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L C Bollheimer

Publications and source records attributed to L C Bollheimer.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

[Clinical pathways--practical aid for the physician? Example: clarification of the suspicion of tuberculosis].

Guidelines, clinical pathways and clinical algorithms are popular instruments nowadays to ensure quality as well as the economic efficiency of medical work. These terms themselves, however, are frequently defined only in a diffuse way. Thus, medical standard procedures often complicate clinical workflows more than to facilitate decision making in everyday life. In our department, feasible standardized approaches have been generated in the form of structured text documents, which on the one hand can aid clinical decision making at the bedside and on the other hand serve as medical sketches for the generation of operational treatment paths on an interdisciplinary level. Structure and content of such an instructional text are exemplified here using our standardized document for the diagnostic approach when tuberculosis is suspected.

Critical Pathways↗

Association between serum ferritin and the insulin resistance syndrome in a representative population.

OBJECTIVE: Unexplained hepatic iron overload with increased serum ferritin (SF) values has been associated with the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS), defined by the presence of one or more of the following criteria: increased body mass index (BMI), diabetes, hyperlipidemia or hypertension. However, as yet the association between IRS and SF in a representative population has not been investigated. METHODS: The study subjects participated in a nationwide epidemiological survey on metabolic disorders in the adult German population. The 1200 probands included in this study are representative of the German population. To eliminate major causes of secondary iron overload, 114 (9.5%) subjects with excessive alcohol consumption and 16 (1.5%) subjects with serological evidence for hepatitis B or C were excluded. For all remaining 1070 probands, complete clinical data of SF, HbA1c, known diabetes, BMI, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and blood pressure were available. RESULTS: SF values were significantly increased in men and women with high BMI (> 25 kg/m2), increased cholesterol (> 200 mg/dl), and increased systolic (> 160 mmHg) blood pressure, in women with diabetes, and in men with increased diastolic (> 95 mmHg) blood pressure. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the number of IRS criteria and SF. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a significant correlation between SF and the presence of IRS criteria in a large representative population. Interestingly, the severity of the IRS seems to be associated with increased SF levels suggesting a causal connection. Further studies are required to investigate the pathophysiological mechanism and consequences of increased SF levels in patients with IRS.

Adult↗

Defining high-fat-diet rat models: metabolic and molecular effects of different fat types.

High-fat (HF)-diet rodent models have contributed significantly to the analysis of the pathophysiology of the insulin resistance syndrome, but their phenotype varies distinctly between different studies. Here, we have systematically compared the metabolic and molecular effects of different HF with varying fatty acid compositions. Male Wistar rats were fed HF diets (42% energy; fat sources: HF-L - lard; HF-O - olive oil; HF-C - coconut fat; HF-F - fish oil). Weight, food intake, whole-body insulin tolerance and plasma parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism were measured during a 12-week diet course. Liver histologies and hepatic gene expression profiles, using Affymetrix GeneChips, were obtained. HF-L and HF-O fed rats showed the most pronounced obesity and insulin resistance; insulin sensitivity in HF-C and HF-F was close to normal. Plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3-PUFA) and saturated fatty acid (C(12)-C(14), SFA) levels were elevated in HF-F and HF-C animals respectively. The liver histologies showed hepatic steatosis in HF-L, HF-O and HF-C without major inflammation. Hepatic SREBP1c-dependent genes were upregulated in these diets, whereas PPARalpha-dependent genes were predominantly upregulated in HF-F fed rats. We detected classical HF effects only in diets based on lard and olive oil (mainly long-chain, saturated (LC-SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)). PUFA- or MC-SFA-rich diets did not induce insulin resistance. Diets based on LC-SFA and MUFA induced hepatic steatosis with SREBP1c activation. This points to an intact transcriptional hepatic insulin effect despite resistance to insulin's metabolic actions.

Animals↗

Efficient analysis of hepatic glucose output and insulin action using a liver slice culture system.

BACKGROUND: Liver slices have been reported to retain histological integrity and metabolic capacity for over 24 hours in flask culture systems, and they have been used for pharmacological and toxicological studies before. However, whether this method is suitable to measure hepatic glucose output is unknown. METHODS: Precision-cut liver slices were prepared from fresh male rat liver. After high-glucose pre-incubation (11.2 mmol/l), medium was changed to low-glucose conditions (0.5 mmol/l). Glucose and lactate levels as well as aspartate aminotransferase activity were monitored for 50 minutes with or without addition of insulin (600 pmol/l) and/or epinephrine (0.5 micromol/l). Slice potassium content and histology were examined to prove liver viability. RESULTS: We observed a stable glucose production from the liver slices of 0.3-0.4 micromol/g liver/min. Epinephrine increased (by 82+/-30%) and insulin decreased (by 80+/-8%) liver slice glucose output. Significant signs of ischemia were not detected. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic glucose release can be reliably measured in a liver slice culture system, and it is regulated by major hormone systems. This method may be helpful for further characterization of direct insulin action and resistance in a complex tissue as the liver; however, pharmacological applications such as the analysis of drug effects on hepatic glucose metabolism can also be envisioned.

Animals↗

Insulin-sparing effects of troglitazone in rat pancreatic islets.

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have been suggested to act beneficially on pancreatic islet function and on beta-cell viability but data concerning direct effects on isolated islets are controversial. Therefore, we have examined parameters of pancreatic insulin and glucagon secretion and biosynthesis in TZD-exposed rat pancreatic islets under physiological glucose level conditions and under conditions of glucolipotoxicity. Primary rat islets were incubated for 2.5 h with or without troglitazone (10 microM) in 5.6 mM glucose (standard glucose levels) and 16.7 mM glucose (high glucose levels); a subgroup was additionally treated with oleate (200 microM) to simulate acute glucolipotoxicity. Insulin and glucagon secretion, intracellular content and their respective mRNAs were quantified. Newly synthesized insulin was determined by pulse-labeling experiments. Troglitazone reduced insulin secretion at standard and high glucose levels by about one-third (P<or=0.05). Insulin content was decreased at 5.6 mM glucose but increased at 16.7 mM glucose by the presence of troglitazone (P<or=0.05). Newly synthesized insulin mRNA and preproinsulin mRNA decreased by about 20% at standard glucose levels (P<or=0.05). Glucagon secretion was augmented by troglitazone in islets under high glucose conditions by an additional 50% (P<or=0.05). No clear beneficial troglitazone effects were observed under glucolipotoxic conditions. The reduced insulin secretion and biosynthesis at standard glucose levels can be interpreted as an insulin-sparing effect. Troglitazone effects were less pronounced at high glucose alone or in combination with oleate. From a clinical point of view, these results indicate a greater benefit of troglitazone for beta-cell function in hyperinsulinemic, but normoglycemic patients with insulin resistance or early type 2 diabetes without major insulin secretion deficits and/or pronounced hyperglycemia.

Animals↗

The Pro115Gln polymorphism within the PPAR gamma2 gene has no epidemiological impact on morbid obesity.

The peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 (PPAR gamma2) is a transcriptional key regulator of adipocyte differentiation. PPAR gamma2 can be inactivated by phosphorylation of a serine residue at position 114. A point mutation leading to an amino acid exchange at position 115 (Pro115Gln) was shown to preclude serine phosphorylation and to consecutively accelerate adipocyte differentiation emphasizing the pathophysiological relevance of this mutation. So far, four markedly obese heterozygote carriers of the Pro115Gln mutation (body mass index 37.9-47.3 kgxm (-2)) have been identified in a circumscribed study population. In order to evaluate the epidemiological relevance of the Pro115Gln mutation in morbid obesity we screened the DNA of all subjects with a body mass index greater than 35 kgxm (-2) who had participated in a nationwide German epidemiological field survey. There was no homozygote or heterozygote carrier of the Pro115Gln polymorphism among them. We conclude that the Pro115Gln polymorphism within the PPAR gamma2 gene has no relevant epidemiological impact on morbid obesity in Germany. It needs further investigation whether this polymorphism might play a role in related metabolic disorders.

Adult↗

Hepatocyte growth factor stimulates proliferation of pancreatic beta-cells particularly in the presence of subphysiological glucose concentrations.

We investigated the role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in beta-cell growth and its complex intracellular signal transduction pathways. Cell proliferation was measured in the beta-cell line INS-1 using [3H]thymidine incorporation. Activation of mitogenic signaling proteins was assessed using co-immunoprecipitation, immunoblot analysis and specific protein activity inhibitors in proliferation assays. HGF (1 x 375 nM) increased INS-1 cell proliferation in the presence of 3-24 mM glucose up to 45-fold vs unstimulated controls. HGF exceeded the effect of glucose alone (2 x 2-fold at 3 mM glucose and 1 x 7-fold in the presence of 15 mM glucose). The HGF-induced INS-1 cell proliferation was further increased by addition of IGF-I or GH. Stimulation with HGF activated the JAK-2/STAT-5 pathway with a subsequent activation of phosphatidylinositol-3'-kinase (PI3'K). PI3'K activation was necessary for HGF- and glucose-stimulated INS-1 cell proliferation. The effect of PI3'K was mediated via 70 kDa S6 kinase and protein kinase B, which showed maximum activation in the presence of 3-6 mM glucose. Protein kinase C was essential for HGF-induced INS-1 cell proliferation. The HGF effect was also mediated at low glucose concentrations via insulin receptor substrate 4 (IRS-4) whereas other IRS proteins did not show any activation. High glucose concentrations also showed an increased IRS-4/PI3'K binding and therefore activation. In conclusion, beta-cell proliferation is mediated via complex interacting signal transduction pathways. HGF, in contrast to other growth factors, seems to be of importance particularly in the presence of low glucose concentrations and therefore takes a special role in this complex concert.

Cell Division↗

Definition and characterization of relative hypo- and hyperleptinemia in a large Caucasian population.

The adipocyte-derived hormone, leptin, has been implicated in the regulation of appetite, weight gain and glucose homeostasis as well as in liver fibrogenesis, hematopoiesis and immune function. No previous reports have clearly defined pathologically elevated or decreased serum leptin levels for Caucasian adults. The aim of this study was to define and characterize subjects with relative hyper- and hypoleptinemia in a large population-based German cohort. Percentiles of leptin levels by body mass index (BMI) were calculated from 4971 adult Germans, and the participants with leptin levels above the 95th and below the 5th percentile were defined as relatively hyperleptinemic and relatively hypoleptinemic, respectively, for their BMI. These participants were compared with the intermediate group with respect to anthropometric and clinical data and parameters of glucose and iron metabolism, lipid status, renal, adrenal and reproductive function. Relatively hyperleptinemic participants (HL) showed higher insulin, c-peptide, and total cholesterol levels than the hypoleptinemic subjects; in males, ferritin levels were higher and testosterone levels lower in the HL group. In conclusion, we report the first percentile curves for serum leptin by BMI in a large Caucasian population. Relatively low leptin values may be associated with a lower metabolic risk than relatively high serum leptin values.

Adult↗

Intracellular depletion of insulin by oleate is due to an inhibited synthesis and not to an increased secretion.

In the polyclonal rat pancreatic beta-cell line INS-1, immunoreactive insulin (IRI, insulin and its precursors) and C-peptide (surrogate marker for mature insulin) were quantified after a 1-h incubation at 16.7 mM glucose with or without oleate. Oleate caused a 20% decrease (P <or= 0.01) and a shift towards mature insulin (P <or= 0.01) in intracellular IRI. As IRI secretion was significantly (P <or= 0.01) diminished in the presence of oleate at hyperglycemic conditions the loss of intracellular IRI had to be due to other reasons which was then examined by focussing on newly synthesized, radiolabelled IRI*. Thereby, oleate caused a 50% decrease in newly synthesized intracellular IRI* (P <or= 0.01) and-contrary to the findings in complete intracellular IRI-a shift towards immature insulin precursors. Taken together, exposure of INS-1 cells to oleate induces an intracellular lack of uncompletely processed IRI. This is due to an inhibited biosynthetic supply which can not compensate for intracellular IRI-degradation and (to a neglible extent) for insulin secretion.

Animals↗

A distinct difference in the metabolic stimulus-response coupling pathways for regulating proinsulin biosynthesis and insulin secretion that lies at the level of a requirement for fatty acyl moieties.

The regulation of proinsulin biosynthesis in pancreatic beta-cells is vital for maintaining optimal insulin stores for glucose-induced insulin release. The majority of nutrient fuels that induce insulin release also stimulate proinsulin biosynthesis, but since insulin exocytosis and proinsulin synthesis involve different cellular mechanisms, a point of divergence in the respective metabolic stimulus-response coupling pathways must exist. A parallel examination of the metabolic regulation of proinsulin biosynthesis and insulin secretion was undertaken in the same beta-cells. In MIN6 cells, glucose-induced proinsulin biosynthesis and insulin release shared a requirement for glycolysis to generate stimulus-coupling signals. Pyruvate stimulated both proinsulin synthesis (threshold 0.13-0.2 mM) and insulin release (threshold 0.2-0.3 mM) in MIN6 cells, which was eliminated by an inhibitor of pyruvate transport (1 mM alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate). A combination of alpha-oxoisohexanoate and glutamine also stimulated proinsulin biosynthesis and insulin release in MIN6 cells, which, together with the effect of pyruvate, indicated that anaplerosis was necessary for instigating secondary metabolic stimulus-coupling signals in the beta-cell. A consequence of increased anaplerosis in beta-cells is a marked increase in malonyl-CoA, which in turn inhibits beta-oxidation and elevates cytosolic fatty acyl-CoA levels. In the beta-cell, long-chain fatty acyl moieties have been strongly implicated as metabolic stimulus-coupling signals for regulating insulin exocytosis. Indeed, it was found in MIN6 cells and isolated rat pancreatic islets that exogenous oleate, palmitate and 2-bromopalmitate all markedly potentiated glucose-induced insulin release. However, in the very same beta-cells, these fatty acids in contrast inhibited glucose-induced proinsulin biosynthesis. This implies that neither fatty acyl moieties nor beta-oxidation are required for the metabolic stimulus-response coupling pathway specific for proinsulin biosynthesis, and represent an early point of divergence of the two signalling pathways for metabolic regulation of proinsulin biosynthesis and insulin release. Therefore alternative metabolic stimulus-coupling factors for the specific control of proinsulin biosynthesis at the translational level were considered. One possibility examined was an increase in glycerophosphate shuttle activity and change in cytosolic redox state of the beta-cell, as reflected by changes in the ratio of alpha-glycerophosphate to dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Although 16.7 mM glucose produced a significant rise in the alpha-glycerophosphate/dihydroxyacetone phosphate ratio, 1 mM pyruvate did not. It follows that the cytosolic redox state and fatty acyl moieties are not necessarily involved as secondary metabolic stimulus-coupling factors for regulation of proinsulin biosynthesis. However, the results indicate that glycolysis and the subsequent increase in anaplerosis are indeed necessary for this signalling pathway, and therefore an extramitochondrial product of beta-cell pyruvate metabolism (that is upstream of the increased cytosolic fatty acyl-CoA) acts as a key intracellular secondary signal for specific control of proinsulin biosynthesis by glucose at the level of translation.

Animals↗

Chronic exposure to free fatty acid reduces pancreatic beta cell insulin content by increasing basal insulin secretion that is not compensated for by a corresponding increase in proinsulin biosynthesis translation.

The pancreatic beta cell normally maintains a stable balance among insulin secretion, insulin production, and insulin degradation to keep optimal intracellular stores of the hormone. Elevated levels of FFA markedly enhance insulin secretion; however, the effects of FFA on insulin production and intracellular stores remain unclear. In this study, twofold elevation in total circulating FFA effected by infusion of lard oil and heparin into rats for 6 h under normoglycemic conditions resulted in a marked elevation of circulating insulin levels evident after 4 h, and a 30% decrease in pancreatic insulin content after a 6-h infusion in vivo. Adding 125 muM oleate to isolated rat pancreatic islets cultured with 5.6 mM glucose caused a 50% fall in their insulin content over 24 h, coupled with a marked enhancement of basal insulin secretion. Both effects of fatty acid were blocked by somatostatin. In contrast to the stimulatory effects of oleate on insulin secretion, glucose-induced proinsulin biosynthesis was inhibited by oleate up to 24 h, but was unaffected thereafter. This result was in spite of a two- to threefold oleate-induced increase in preproinsulin mRNA levels, underscoring the importance of translational regulation of proinsulin biosynthesis in maintaining beta cell insulin stores. Collectively, these results suggest that chronically elevated FFA contribute to beta cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of NIDDM by significantly increasing the basal rate of insulin secretion. This increase in turn results in a decrease in the beta cell's intracellular stores that cannot be offset by commensurate FFA induction of proinsulin biosynthesis.

Animals↗

Enzymatic analysis of cell surface lactosaminyl glycans by flow cytometry.

Cell surface expressed lactosaminyl glycans were determined on live cells by flow cytometry using a sialyltransferase mediated labeling procedure. Fluorescent CMP-sialic acid and Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc alpha 2,6-sialyltransferase were applied to probe expression of acceptor glycans on untreated or sialidase pretreated erythrocytes. After enzymatic fluorescence labeling, erythrocytes were treated with endo-beta-galactosidase or trypsin to distinguish polylactosaminyl- and complex-type glycans. The expression of lactosaminyl sequences on cord- was 20% lower than on adult cells. After sialidase treatment fluorescence incorporation on both cell types increased twofold compared to untreated cells indicating a low sialylation extent. A recombinant alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase was preferentially labeling polylactosaminyl glycans. Taking advantage of the different fine specificity as determined here, alpha 2,6- and alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase can be applied to distinguish certain types of lactosaminyl glycans.

Adult↗