PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M A Febbraio

Publications and source records attributed to M A Febbraio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 is elevated in obesity but protects against fatty acid-induced skeletal muscle insulin resistance in vitro.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is implicated in mediating obesity and insulin resistance. Paradoxically, SCD1 converts saturated fatty acids, the lipid species implicated in mediating insulin resistance, to monounsaturated fatty acids. The aim of the present study was to assess the molecular mechanisms that implicate SCD1 in the aetiology of fatty acid-induced insulin resistance. METHODS: SCD1 protein was transiently decreased or increased in rat L6 skeletal muscle myotubes using SCD1 short interfering RNA (siRNA) or liposome-mediated transfection of pcDNA3.1/Hygro-mSCD1, respectively. RESULTS: Reducing SCD1 protein resulted in marked esterification of exogenous fatty acids into diacylglycerol (DAG) and ceramide. Insulin-stimulated Akt activity and phosphorylation and 2-deoxyglucose uptake were reduced with SCD1 siRNA. Exposure of L6 myotubes to palmitate abolished insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in both control and SCD1 siRNA myotubes. Overexpression of SCD1 resulted in triacylglycerol esterification but attenuated ceramide and DAG accumulation and protected myotubes from fatty acid-induced insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: SCD1 protects from cellular toxicity in L6 myotubes by preventing excessive accumulation of bioactive lipid metabolites.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Discordant gene expression in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue of patients with type 2 diabetes: effect of interleukin-6 infusion.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We compared metabolic gene expression in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle from patients with type 2 diabetes and from well-matched healthy control subjects. We hypothesised that gene expression would be discordantly regulated when comparing the two groups. Our secondary aim was to determine the effect of Interleukin-6 (IL6) infusion on circulating adipokines and on gene expression in human adipose tissue. To do this we used real-time RT-PCR. METHODS: Both diabetic and control subjects underwent basal skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies. A subset of these individuals underwent a 3-h infusion of recombinant human IL6 and had adipose tissue samples taken before and after infusion. RESULTS: The mRNA gene expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) 3, peroxisome proliferative activated receptor (PPAR) alpha/delta, PPAR gamma, coactivator 1, alpha (PPARGC1A), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B and solute carrier family 2 (facilitated glucose transporter), member 4 (formerly known as glucose transporter 4/GLUT4), was higher in adipose tissue, but lower in skeletal muscle of diabetic patients than in that of control subjects. In addition, uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) gene was detected in the adipose tissue of some of the diabetic patients, but not in the control subjects. The following genes were increased by infusion of recombinant human IL6 in both groups: SOCS1/3, resistin, adiponectin, AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha-1 and PPARA. Plasma tumour necrosis factor alpha, adiponectin and resistin were all unaffected by IL6 infusion, but plasma resistin was lower in the diabetic subjects than in control subjects. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The observation that PPARGC1A and the PPARs were upregulated in the adipose tissue of type 2 diabetic patients, along with the finding that adipose tissue from some patients with type 2 diabetes can express UCP1 mRNA, suggests that in these patients white adipose tissue may move towards a brown adipose tissue phenotype.

Adiponectin↗
PubMed2005

Recombinant human interleukin-6 infusion during low-intensity exercise does not enhance whole body lipolysis or fat oxidation in humans.

The present study examined the role of the cytokine IL-6 in the regulation of fatty acid metabolism during exercise in humans. Six well-trained males completed three trials of 120 min of cycle ergometry at 70% peak O(2) consumption (Vo(2 peak); MOD) and 40% Vo(2 peak) with (LOW + IL-6) and without (LOW) infusion of recombinant human (rh)IL-6. The dose of rhIL-6 during LOW + IL-6 elicited IL-6 concentration similar to those during MOD but without altering the circulating hormonal milieu seen in MOD. Palmitate rate of appearance (R(a)), rate of disappearance (R(d)), and oxidation were measured by means of a constant infusion of [U-(13)C]palmitate (0.015 micromol.kg(-1).min(-1), prime NaHCO(3), 1 micromol/kg). Palmitate R(a), R(d), and oxidation were not affected by rhIL-6 infusion, remaining similar to LOW at all times. Palmitate R(a) and oxidation were significantly greater in the MOD trial (P < 0.05) compared with the LOW + IL-6 and LOW trials. Our data show that a low dose of rhIL-6, administered during low-intensity exercise without altering the hormonal milieu, does not alter fatty acid metabolism. These data suggest that the increase in fatty acid utilization seen during exercise at moderate compared with low intensity is not mediated via alterations in plasma IL-6.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Heat stress, cytokines, and the immune response to exercise.

To examine the effect of exercise and heat stress on cytokine production, seven males (77 +/- 2 kg; VO(2peak) = 4.7 +/- 0.4 L min(-1)) completed two (15 degrees C; CON or 35 degrees C; HEAT) 90 min cycling trials at 70% VO(2peak). Blood samples were collected throughout and analysed for spontaneous, and LPS-stimulated intracellular monocyte cytokine production, plasma cytokine levels, and circulating stress hormone concentration. Plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol concentration were elevated (P < .05) as a result of exercise in CON. HEAT increased (P < .05) epinephrine and norepinephrine levels, however, cortisol concentration was not different between the two trials. Exercise had no effect on the concentration of circulating monocytes spontaneously producing IL-6, TNF-alpha or IL-1alpha, however, there was a decrease in the amount of TNF-alpha per cell post-compared with pre-exercise. HEAT had no effect on spontaneous intracellular cytokine production. Circulating levels of both IL-6 and TNF-alpha were elevated in HEAT, but not in CON. Upon stimulation with LPS, the concentration of monocytes positive for IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-1alpha production was elevated (P < .01) post- and 2 h post-compared with pre-exercise. Stimulated cells, however, produced less (P < .05) TNF-alpha post-exercise and less (P < .05) TNF-alpha and IL-6 2 h post-exercise. HEAT resulted in an increase (P < .05) in the concentration of stimulated cells positive for TNF-alpha and IL-1alpha, however, did not affect the amount of cytokine produced by stimulated monocytes. These results demonstrate that exercise decreases the amount of cytokine produced by LPS-stimulated monocytes, possibly due to elevated levels of circulating stress hormones. Heat stress did not, however, augment the suppression in the amount of cytokine produced by circulating monocytes upon stimulation, despite elevated catecholamines.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Hormone-sensitive lipase is reduced in the adipose tissue of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: influence of IL-6 infusion.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterised by increased plasma NEFA and IL-6 concentrations, and IL-6 increases lipolysis in healthy men. We assessed the adipose tissue hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) mRNA expression, protein expression and HSL activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and determined the effect of IL-6 administration on these measures. METHODS: Seven patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age 67+/-4 years, weight 87+/-7 kg) and six age- and weight-matched individuals visited the laboratory on two occasions. Subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies and blood samples were obtained prior to and during 3 h of either saline or recombinant human IL-6 infusion. RESULTS: HSL mRNA was reduced (p<0.05) by approximately 40% in type 2 diabetes mellitus relative to control subjects, while HSL protein expression showed a tendency to be decreased (35%, p=0.09). HSL activity averaged 8.87+/-1.25 and 6.91+/-1.20 nmol min(-1) mg(-1) protein for control and type 2 diabetic subjects respectively (p<0.05). IL-6 administration increased (p<0.05) HSL mRNA 2-fold at 60 min in both groups, whereas HSL protein and activity were unaffected by IL-6. Plasma insulin was elevated (p<0.05) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at rest and was blunted (p<0.05) during IL-6 infusion in both groups. Plasma glucagon and cortisol were elevated (p<0.05) by IL-6 in both groups. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our data demonstrate that basal HSL is decreased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and this may be a consequence of elevated plasma insulin levels. We have also shown that IL-6 administration increases HSL gene expression, although it exerted no effect on HSL protein and activity. This disparity between mRNA, protein and enzyme activity may be a function either of the marked alterations in the hormonal milieu induced by IL-6 administration and/or of post-transcriptional events.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2004

Acute IL-6 treatment increases fatty acid turnover in elderly humans in vivo and in tissue culture in vitro.

To determine whether IL-6 increases lipolysis and fat oxidation in patients with type 2 diabetes and/or whether it exerts this effect independently of changes to the hormonal milieu, patients with type 2 diabetes (D) and healthy control subjects (CON) underwent recombinant human (rh)IL-6 infusion for 3 h. Rates of appearance (Ra) and disappearance (Rd) of [U-(13C)]palmitate and [6,6-(2H2)]glucose were determined. rhIL-6 infusion increased (P < 0.05) palmitate Ra and Rd in a similar fashion in both groups. Neither plasma glucose concentration nor glucose Ra/Rd was affected by rhIL-6 infusion in either group, whereas rhIL-6 infusion resulted in a reduction (P < 0.05) in circulating insulin in D. Plasma growth hormone (GH) was increased (P < 0.05) by IL-6 in CON, and cortisol increased (P < 0.05) in response to IL-6 in both groups. To determine whether IL-6 was exerting its effect directly or through activation of these hormones, we performed cell culture experiments. Fully differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with PBS (control) IL-6, or IL-6 plus dexamethasone and GH. IL-6 treatment alone increased (P < 0.05) lipolysis, but this effect was reduced by the addition of dexamethasone and GH such that IL-6 plus dexamethasone and GH had blunted (P < 0.05) lipolysis compared with IL-6 alone. To assess whether IL-6 increases fat oxidation, L6 myotubes were treated with PBS (Control), IL-6, or AICAR, a compound known to increase lipid oxidation. Both IL-6 and AICAR markedly increased (P < 0.05) oxidation of [(14)C]palmitate compared with Control. Acute IL-6 treatment increased fatty acid turnover in D patients as well as healthy CON subjects. Moreover, IL-6 appears to be activating lipolysis independently of elevations in GH and/or cortisol and appears to be a potent catalyst for fat oxidation in muscle cells.

3T3-L1 Cells↗
PubMed2004

Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha are not increased in patients with Type 2 diabetes: evidence that plasma interleukin-6 is related to fat mass and not insulin responsiveness.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to examine the possible direct relationship of interleukin-6 and TNFalpha with insulin sensitivity in humans. METHODS: We carried out two series of euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp experiments. In the first (CLAMP1), skeletal muscle mRNA expression and plasma concentrations of IL-6 and TNFalpha were examined in patients with Type 2 diabetes ( n=6), subjects matched for age (n=6), and young healthy (n=11) control subjects during a 120-min supra-physiological hyperinsulinaemic (40 mU.m(-2).min(-1)) euglycaemic clamp. In the second series of experiments (CLAMP2), patients with Type 2 diabetes (n=6) and subjects matched for age (n=7) were studied during a 240-min high-physiological hyperinsulinaemic (7 mU.m(-2).min(-1)) euglycaemic clamp, during which arterial and venous (femoral and subclavian) blood samples were measured for IL-6 and TNFalpha flux. RESULTS: In both experiments the glucose infusion rate in the patients was markedly lower than that in the other groups. In CLAMP1, basal skeletal muscle IL-6 and TNFalpha mRNA were the same in all groups. They were not affected by insulin and they were not related to the glucose infusion rate. In CLAMP2, neither cytokine was released from the arm or leg during insulin stimulation in either group. In both experiments plasma concentrations of these cytokines were similar in the patients and in the control subjects, although in CLAMP1 the young healthy control group had lower (p<0.05) plasma IL-6 concentrations. Using data from all subjects, a strong positive correlation (r=0.85; p<0.00001) was observed between basal plasma IL-6 and BMI. Conversely, a negative relationship (r=-0.345; p<0.05) was found between basal plasma TNFalpha and BMI, although this was not significant when corrected for BMI. When corrected for BMI, no relationship was observed between either basal plasma IL-6 or TNFalpha and GIR. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These data show that the increased circulating IL-6 concentrations seen in patients with Type 2 diabetes are strongly related to fat mass and not insulin responsiveness, and suggest that neither IL-6 nor TNFalpha are indicative of insulin resistance.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2004

Ionomycin, but not physiologic doses of epinephrine, stimulates skeletal muscle interleukin-6 mRNA expression and protein release.

It has been hypothesized that epinephrine may stimulate interleukin (IL)-6 gene expression in skeletal muscle. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of epinephrine on IL-6 gene expression within, and protein release from, skeletal muscle. We hypothesized that physiologic epinephrine would neither result in an increase in IL-6 mRNA nor protein release from skeletal muscle. Soleus muscle was excised from 4-week-old anesthetized Sprague Dawley rats and incubated in a Krebs buffer with the addition of either saline (CON), epinephrine, at concentrations of 1,000 nmol/L (EPI 1,000), 100 nmol/L (EPI 100), or 10 nmol/L (EPI 10), or the calcium ionophore, ionomycin (IONO), a positive control. After a 1-hour incubation, muscle was collected and extracted for RNA, reverse transcribed, and IL-6 gene expression was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An aliquot of incubation medium was also collected and analyzed for IL-6 protein by enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA). EPI 1,000 and IONO increased (P < .05) IL-6 mRNA, whereas EPI 100 and EPI 10 were without effect. IL-6 protein release from skeletal muscle was increased in IONO (P < .05), but not in CON or EPI at any concentration. These data demonstrate that while pharmacologic concentrations of epinephrine activate IL-6 mRNA, supraphysiologic and high-physiologic doses appear to have little, if any, effect on IL-6 gene transcription in skeletal muscle. In addition, ionomycin can stimulate IL-6 gene expression and protein release after only 1 hour of exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Muscle metabolism during sprint exercise in man: influence of sprint training.

In order to examine the influence of sprint training on metabolism and exercise performance during sprint exercise, 16 recreationally-active, untrained, men (VO2peak= 3.8+/-0.1 l.min(-1)) were randomly assigned to either a training (n= 8) or control group (n= 8). Each subject performed a 30-sec cycle sprint and a test to measure VO2peak before and after eight weeks of sprint training. The training group completed a series of sprints three times per week which progressed from three 30-sec cycle sprints in weeks 1 and 2, to six 30-sec sprints in weeks 7 and 8. Three mins of passive recovery separated each sprint throughout the training period. Muscle samples were obtained at rest and immediately following the pre- and post-training sprints and analysed for high energy phosphagens, glycogen and lactate; the activities of both phosphofructokinase (PFK) and citrate synthase (CS) were also measured and muscle fibre types were quantified. Training resulted in a 7.1% increase in mean power output (p<0.05), an 8% increase in VO2peak (p< 0.001), a 42% increase (p< 0.01) in CS activity and a 17% increase (p< 0.05) in resting intramuscular glycogen content. In contrast, neither PFK activity nor fibre type distribution changed with training. An increase (p< 0.05) in mean power output and attenuated (p< 0.01) ATP degradation were observed during sprint exercise following training. Glycogen degradation during sprint exercise was unaffected by sprint training. These data demonstrate that sprint training may have enhanced muscle oxidative but not glycolytic capacity.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2004

Exercise induces the release of heat shock protein 72 from the human brain in vivo.

The present study tested the hypothesis that in response to physical stress the human brain has the capacity to release heat shock protein 72 (Hsp72) in vivo. Therefore, 6 humans (males) cycled for 180 minutes at 60% of their maximal oxygen uptake, and the cerebral Hsp72 response was determined on the basis of the internal jugular venous to arterial difference and global cerebral blood flow. At rest, there was a net balance of Hsp72 across the brain, but after 180 minutes of exercise, we were able to detect the release of Hsp72 from the brain (335 +/- 182 ng/min). However, large individual differences were observed as 3 of the 6 subjects had a marked increase in the release of Hsp72, whereas exercise had little effect on the cerebral Hsp72 balance in the remaining 3 subjects. Given that cerebral blood flow was unchanged during exercise compared with values obtained at rest, it is unlikely that the cerebral Hsp72 release relates to necrosis of specific cells within the brain. These data demonstrate that the human brain is able to release Hsp72 in vivo in response to a physical stressor such as exercise. Further study is required to determine the biological significance of these observations.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Suppression of plasma free fatty acids upregulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and delta and PPAR coactivator 1alpha in human skeletal muscle, but not lipid regulatory genes.

Fatty acids are an important ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) activation and transcriptional regulation of metabolic genes. To examine whether reduced plasma free fatty acid (FFA) availability affects the mRNA content of proteins involved in fuel metabolism in vivo, the skeletal muscle mRNA content of various transcription factors, transcriptional coactivators and genes encoding for lipid regulatory proteins were examined before and after 3 h of cycle exercise with (NA) and without (CON) pre-exercise ingestion of nicotinic acid (NA). NA resulted in a marked (3- to 6-fold) increase (P<0.05) in PPARalpha, PPARdelta and PPAR coactivator 1alpha (PGC1alpha) mRNA, but was without effect on nuclear respiratory factor-1 and Forkhead transcription factor, fatty acid transcolase/CD36, carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4. Exercise in CON was associated with increased (P<0.05) PPARalpha, PPARdelta and PGC1alpha mRNA, which was similar in magnitude to levels observed with NA at rest. Exercise was generally without effect on the mRNA content of lipid regulatory proteins in CON and did not affect the mRNA content of the measured subset of transcription factors, transcriptional co-activators and lipid regulatory proteins during NA. To determine the possible mechanisms by which NA might affect PGC1alpha expression, we measured p38 MAP kinase (MAPK) and plasma epinephrine. Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was increased (P<0.05) by NA treatment at rest, and this correlated (r2=0.84, P<0.01) with increased PGC1alpha. Despite this close relationship, increasing p38 MAPK in human primary myotubes was without effect on PGC1alpha mRNA content. Plasma epinephrine was elevated (P<0.05) by NA at rest (CON: 0.27+/-0.06, NA: 0.72+/-0.11 nM) and throughout exercise. Incubating human primary myotubes with epinephrine increased PGC1alpha independently of changes in p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Hence, despite the fact that NA ingestion decreased FFA availability, it promoted the induction of PPARalpha/delta and PGC1alpha gene expression to a similar degree as prolonged exercise. We suggest that the increase in PGC1alpha may be due to the elevated plasma epinephrine levels. Despite these changes in transcription factors/coactivators, the mRNA content of lipid regulatory proteins was generally unaffected by plasma FFA availability.

CD36 Antigens↗
PubMed2003

Interleukin-6 gene expression is increased in insulin-resistant rat skeletal muscle following insulin stimulation.

IL-6 expression in skeletal muscle is stimulated by contractions. We sought to examine whether hyperinsulinaemia increases IL-6 mRNA in skeletal muscle and whether any increase is modified in insulin resistant muscle. We hypothesized that intramuscular IL-6 mRNA would be increased in response to insulin, but such an affect would be unaffected by insulin resistance because the primary insulin sensitive signalling protein responsible for activating IL-6 functions normally in insulin resistant muscle. Transgenic rats over-expressing the gluconeogenic regulatory enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) were studied. White gastrocnemius muscle samples were obtained under hyperinsulinaemic, euglycaemic clamp (4 mU kg(-1)min(-1) insulin, plasma glucose concentration 4-6 mmol L(-1)) and basal conditions in both PEPCK (basal n=4; insulin n=5) and wild-type (CON) (basal n=5; insulin n=4) rats, which were previously injected with a bolus of 2-[1-14C]deoxyglucose (2-DG) into the carotid artery. Muscle samples were assayed for 2-DG uptake and IL-6 mRNA. No differences in 2-DG uptake or IL-6 mRNA were observed when comparing groups under basal conditions. Under clamp conditions, 2-DG uptake was lower (P<0.05) in PEPCK compared with CON. Insulin stimulation in CON did not change IL-6 mRNA compared with basal levels. In contrast, there was an approximately 8-fold increase (P<0.05) in IL-6 mRNA in insulin-stimulated PEPCK compared with CON basal levels. Insulin stimulation increases IL-6 gene expression in insulin resistant, but not healthy, skeletal muscle, suggesting that IL-6 expression in skeletal muscle is sensitive to changes in insulin in circumstances of insulin resistance. It is likely that the differences observed when comparing healthy with insulin resistant muscle are due to the differential activation of insulin sensitive signalling proteins responsible for activating IL-6.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

17beta-estradiol upregulates the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and lipid oxidative genes in skeletal muscle.

This study examined the actions of 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone on the regulation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARalpha and PPARgamma) family of nuclear transcription factors and the mRNA abundance of key enzymes involved in fat oxidation, in skeletal muscle. Specifically, carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I), beta-3-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (beta-HAD), and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) were examined. Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and treated with placebo (Ovx), E(2), progesterone, or both hormones in combination (E+P). Additionally, sham-operated rats were treated with placebo (Sham) to serve as controls. Hormone (or vehicle only) delivery was via time release pellets inserted at the time of surgery, 15 days prior to analysis. E(2) treatment increased PPARalpha mRNA expression and protein content (P<0.05), compared with Ovx treatment. E(2) also resulted in upregulated mRNA of CPT I and PDK4 (P<0.05). PPARgamma mRNA expression was also increased (P<0.05) by E(2) treatment, although protein content remained unaltered. These data demonstrate the novel regulation of E(2) on PPARalpha and genes encoding key proteins that are pivotal in regulating skeletal muscle lipid oxidative flux.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Effect of the ovarian hormones on GLUT4 expression and contraction-stimulated glucose uptake.

This study examined the roles of the female sex steroids, 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone (Prog), on glucose uptake and GLUT4 protein expression. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were either sham operated (C) or ovariectomized and treated with placebo (O), E(2) (E), Prog (P), or both hormones at physiological doses (P + E) or the same dose of Prog with a high dose of E(2) (P + HiE) via timed-release pellets inserted at the time of surgery, 15 days before metabolic testing. On the morning of day 15, animals received a 300-microCi injection (ip) of 2-deoxy-[(14)C]glucose and then either exercised on a motorized treadmill for 30 min at 0.35 m/s or remained sedentary in their cages for the same period. Basal glucose uptake was not different between the treatment groups in either the red or white quadriceps. However, glucose uptake was decreased (P < 0.05) in O, P, and P + E rats during exercise in the red quadriceps compared with C rats, whereas E and P + HiE treatment restored glucose uptake. Glycogen content in skeletal muscle followed similar trends, with no differences seen in resting animals. Postexercise red quadriceps glycogen levels were higher (P < 0.05) in the E and P + HiE rats compared with O and P. Treatment of ovariectomized rats with progesterone (P rats) decreased (P < 0.05) GLUT4 content in the red quadriceps by 21% compared with C rats. These data demonstrate that estrogen-deficient animals have a decreased ability for contraction-stimulated glucose uptake and increased glycogen use during aerobic exercise. However, changes in contraction-stimulated glucose uptake could not be explained by altered transporter protein content, since the absence of E(2) had no effect on GLUT4 protein.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Interleukin-6 production in contracting human skeletal muscle is influenced by pre-exercise muscle glycogen content.

1. Prolonged exercise results in a progressive decline in glycogen content and a concomitant increase in the release of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) from contracting muscle. This study tests the hypothesis that the exercise-induced IL-6 release from contracting muscle is linked to the intramuscular glycogen availability. 2. Seven men performed 5 h of a two-legged knee-extensor exercise, with one leg with normal, and one leg with reduced, muscle glycogen content. Muscle biopsies were obtained before (pre-ex), immediately after (end-ex) and 3 h into recovery (3 h rec) from exercise in both legs. In addition, catheters were placed in one femoral artery and both femoral veins and blood was sampled from these catheters prior to exercise and at 1 h intervals during exercise and into recovery. 3. Pre-exercise glycogen content was lower in the glycogen-depleted leg compared with the control leg. Intramuscular IL-6 mRNA levels increased with exercise in both legs, but this increase was augmented in the leg having the lowest glycogen content at end-ex. The arterial plasma concentration of IL-6 increased from 0.6 +/- 0.1 ng x l(-1) pre-ex to 21.7 +/- 5.6 ng x l(-1) end-ex. The depleted leg had already released IL-6 after 1 h (4.38 +/- 2.80 ng x min(-1) (P < 0.05)), whereas no significant release was observed in the control leg (0.36 +/- 0.14 ng x min(-1)). A significant net IL-6 release was not observed until 2 h in the control leg. 4. This study demonstrates that glycogen availability is associated with alterations in the rate of IL-6 production and release in contracting skeletal muscle.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Adrenaline increases skeletal muscle glycogenolysis, pyruvate dehydrogenase activation and carbohydrate oxidation during moderate exercise in humans.

1. To evaluate the role of adrenaline in regulating carbohydrate metabolism during moderate exercise, 10 moderately trained men completed two 20 min exercise bouts at 58 +/- 2 % peak pulmonary oxygen uptake (V(O2,peak)). On one occasion saline was infused (CON), and on the other adrenaline was infused intravenously for 5 min prior to and throughout exercise (ADR). Glucose kinetics were measured by a primed, continuous infusion of 6,6-[(2)H]glucose and muscle samples were obtained prior to and at 1 and 20 min of exercise. 2. The infusion of adrenaline elevated (P < 0.01) plasma adrenaline concentrations at rest (pre-infusion, 0.28 +/- 0.09; post-infusion, 1.70 +/- 0.45 nmol l(-1); means +/- S.E.M.) and this effect was maintained throughout exercise. Total carbohydrate oxidation increased by 18 % and this effect was due to greater skeletal muscle glycogenolysis (P < 0.05) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activation (P < 0.05, treatment effect). Glucose rate of appearance was not different between trials, but the infusion of adrenaline decreased (P < 0.05, treatment effect) skeletal muscle glucose uptake in ADR. 3. During exercise muscle glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P) (P = 0.055, treatment effect) and lactate (P < 0.05) were elevated in ADR compared with CON and no changes were observed for pyruvate, creatine, phosphocreatine, ATP and the calculated free concentrations of ADP and AMP. 4. The data demonstrate that elevated plasma adrenaline levels during moderate exercise in untrained men increase skeletal muscle glycogen breakdown and PDH activation, which results in greater carbohydrate oxidation. The greater muscle glycogenolysis appears to be due to increased glycogen phosphorylase transformation whilst the increased PDH activity cannot be readily explained. Finally, the decreased glucose uptake observed during exercise in ADR is likely to be due to the increased intracellular G-6-P and a subsequent decrease in glucose phosphorylation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Carbohydrate ingestion attenuates the increase in plasma interleukin-6, but not skeletal muscle interleukin-6 mRNA, during exercise in humans.

1. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of exercise and carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion on interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression in skeletal muscle and plasma IL-6 concentration. 2. Seven moderately trained men completed 60 min of exercise at a workload corresponding to each individual's lactate threshold on four randomised occasions. Two trials were conducted on a bicycle ergometer (Cyc) and two on a running treadmill (Run) either with (CHO) or without (Con) the ingestion of a CHO beverage throughout the exercise. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis before and immediately after exercise and IL-6 gene expression in these samples was determined using real-time PCR. In addition, venous blood samples were collected at rest, and after 30 min during and at the cessation of exercise. These samples were analysed for plasma IL-6. 3. Irrespective of exercise mode or CHO ingestion, exercise resulted in a 21 +/- 4-fold increase (P < 0.01; main exercise effect) in IL-6 mRNA expression. In contrast, while the mode of exercise did not affect the exercise-induced increase in plasma IL-6, CHO ingestion blunted (P < 0.01) this response. 4. These data demonstrate that CHO ingestion attenuates the plasma IL-6 concentration during both cycling and running exercise. However, because IL-6 mRNA expression was unaffected by CHO ingestion, it is likely that the ingestion of CHO during exercise attenuates IL-6 production by tissues other than skeletal muscle.

Adult↗