance. On the other hand, the increase in PPARgamma2 observed in adipocytes of morbidly obese individuals suggests a potential pathogenic effect of this isoform in promoting fat acquisition. Although an autocrine effect of the enhanced TNFalpha secretion seen with increasing obesity might play a role in the changes in PPARgamma1, this would not provide an explanation for the different relationship of PPARgamma2 to adiposity. The significance of the divergent effect of human adiposity on the two isoforms will require a greater understanding of the differential properties of the two isoforms and of the differences in the functions of their respective regulatory elements.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed2002

Mitochondrial uncoupling proteins in human physiology and disease.

Uncoupling proteins are mitochondrial carrier proteins that catalyse a regulated proton leak across the inner mitochondrial membrane, diverting free energy from ATP synthesis by the mitochondrial F0F1-ATP synthase to the production of heat. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which is exclusively expressed in brown adipose tissue, is the mediator of thermogenesis in response to beta-adrenergic stimulation. Using gene a knockout mouse model, UCP1 has been shown to be required for cold acclimation. Two homologues of UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3, have been identified recently and show a much wider tissue distribution. UCP2 and UCP3 have been postulated to play a role in the regulation of cold acclimation, energy expenditure and diet-induced thermogenesis in humans, who, in contrast to rodents, have very little brown fat in adult life. However, evidence is accumulating that thermogenesis and regulation of body weight may not be the physiological functions of UCP2 and UCP3. For instance, mice deficient for UCP2 or UCP3 are not cold-intolerant and do not develop obesity. Alternative functions were suggested, primarily based on findings in UCP2 and UCP3 gene knockout mice. Both UCP2- and UCP3-deficient mice were found to overproduce reactive oxygen species and UCP2-deficient mice to hypersecrete insulin. Thus, the UCP1 homologues may play a role in regulating mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species and b-cell function. In this review, we discuss the role of UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3 in human physiology and disease, primarily based on findings from the various animal models that have been generated.

Carrier Proteins↗
PubMed2001

Uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) stimulates glucose uptake in muscle cells through a phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent mechanism.

UCP3 is a mitochondrial membrane protein expressed in humans selectively in skeletal muscle. To determine the mechanisms by which UCP3 plays a role in regulating glucose metabolism, we expressed human UCP3 in L6 myotubes by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer and in H(9)C(2) cardiomyoblasts by stable transfection with a tetracycline-repressible UCP3 construct. Expression of UCP3 in L6 myotubes increased 2-deoxyglucose uptake 2-fold and cell surface GLUT4 2.3-fold, thereby reaching maximally insulin-stimulated levels in control myotubes. Wortmannin, LY 294002, or the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein abolished the effect of UCP3 on glucose uptake, and wortmannin inhibited UCP3-induced GLUT4 cell surface recruitment. UCP3 overexpression increased phosphotyrosine-associated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity 2.2-fold compared with control cells (p < 0.05). UCP3 overexpression increased lactate release 1.5- to 2-fold above control cells, indicating increased glucose metabolism. In H(9)C(2) cardiomyoblasts stably transfected with UCP3 under control of a tetracycline-repressible promotor, removal of doxycycline resulted in detectable levels of UCP3 at 12 h and 2.2-fold induction at 7 days compared with 12 h. In parallel, glucose transport increased 1.3- and 2-fold at 12 h and 7 days, respectively, and the stimulation was inhibited by wortmannin or genistein. p85 association with membranes was increased 5.5-fold and phosphotyrosine-associated PI3K activity 3.8-fold. In contrast, overexpression of UCP3 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes did not alter glucose uptake, suggesting tissue-specific effects of human UCP3. Thus, UCP3 stimulates glucose transport and GLUT4 translocation to the cell surface in cardiac and skeletal muscle cells by activating a PI3K dependent pathway.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed2001

Resistin / Fizz3 expression in relation to obesity and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma action in humans.

Recent studies in murine models suggest that resistin (also called Fizz3 [1]), a novel cysteine-rich protein secreted by adipocytes, may represent the long-sought link between obesity and insulin resistance (2). Furthermore, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonists appear to inhibit resistin expression in murine adipocytes, providing a possible explanation for the mode of action of this class of insulin sensitizers (2). Using a fluorescent real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-based assay, we found that resistin mRNA levels in whole adipose tissue samples were increased in morbidly obese humans compared with lean control subjects. However, in freshly isolated human adipocytes, resistin mRNA levels were very low and showed no correlation with BMI. Resistin mRNA was undetectable in preadipocytes, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells, but it was readily detectable in circulating mononuclear cells. Although exposure of human mononuclear cells to PPAR-gamma agonists markedly upregulated fatty acid-binding protein-4 expression, these agents had no effect on mononuclear cell resistin expression. Finally, resistin mRNA was undetectable in adipocytes from a severely insulin-resistant subject with a dominant-negative mutation in PPAR-gamma (3). We conclude that the recently described relationships of murine resistin/Fizz3 expression with obesity, insulin resistance, and PPAR-gamma action may not readily translate to humans. Further studies of this novel class of proteins are needed to clarify their roles in human metabolism.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed1999

Role of the beta(3)-adrenergic receptor and/or a putative beta(4)-adrenergic receptor on the expression of uncoupling proteins and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1.

Administration of beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) agonists, especially beta(3)-AR agonists, is well known to increase thermogenesis in rodents and humans. In this work we studied the role of the beta(3)-AR in regulating mRNA expression of genes involved in thermogenesis, i.e., mitochondrial uncoupling proteins UCP2 and UCP3, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1), in mouse skeletal muscle. For this purpose, different beta(3)-AR agonists were administered acutely to both wild type mice and mice whose beta(3)-AR gene has been disrupted (beta(3)-AR KO mice). CL 316243 increased the expression of UCP2, UCP3 and PGC-1 in wild type mice only. By contrast, BRL 37344 and CGP 12177 increased the expression of UCP2 and UCP3 in both wild type and beta(3)-AR KO mice, whereas they increased the expression of PGC-1 in wild type mice only. Finally, acute (3 h) cold exposure increased the expression of UCP2 and UCP3, but not PGC-1, in skeletal muscle of both wild type and beta(3)-AR KO mice. These results show that selective stimulation of the beta(3)-AR affects the expression of UCP2, UCP3 and PGC-1 in skeletal muscle. This effect is probably indirect, as muscle does not seem to express beta(3)-AR. In addition, our data suggest that BRL 37344 and CGP 12177 act, in part, through an as yet unidentified receptor, possibly a beta(4)-AR.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1999

Effects of obesity and stable weight reduction on UCP2 and UCP3 gene expression in humans.

OBJECTIVES: The molecular determinants of energy expenditure are presently unknown. Recently, two uncoupling protein homologues, UCP2 and UCP3, have been identified. UCP2 is expressed widely, and UCP3 is expressed abundantly in skeletal muscle. Both could be important regulators of energy balance. In this paper, we investigated whether altered UCP2 and UCP3 mRNA levels are associated with obesity or weight reduction. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: UCP2, UCP3 long and short mRNA levels were examined in skeletal muscle and in white adipose tissue of lean, obese, and weight-reduced individuals by RNase protection assay. RESULTS: Expression of UCP2, UCP3S, and UCP3L mRNA in skeletal muscle was similar in lean individuals and in individuals with obesity at stable weight. In contrast, UCP3L and UCP3S mRNAs were decreased by 38% (p<0.0059) and 48% (p<0.0047), respectively, in 20% weight-reduced patients with obesity at stable weight. In contrast, UCP2 mRNA levels were increased by 30% in skeletal muscle of 20% weight-reduced subjects with obesity. In a different set of patients, mostly lean, UCP3L mRNA in skeletal muscle was decreased by 28% (p = 0.0425) after 10% weight reduction at stable weight. Expression of UCP2 mRNA in subcutaneous adipose tissue was similar in lean individuals and in individuals with obesity, and was increased by 58% during active weight loss. DISCUSSION: Stabilization at reduced body weight in humans is associated with a decrease in UCP3 mRNA in muscle. It is possible that reduced UCP3 expression could contribute to decreased energy expenditure in weight-stable, weight-reduced individuals.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1999

The long isoform uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3L) in human energy homeostasis.

The biological role(s) proposed for UCP3 in energy homeostasis have been based primarily upon amino acid sequence homology to UCP1. Spontaneous mutations of UCP3> have been described in humans, but not in rodents. The functional consequences-or lack thereof-of these mutations in humans will be of great importance in elucidating the biology of this protein. The results of two such studies are summarized here.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Genetic and physiologic analysis of the role of uncoupling protein 3 in human energy homeostasis.

By virtue of its potential effects on rates of energy expenditure, uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) is an obesity candidate gene. We identified nine sequence variants in UCP3, including Val9Met, Val102Ile, Arg282Cys, and a splice site mutation in the intron between exons 6 and 7. The splice mutation results in an inability to synthesize mRNA for the long isoform (UCP3L) of UCP3. Linkage (sib pair), association, and transmission disequilibrium testing studies on 942 African-Americans did not suggest a significant effect of UCP3 on body composition in this group. In vastus lateralis skeletal muscle of individuals homozygous for the splice mutation, no UCP3L mRNA was detectable; the short isoform (UCP3S) was present in an increased amount. In this muscle, we detected no alterations of in vitro mitochondrial coupling activity, mitochondrial respiratory enzyme activity, or systemic oxygen consumption or respiratory quotient at rest or during exercise. These genetic and physiologic data suggest the following possibilities: UCP3S has uncoupling capabilities equivalent to UCP3L; other UCPs may compensate for a deficiency of bioactive UCP3L; UCP3L does not function primarily as a mitochondrial uncoupling protein.

Alternative Splicing↗
PubMed1998

Leptin in relation to resumption of menses in women with anorexia nervosa.

Serum levels of leptin are decreased in underweight AN patients and increase with weight restoration. To assess the relationship of decreased leptin levels with other hormonal abnormalities in AN and to evaluate the possible role of increasing leptin levels, alone or in combination with other hormones, in the resumption of menses that accompanies weight gain, we studied cross-sectionally sixty-five consecutively enrolled AN patients. Subjects were divided in three groups: (I) underweight and amenorrheic; (II) weight-recovered but still amenorrheic; and (III) weight-recovered and eumenorrheic women. Patients in group I had decreased BMI, serum leptin, estradiol (E2), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and urinary growth hormone (GH) levels and increased sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels, compared to AN patients in groups II and III. Moreover, although no differences in leptin levels or BMI were observed between amenorrheic and eumenorrheic weight-recovered patients (groups II and III), free E2 and GH levels were higher (P<0.02) in weight-recovered, eumenorrheic women. Thus, it appears that leptin is a necessary, but not a sufficient, factor for the resumption of menses in AN patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Troglitazone effects on gene expression in human skeletal muscle of type II diabetes involve up-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma.

Troglitazone, besides improving insulin action in insulin-resistant subjects, is also a specific ligand for the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma). To determine whether troglitazone might enhance insulin action by stimulation of PPARgamma gene expression in muscle, total PPARgamma messenger RNA (mRNA), and protein were determined in skeletal muscle cultures from nondiabetic control and type II diabetic subjects before and after treatment of cultures with troglitazone (4 days +/- troglitazone, 11.5 microM). Troglitazone treatment increased PPARgamma mRNA levels up to 3-fold in muscle cultures from type II diabetics (277 +/- 63 to 630 +/- 100 x 10(3) copies/microg total RNA, P = 0.003) and in nondiabetic control subjects (200 +/- 42 to 490 +/- 81, P = 0.003). PPARgamma protein levels in both diabetic (4.7 +/- 1.6 to 13.6 +/- 3.0 AU/10 microg protein, P < 0.02) and nondiabetic cells (7.4 +/- 1.0 to 12.7 +/- 1.8, P < 0.05) were also upregulated by troglitazone treatment. Increased PPARgamma was associated with stimulation of human adipocyte lipid binding protein (ALBP) and muscle fatty acid binding protein (mFABP) mRNA, without change in the mRNA for glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, PPARdelta, myogenin, uncoupling protein-2, or sarcomeric alpha-actin protein. In summary, we showed that troglitazone markedly induces PPARgamma, ALBP, and mFABP mRNA abundance in muscle cultures from both nondiabetic and type II diabetic subjects. Increased expression of PPARgamma protein and other genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle may account, in part, for the insulin sensitizing effects of troglitazone in type II diabetes.

Adult↗