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Biomedical subjects

Jürgen Eckel

Publications and source records attributed to Jürgen Eckel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A novel method to monitor insulin-stimulated GTP-loading of Rab11a in cardiomyocytes.

As a member of the Rab small GTPase family, Rab11a has been shown to be involved in different vesicle trafficking processes. In earlier work we identified Rab11a to be present in GLUT4-containing vesicles after insulin stimulation and showed its involvement in insulin-dependent glucose uptake. However, it remained elusive if Rab11a is directly activated by the insulin signalling cascade and at which step a potential activation occurs. To examine the GTP-loading of Rab11a, we introduced a biotinylated GTP-analog into H9c2-hIR cells, transiently overexpressing HA-tagged Rab11a, and measured its binding to the GTPase after insulin stimulation. We observed that Rab11a is transiently GTP-loaded after insulin stimulation with a 2.3 (+/-0.3) fold activation (n=5), reaching its maximum after 4 min and declining back to basal after additional 2 min. The activation of Rab11a is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) dependent and downstream of Akt, as shown by in vitro knockdown of this kinase. These data show that Rab11a is directly activated by insulin and represents an element of the GLUT4 trafficking machinery.

Animals↗

The adipocyte-myocyte axis in insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance in skeletal muscle is linked to an elevated adipose tissue mass, as is found in obesity, but can also be observed in lipodystrophy, in which adipose tissue is greatly reduced. Adipose tissue releases endocrine and metabolic mediators and is actively involved in crosstalk with skeletal muscle, a process that precedes and underlies the development of insulin resistance in muscles. Adipokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, leptin and adiponectin influence insulin signaling in skeletal muscle. Free fatty acids, their metabolites and ectopic fat in muscle also contribute to insulin resistance. Recent research indicates inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress could be underlying mechanisms at the center of the development of insulin resistance. Insights into the role of macrophages in adipose tissue add to the complicated interplay between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

Cytokine secretion by human adipocytes is differentially regulated by adiponectin, AICAR, and troglitazone.

Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ producing a variety of cytokines and chemokines, which may be involved in the deregulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis as well as in the inflammatory state observed in obesity. We have shown previously that differentiated human adipocytes secrete a variety of cytokines which are able to induce skeletal muscle insulin resistance. However, the regulation of these factors by anti-diabetic drugs has remained mainly undefined. Secretion of IL-6, IL-8, MIP-1alpha/beta, and MCP-1 by adipocytes was found to be downregulated by adiponectin. In parallel to adiponectin, the AMPK activator AICAR also decreased the secretion of most of the measured cytokines including IL-6 and MIP-1alpha/beta but not IL-8. In contrast, the thiazolidinedione troglitazone only slightly reduced cytokine secretion despite increasing the phosphorylation of AMPK. In conclusion, we show that adipocyte secretion is strongly inhibited by the anti-diabetic adipocyte hormone adiponectin, an effect that can also be mimicked by the AMPK activator AICAR. However, the PPARgamma agonist troglitazone is much less effective in reducing cytokine secretion.

AMP-Activated Protein Kinases↗

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 is a potential player in the negative cross-talk between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.

Adipose tissue is a major secretory and endocrine active organ producing a variety of bioactive proteins that may regulate energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity. In several studies, we have already shown that adipocyte-secretory products induce skeletal muscle insulin resistance. However, the precise nature of these factors has remained elusive. Human adipocytes were found to secrete various cytokines including IL-6, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha/beta, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). Among these candidates, MCP-1 alone impaired insulin signaling in skeletal muscle cells at doses similar to its physiological plasma concentrations (200 pg/ml), whereas IL-6, IL-8, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta were effective at very high concentrations only. In addition, MCP-1 significantly reduced insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in the myocytes. Expression analysis of chemokine receptors in skeletal muscle cells revealed the presence of chemokine CXC motif receptor 1/2 and chemokine CC motif receptor 1/2/4/5/10. The action of MCP-1 on insulin signaling in skeletal muscle cells occurs via ERK1/2 activation but does not involve activation of the nuclear factor kappaB pathway. In conclusion, our data show that adipocytes secrete various adipokines that may be involved in the negative cross-talk between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Human skeletal muscle cells are highly sensitive toward MCP-1, which impairs insulin signaling and glucose uptake at concentrations even below that found in the circulation. However, other cytokines that are released by adipocytes impair insulin action only at supraphysiological concentrations. Therefore, MCP-1 may represent a molecular link in the negative cross-talk between adipose tissue and skeletal muscle assigning a completely novel important role to MCP-1 besides inflammation.

Adipocytes↗

Differential phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2 by insulin and IGF-I receptors.

The specific contribution of insulin and IGF-I receptors to IRS-protein activation remains elusive. We studied the signalling properties of AspB10-insulin, an analog with enhanced affinity for the IGF-I receptor, in comparison to native insulin using primary human skeletal muscle cells. In myoblasts regular insulin and AspB10-insulin were equipotent in stimulating the IRS cascade, whereas this analog induced a significantly higher Shc phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of IRS-1 in response to insulin was inhibited equally by blocking either the insulin or the IGF-I receptor. IRS-1 activation by AspB10-insulin was only inhibited by blocking the IGF-I receptor. IRS-2 phosphorylation induced by both insulin and AspB10-insulin was nearly insensitive to blocking the insulin receptor, being predominantly mediated by the IGF-I receptor. We conclude that in myoblasts IRS-2, but not IRS-1, functions as preferred substrate for the IGF-I receptor. These data suggest a specific role for IRS-2 in growth and differentiation of human skeletal muscle.

Cell Differentiation↗

Pathways leading to muscle insulin resistance--the muscle--fat connection.

Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disease characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance in peripheral tissues such as adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. This review focuses on obesity as one of the major environmental factors contributing to the development of diabetes. It has become evident that adipose tissue represents an active secretory organ capable of releasing a variety of cytokines such as TNFalpha, IL-6, adiponectin and other still unknown factors that might constitute the missing link between adipose tissue and insulin resistance. In fact, adipocyte-derived factors are significantly increased in obesity and represent good predictors of the development of type 2 diabetes. The negative crosstalk between adipocytes and skeletal muscle cells leads to disturbances in muscle cell insulin signalling and insulin resistance involving major pathways in inflammation, cellular stress and mitogenesis. Positive regulators of insulin sensitivity include the adipocyte hormone adiponectin and inhibitors of inflammatory pathways such as JNK-, IKK- and ERK-inhibitors. In summary, a better knowledge of intracellular and intercellular mechanisms by which adipose tissue affects skeletal muscle cell physiology may help to develop new strategies for diabetes treatment.

Adipocytes↗

Insulin-mediated phosphorylation of the proline-rich Akt substrate PRAS40 is impaired in insulin target tissues of high-fat diet-fed rats.

Clinical insulin resistance is associated with decreased activation of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) and its downstream substrate protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt. However, its physiological protein substrates remain poorly characterized. In the present study, the effect of in vivo insulin action on phosphorylation of the PKB/Akt substrate 40 (PRAS40) was examined. In rat and mice, insulin stimulated PRAS40-Thr246 phosphorylation in skeletal and cardiac muscle, the liver, and adipose tissue in vivo. Physiological hyperinsulinemia increased PRAS40-Thr246 phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle biopsies. In cultured cell lines, insulin-mediated PRAS40 phosphorylation was prevented by the PI3K inhibitors wortmannin and LY294002. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence studies showed that phosphorylated PRAS40 is predominantly localized to the nucleus. Finally, in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD), phosphorylation of PRAS40 was markedly reduced compared with low-fat diet-fed animals in all tissues examined. In conclusion, the current study identifies PRAS40 as a physiological target of in vivo insulin action. Phosphorylation of PRAS40 is increased by insulin in human, rat, and mouse insulin target tissues. In rats, this response is reduced under conditions of HFD-induced insulin resistance.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Calreticulin destabilizes glucose transporter-1 mRNA in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells under high-glucose conditions.

Substrate autoregulation of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) mRNA and protein expression provides vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells a sensitive mechanism to adapt their rate of glucose transport in response to changing glycemic conditions. Hyperglycemia-induced downregulation of glucose transport is particularly important in protecting these cells against an excessive influx of glucose and consequently increased intracellular protein glycation and generation of free radicals; both are detrimental in the development of vascular disease in diabetes. We aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of high glucose-induced downregulation of GLUT-1 mRNA expression in primary bovine aortic vascular endothelial (VEC) and smooth muscle (VSMC) cell cultures. Using RNA mobility shift, UV cross-linking, and in vitro degradation assays, followed by mass-spectrometric analysis, we identified calreticulin as a specific destabilizing trans-acting factor that binds to a 10-nucleotide cis-acting element (CAE(2181-2190)) in the 3'-untranslated region of GLUT-1 mRNA. Pure calreticulin accelerated the rate of GLUT-1 mRNA-probe degradation in vitro, whereas overexpression of calreticulin in vascular cells decreased significantly the total cell content of GLUT-1 mRNA and protein. The expression of calreticulin was augmented in vascular cells exposed to high glucose in comparison with low-glucose conditions. Similarly, increased expression of calreticulin was observed in aortae of diabetic Psammomys obesus in comparison with normoglycemic controls. These data suggest that CAE(2181-2190)-calreticulin complex, which is formed in VSMC and VEC exposed to hyperglycemic conditions, renders GLUT-1 mRNA susceptible to degradation. This interaction underlies the process of downregulation of glucose transport in vascular cells under high-glucose conditions.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Functional role of Rab11 in GLUT4 trafficking in cardiomyocytes.

We have recently shown the co-localization of Rab11 and the glucose transporter GLUT4 in cardiac muscle and an insulin-stimulated increase of Rab11 in GLUT4-containing vesicles in this tissue. We now assessed the effect of Rab11 wt and a dominant-negative mutant (N124I) on GLUT4 trafficking in the cardiomyoblast cell line H9c2 stably overexpressing the insulin receptor (H9c2-E2) and in human primary skeletal myotubes. These cells were used for transient cotransfection or adenoviral co-infection with GLUT4myc and Rab11 wt or N124I with subsequent determination of 2-deoxyglucose (2-DOG) uptake and GLUT4myc translocation. Concomitant overexpression of GLUT4myc and Rab11 wt in cardiomyocytes decreased the amount of GLUT4myc at the cell surface by about 50%, an effect not observed for Rab11 N124I. However, the dominant-negative mutant reduced the efficiency of insulin to promote glucose uptake and GLUT4 translocation in both cardiac and skeletal muscle cells to about one half. The level of Akt phosphorylation does not vary after cotransfection indicating that insulin signalling remained unaffected under these conditions. In conclusion, our data show that Rab11 (i) mediates endocytosis of GLUT4 and (ii) plays a pivotal role in insulin-regulated translocation of this transporter to the plasma membrane.

Cell Membrane↗

Autocrine action of adiponectin on human fat cells prevents the release of insulin resistance-inducing factors.

The adipocyte hormone adiponectin is negatively correlated with obesity and insulin resistance and may exert an important antidiabetes function. In this study, primary human skeletal muscle cells were cocultured with human fat cells or incubated with adipocyte-conditioned medium in the presence or absence of the globular domain of adiponectin (gAcrp30) to analyze its capacity to restore normal insulin signaling in the muscle cells. Human skeletal muscle cells cocultured with adipocytes or treated with adipocyte-conditioned medium showed an impaired Akt and glycogen synthase kinase 3 serine phosphorylation in response to insulin. Furthermore, insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation was reduced by adipocyte-conditioned medium. Impaired insulin signaling was normalized upon addition of gAcrp30 to the coculture. Further, adipocyte-conditioned medium generated in the presence of gAcrp30 was unable to perturb insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation. Concomitant addition of gAcrp30 and adipocyte-conditioned medium to the myocytes failed to restore normal insulin action. Protein array analysis of adipocyte-conditioned medium indicated that the secretion of at least eight different cytokines was diminished in response to gAcrp30. We therefore suggest that adiponectin operates as a key regulator of adipocyte secretory function. This autocrine action may prevent the induction of skeletal muscle insulin resistance and may partly explain the antidiabetes action of this hormone.

Adipocytes↗

In vitro phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 by protein kinase C-zeta: functional analysis and identification of novel phosphorylation sites.

Protein kinase C-zeta (PKC-zeta) participates both in downstream insulin signaling and in the negative feedback control of insulin action. Here we used an in vitro approach to identify PKC-zeta phosphorylation sites within insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and to characterize the functional implications. A recombinant IRS-1 fragment (rIRS-1(449)(-)(664)) containing major tyrosine motifs for interaction with phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase strongly associated to the p85alpha subunit of PI 3-kinase after Tyr phosphorylation by the insulin receptor. Phosphorylation of rIRS-1(449)(-)(664) by PKC-zeta induced a prominent inhibition of this process with a mixture of classical PKC isoforms being less effective. Both PKC-zeta and the classical isoforms phosphorylated rIRS-1(449)(-)(664) on Ser(612). However, modification of this residue did not reduce the affinity of p85alpha binding to pTyr-containing peptides (amino acids 605-615 of rat IRS-1), as determined by surface plasmon resonance. rIRS-1(449)(-)(664) was then phosphorylated by PKC-zeta using [(32)P]ATP and subjected to tryptic phosphopeptide mapping based on two-dimensional HPLC coupled to mass spectrometry. Ser(498) and Ser(570) were identified as novel phosphoserine sites targeted by PKC-zeta. Both sites were additionally confirmed by phosphopeptide mapping of the corresponding Ser --> Ala mutants of rIRS-1(449)(-)(664). Ser(570) was specifically targeted by PKC-zeta, as shown by immunoblotting with a phosphospecific antiserum against Ser(570) of IRS-1. Binding of p85alpha to the S570A mutant was less susceptible to inhibition by PKC-zeta, when compared to the S612A mutant. In conclusion, our in vitro data demonstrate a strong inhibitory action of PKC-zeta at the level of IRS-1/PI 3-kinase interaction involving multiple serine phosphorylation sites. Whereas Ser(612) appears not to participate in the negative control of insulin signaling, Ser(570) may at least partly contribute to this process.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[LysB3, GluB29] insulin: a novel insulin analog with enhanced beta-cell protective action.

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2 has been implicated in the promotion of beta-cell survival. Here we tested the hypothesis that the novel analog [LysB3, GluB29] insulin (insulin glulisine, IG) might mediate an enhanced beta-cell protective effect due to its unique property of preferential IRS-2 phosphorylation. We assessed IRS activation by IG and its anti-apoptotic activity against cytokines or palmitic acid in comparison to insulin, insulin analogs, and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I using INS-1 cells. IG induced a prominent IRS-2 activation without significant IRS-1 stimulation. The marked cytokine- and fatty acid-induced apoptosis was strongly (55-60%) inhibited by IG both at the level of caspase 3 activation and nucleosomal release, with only 15% inhibition of apoptosis by regular insulin. At 1nM, insulin, insulin aspart, and insulin lispro were much less effective compared to IG. In conclusion, the prominent anti-apoptotic activity of insulin glulisine might serve to counteract autoimmune- and lipotoxicity-induced beta-cell destruction.

Animals↗

Insulin receptor substrate-4 is expressed in muscle tissue without acting as a substrate for the insulin receptor.

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins represent key elements of the insulin-signaling cascade. IRS-4 is the most recently characterized member of the IRS family with an undefined in vivo function. In contrast to IRS-1 and IRS-2, IRS-4 exhibits a limited tissue expression, and IRS-4 protein has not been detected in any mouse or primary human tissue so far. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the expression of IRS-4 in rat muscle and human skeletal muscle cells and assess involvement of IRS-4 in initial insulin signaling. Using immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation, the specific expression of IRS-4 protein could be demonstrated in rat soleus and cardiac muscle and human skeletal muscle cells, but it was not significantly detectable in quadriceps and gastrocnemius. A prominent down-regulation of IRS-4 was observed in heart and soleus muscle of WOKW rats, an animal model of the metabolic syndrome. In human skeletal muscle cells, both IRS-1 and IRS-2 are rapidly phosphorylated on tyrosine in response to insulin, whereas essentially no tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-4 was observed in response to both insulin and IGF-I. Instead, a 2-fold increase in IRS-4 tyrosine phosphorylation was observed in myocytes subjected to osmotic stress. In conclusion, IRS-4 protein is expressed in heart and skeletal muscle in a fiber type specific fashion. Our data suggest that IRS-4 does not function as a substrate of the insulin and the IGF-I receptor in primary muscle cells but may be involved in nonreceptor tyrosine kinase signaling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

A novel insulin analog with unique properties: LysB3,GluB29 insulin induces prominent activation of insulin receptor substrate 2, but marginal phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1.

The potentially enhanced mitogenic activity of insulin analogs represents a safety risk that requires detailed analysis of new analogs considered for therapeutic applications. We assessed the signaling properties and mitogenic potency of two novel rapid-acting insulin analogs, Lys(B3),Glu(B29) insulin (HMR 1964) and Lys(B3),Ile(B28) insulin (HMR 1153) using myoblasts and cardiomyocytes. In myoblasts, both binding and internalization were two- to threefold higher for Asp(B10) insulin and HMR 1153 when compared with HMR 1964 and regular insulin. This finding correlated with a prominent Shc/IGF-I receptor interaction, tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc, activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)-1 and -2, and stimulation of DNA synthesis by HMR 1153 and Asp(B10) insulin. In contrast, HMR 1964 produced a marginal activation of the Shc/ERK kinase cascade and was equipotent to insulin in stimulating DNA synthesis in myoblasts. Further, the in vivo growth-promoting activity of this analog was found to be identical to that of regular human insulin. In myoblasts, HMR 1964 produced a minor activation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, but a prominent activation of IRS-2, with a significantly stronger effect than insulin in human myoblasts. Predominant activation of IRS-2 was also observed in adult cardiomyocytes where HMR 1964 increased 3-O-methylglucose transport and the activation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3 to the same extent as human insulin. We concluded that 1) the mitogenic properties of insulin analogs may result from a series of initial receptor interactions, including internalization and phosphorylation; 2) the mitogenic and metabolic potential of HMR 1964 is identical to that of insulin; and 3) predominant activation of IRS-2 may open new avenues for optimized insulin therapies.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Early acarbose treatment ameliorates resistance of insulin-regulated GLUT4 trafficking in obese Zucker rats.

Genetically (fa/fa) obese Zucker rats represent an established model of impaired glucose tolerance, with profound insulin resistance. Acarbose, an inhibitor of alpha-glucosidases, attenuates postprandial blood glucose peaks, and improves glucose tolerance in these animals. In the present study, we have tested the hypothesis that the effect of acarbose is associated with improved glucose transporter isoform 4 (GLUT4) trafficking in muscle tissue. Acarbose was administered to Zucker rats as a dietary admix (40 mg/100 g diet) for 12 weeks starting at the age of 6 weeks. Serum insulin and leptin were reduced by acarbose from 44 to 19 and 144 to 62 ng/ml, respectively. Glucose tolerance test was performed by i.v. injection of glucose (1 g/kg) and determination of serum glucose up to 60 min. Marked impaired glucose tolerance was observed in obese animals with a profound correction of this defect in acarbose-treated rats. Insulin-regulated translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane in soleus muscle was increased twofold in lean animals, with a totally blunted response in obese rats. Acarbose feeding restored a 1.6-fold effect of insulin on GLUT4 translocation. The exocytotic GLUT4 storage pool in cardiac muscle was completely insulin-insensitive in obese animals, with a largely improved response after acarbose feeding. Activation of Akt, an insulin signaling event upstream of GLUT4, was completely normalized in acarbose-treated rats. In conclusion, we show here that early application of acarbose to obese Zucker rats can prevent the development of impaired glucose tolerance and obesity-associated insulin resistance at the level of the muscle cell, as reflected by an amelioration of defective GLUT4 trafficking in both cardiac and skeletal muscles.

Acarbose↗

The fatty acid translocase (FAT)/CD36 and the glucose transporter GLUT4 are localized in different cellular compartments in rat cardiac muscle.

The fatty acid translocase (FAT)/CD36 plays an important role in the acute regulation of fatty acid uptake in muscle tissue. We studied the subcellular distribution of FAT/CD36 in rat cardiac muscle after in vivo insulin stimulation by membrane fractionation and immunoisolation of GLUT4- and FAT/CD36-vesicles. FAT/CD36 was equally present in both plasma and microsomal membranes with no effect of insulin on the cellular distribution, whereas GLUT4 increased 2- to 3-fold in the plasma membrane. FAT/CD36 resides in one intracellular pool, whereas GLUT4 is present in two distinct pools. Immunoadsorption of GLUT4-vesicles indicated that FAT/CD36 is undetectable in these vesicles. Likewise, no GLUT4 could be detected in FAT/CD36-vesicles. These vesicles contain a high amount of Rab11 that remained unaffected after insulin stimulation, whereas Rab11 increased about 3-fold in the GLUT4-vesicles in response to insulin. These data show that GLUT4 and FAT/CD36 do not co-localize in cardiac muscle and that FAT/CD36 is not redistributed in response to insulin in the heart. Rab11 may be involved in endosomal recycling of FAT/CD36, however, insulin-associated Rab11 functions appear to be limited to GLUT4-vesicles.

Animals↗

Effects of tamoxifen on human squamous cell carcinoma lines of the head and neck.

Tamoxifen (TAM) is a well-tolerated compound in the treatment of breast cancer and is primarily considered to act by competition with estrogen receptors (ER). Here we investigated the in vitro efficacy and potentially underlying mechanisms of TAM in established cell lines of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (SCCHN). Using proliferation and apoptosis assays the antitumor activity of TAM in five SCCHN and the breast carcinoma line MCF-7 (positive control) was determined. MCF-7 was more sensitive to low-dose TAM (below 1 microM), whereas SCCHN showed significant growth inhibition at higher TAM concentrations (5-10 microM). Growth curve analysis and apoptosis assays were indicative for a cytostatic effect of low-dose TAM and high-dose TAM led to cell loss by apoptosis in sensitive SCCHN. In order to further characterize the observed antitumor effects we determined the amount of steroid hormone receptors with the dextran-coated charcoal method and immunocytochemistry. In addition, production of transforming growth factor (TGF-)-alpha, -beta1 and -beta2 was measured by ELISA, and protein kinase C (PKC) activity was assessed with a radioligand assay. Except MCF-7, none of the SCCHN lines was positive for ER. TAM caused decreased TGF-alpha and increased TGF-beta levels in MCF-7, but not in SCCHN supernatants. Furthermore, the antiestrogen reduced PKC activity in MCF-7, but not in SCCHN. In the present in vitro system, the observed antitumor activity of high-dose TAM in SCCHN cannot be explained by estrogen antagonism, alterations of TGF-alpha/beta levels or decreased PKC activity.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗