Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Karsten Kristiansen

Publications and source records attributed to Karsten Kristiansen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Human brown fat metabolism associates with systemic branched-chain amino acids homeostasis.

Circulating branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are linked with insulin resistance, but the human tissues contributing to systemic BCAA homeostasis remain incompletely defined. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a metabolically active adipose depot associated with favourable insulin sensitivity, yet its role in BCAA metabolism in humans remains unclear. We tested whether human BAT metabolism is associated with circulating BCAA levels, BAT-resident BCAA-catabolic signatures, and longitudinal changes in systemic BCAA homeostasis. We studied 83 adults who underwent metabolic phenotyping, PET-CT assessment of cold-stimulated BAT metabolism, and serum metabolomic profiling at room temperature and during acute mild cold exposure. Supraclavicular BAT biopsies from 25 participants were analysed by transcriptomics and metabolomics, and 40 participants were re-examined for circulating BCAA profiles after approximately five years. Participants with high BAT metabolism had lower circulating BCAA levels than those with low BAT metabolism. Within BAT, metabolically active individuals exhibited lower relative BCAA abundance together with higher expression of genes involved in BCAA catabolism. These BAT BCAA-catabolic signatures aligned with thermogenic capacity and indices of systemic insulin sensitivity. In contrast, individuals with low BAT metabolism showed increases in circulating BCAAs over five years. Integrative analyses further linked circulating lipopolysaccharide, a marker of metabolic endotoxemia, with higher BAT BCAA and aminomalonate abundance, together with transcriptional patterns involving inflammatory and mitochondrial pathways. Together, these findings identify human BAT metabolism as a tissue phenotype linked to systemic BCAA homeostasis and extend the role of human BAT beyond thermogenesis, suggesting that BAT-associated BCAA handling may contribute to systemic metabolic health.

Humans↗

Arachidonic acid-dependent inhibition of adipocyte differentiation requires PKA activity and is associated with sustained expression of cyclooxygenases.

Arachidonic acid inhibits adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells via a prostaglandin synthesis-dependent pathway. Here we show that this inhibition requires the presence of a cAMP-elevating agent during the first two days of treatment. Suppression of protein kinase A activity by H-89 restored differentiation in the presence of arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid treatment led to a prolonged activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), and suppression of ERK1/2 activity by the addition of U0126 rescued differentiation. Upon induction of differentiation, expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was transiently induced and then declined, whereas COX-1 expression declined gradually as differentiation progressed. Treatment with arachidonic acid led to sustained expression of COX-1 and COX-2. Omission of a cAMP-elevating agent or addition of H-89 or U0126 prevented sustained expression of COX-2. Unexpectedly, we observed that selective COX-1 or COX-2 inhibitors rescued adipocyte differentiation in the presence of arachidonic acid as effectively as did the nonselective COX-inhibitor indomethacin. De novo fatty acid synthesis, diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) activity, and triacylglycerol accumulation were repressed in cells treated with arachidonic acid. Indomethacin restored DGAT activity and triacylglycerol accumulation without restoring de novo fatty acid synthesis, resulting in an enhanced incorporation of arachidonic acid into cellular triacylglycerols.

3T3-L1 Cells↗

Roles of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors delta and gamma in myoblast transdifferentiation.

Dietary long chain fatty acids and thiazolidinediones act as potent activators of adipogenesis in established preadipose cell lines. High concentrations of thiazolidinediones have also been shown to induce terminal differentiation of non-preadipose cells, such as fibroblasts and myoblasts, into adipose-like cells. This transdifferentiation was observed in both rodent and human myoblasts. In this report, we show that PPARdelta mediates some of the effects exerted by long chain fatty acids on myogenesis and adipogenesis. Activation of PPARdelta by long chain fatty acids impairs the expression of the determination factor MyoD1 and alpha-actin, abolishes the development of multinucleated myotubes, and in parallel induces the expression of PPARgamma gene, a master regulator of adipogenesis. Ectopic expression of PPARdelta in C2C12 myoblasts potentiated the fatty acid-induced expression of adipogenic markers, while expression of a dominant negative PPARdelta mutant exerted opposite effects. Furthermore, a sequential activation of first PPARdelta with long chain fatty acids and then PPARgamma with thiazolidinediones is required for adipogenesis in C2C12 myoblasts. This study demonstrates that PPARdelta, at least in part, is responsible for the dual effects of long chain fatty acids as inhibitors of myogenesis and inducers of transdifferentiation into preadipose-like cells.

Adipocytes↗

Nutritional regulation and role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta in fatty acid catabolism in skeletal muscle.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors primarily involved in lipid homeostasis. PPARdelta displays strong expression in tissues with high lipid metabolism, such as adipose, intestine and muscle. Its role in skeletal muscle remains largely unknown. After a 24-h starvation period, PPARdelta mRNA levels are dramatically up-regulated in gastrocnemius muscle of mice and restored to control level upon refeeding. The rise of PPARdelta is accompanied by parallel up-regulations of fatty acid translocase/CD36 (FAT/CD36) and heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), while refeeding promotes down-regulation of both genes. To directly access the role of PPARdelta in muscle cells, we forced its expression and that of a dominant-negative PPARdelta mutant in C2C12 myogenic cells. Differentiated C2C12 cells responds to 2-bromopalmitate or synthetic PPARdelta agonist by induction of genes involved in lipid metabolism and increment of fatty acid oxidation. Overexpression of PPARdelta enhanced these cellular responses, whereas expression of the dominant-negative mutant exerts opposite effects. These data strongly support a role for PPARdelta in the regulation of fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle and in adaptive response of this tissue to lipid catabolism.

Animals↗

Insulin-like growth factor-1/insulin bypasses Pref-1/FA1-mediated inhibition of adipocyte differentiation.

Pref-1 is a highly glycosylated Delta-like transmembrane protein containing six epidermal growth factor-like repeats in the extracellular domain. Pref-1 is abundantly expressed in preadipocytes, but expression is down-regulated during adipocyte differentiation. Forced expression of Pref-1 in 3T3-L1 cells was reported to inhibit adipocyte differentiation. Here we show that efficient and regulated processing of Pref-1 occurs in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes releasing most of the extracellular domain as a 50-kDa heterogeneous protein, previously isolated and characterized as FA1. Unexpectedly, we found that forced expression of the soluble form, FA1, or full-length Pref-1 did not inhibit adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells when differentiation was induced by standard treatment with methylisobutylxanthine, dexamethasone, and high concentrations of insulin. However, forced expression of either form of Pref-1/FA1 in 3T3-L1 or 3T3-F442A cells inhibited adipocyte differentiation when insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was omitted from the differentiation mixture. We demonstrate that the level of the mature form of the IGF-1 receptor is reduced and that IGF-1-dependent activation of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) is compromised in preadipocytes with forced expression of Pref-1. This is accompanied by suppression of clonal expansion and terminal differentiation. Accordingly, supplementation with insulin or IGF-1 rescued p42/p44 MAPK activation, clonal expansion, and adipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Tissue distribution, intracellular localization and proteolytic processing of rat 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase.

4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPD) is an important enzyme involved in tyrosine catabolism. HPD was shown to be identical to a protein named the F-antigen, exploited by immunologists because of its unique immunological properties. Congenital HPD deficiency is a rare, relatively benign condition known as hereditary type III tyrosinemia. Decreased expression of HPD is often observed in association with the severe type I tyrosinemia, and interestingly, inhibition of HPD activity seems to ameliorate the clinical symptoms of type I tyrosinemia. In this study we present a comprehensive analysis of tissue specific expression and intracellular localization of HPD in the rat. By combined use of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry we confirm previously known sites of expression in liver and kidney. In addition, we show that HPD is abundantly expressed in neurons in the cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus. By using immunoelectron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we provide evidence that HPD contrary to earlier assumptions specifically localizes to membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. Detailed mass spectrometric analyses of HPD purified from rat liver revealed N-terminal and C-terminal processing of HPD, and expression of recombinant HPD suggested that C-terminal processing enhances the enzymatic activity.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase↗

1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 stimulates activator protein 1 DNA-binding activity by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Ras/MEK/extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1-dependent increase in c-Fos, Fra1, and c-Jun expression in human keratinocytes.

1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 added to human keratinocytes increases differentiation through an activation of the transcription factor activator protein 1. We have previously reported that the 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced increase of activator protein 1 DNA binding activity is mediated by a protein kinase C-independent mechanism. The purpose of this study was to investigate further the mechanisms by which 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 modulates activator protein 1 DNA binding activity in cultured normal human keratinocytes. Western blotting experiments revealed that 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 caused a rapid and transient activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases, extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1. 1alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 also enhanced the expression of the activator protein 1 subunits, c-Fos, Fra1, and c-Jun as determined by northern and western blotting. The 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced activator protein 1 DNA binding activity was completely blocked by the MEK inhibitor PD 98059 indicating that the MEK/extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway is involved in the activation of activator protein 1. Transfection experiments showed that 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 also increased the activator protein 1-dependent transactivation, which was completely blocked by expression of a dominant negative Ras, suggesting that the 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced activator protein 1 activity involves Ras-dependent signaling. Furthermore, preincubation of the keratinocytes with the specific phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors, Wortmannin and LY294002, demonstrated that the 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 required phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. Finally, preincubation of keratinocytes with a polyclonal antibody against the membrane receptor annexin II, blocked the 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1. Taken together, our results indicate that 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, via binding to the membrane receptor annexin II, induces activation of the phos-phatidylinositol 3-kinase/Ras/MEK/extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 signal transduction pathway resulting in increased expression of c-Fos, Fra1, and c-Jun, and subsequently increased activator protein 1 DNA binding activity and gene transcription.

Adult↗

Genomic structure of the human mitochondrial chaperonin genes: HSP60 and HSP10 are localised head to head on chromosome 2 separated by a bidirectional promoter.

Although the mitochondrial chaperonin Hsp60 and its co-chaperonin Hsp10 have received great attention in the last decade, and it has been proposed that mutations and variations in these genes may be implicated in genetic diseases, the genome structure of the human HSP60 and HSP10 genes (also known as HSPD1 and HSPE1, respectively) has not been firmly established. The picture has been confused by the presence of many pseudogenes of both HSP60 and HSP10 and the long surviving assumption that the HSP60 gene is intron-less. An earlier report on the partial sequence of the human HSP60 gene and the presence of introns has largely been overlooked. We present the full sequence of the human HSP60 and HSP10 genes. The two genes are linked head to head comprising approximately 17 kb and consist of 12 and 4 exons, respectively. The first exon of the human HSP60 gene is non-coding and the first exon of the human HSP10 gene ends with the start codon. Analysis of human and mouse expressed sequence tag sequences in GenBank indicates that alternative splicing occurs resulting in HSP60 gene transcripts with different exon-1 sequences. By sequencing of the exons, the exon/intron boundaries and the region between the two genes in 10 Danish individuals (five couples), nine nucleotide variations and one intronic deletion have been detected that, by subsequent typing of one child from each couple, have been assigned to five haplotypes. The human HSP60 gene has been localised, by radiation hybrid mapping, between markers AFMA121YH1 and WI-10756 on chromosome 2. This location and the position of two homologous fragments in the Human Genome Assembly are consistent with cytogenetic position 2q33.1. Using a luciferase-reporter assay, we demonstrate that the region between the two genes functions as a bi-directional promoter. The transcriptional activity of the promoter fragment in the HSP60 direction is approximately twice that in the HSP10 direction under normal growth conditions and, upon heat-shock, promoter activity in either direction increased by a factor of approximately 12. One of the nucleotide variations detected is localised in a putative SP1-transcription-factor-binding site in the bidirectional promoter region and analysis of the transcriptional activity of the promoter fragment with this variation has shown that it does not affect transcription levels both with and without heat-shock.

3' Untranslated Regions↗

Genomic organization of the mouse peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta/delta gene: alternative promoter usage and splicing yield transcripts exhibiting differential translational efficiency.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) beta/delta is ubiquitously expressed, but the level of expression differs markedly between different cell types. In order to determine the molecular mechanisms governing PPARbeta/delta gene expression, we have isolated and characterized the mouse gene encoding PPARbeta/delta. The gene spans approx. 41 kb and comprises 11 exons of which the six exons located in the 3'-end of the gene are included in all transcripts. Primer-extension and 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends experiments revealed the presence of multiple transcription start points and splice variants, originating from the use of at least four different promoters. One of these transcription start points was found to be used predominantly in all tissues examined. Initiation from this major transcription start point gives rise to a transcript with a 548 nt 5'-untranslated leader containing eight upstream AUG codons. We show that the presence of the 548 nt leader resulted in a low translational efficiency of the corresponding PPARbeta/delta mRNA and propose, based on structural features of the 5'-untranslated region, that translational initiation may be mediated via an internal ribosome entry site-dependent mechanism.

3T3 Cells↗

Inhibition of adipocyte differentiation by resistin-like molecule alpha. Biochemical characterization of its oligomeric nature.

A novel family of cysteine-rich secreted proteins with unique tissue distribution has recently been identified. One of the members, resistin (for "resistance to insulin"), also called FIZZ3, was identified in a screen for molecules that are down-regulated in mature adipocytes upon administration of thiazolidinediones. The prototypical member of this family was originally identified from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of inflamed lungs and designated FIZZ1 ("found in inflammatory zone"). This molecule was also found to be highly expressed in adipose tissue and was named resistin-like molecule alpha (RELMalpha). Here we demonstrate that RELMalpha inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes. RELMalpha has no effect on proliferation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Pretreatment of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes with RELMalpha does not affect insulin- or platelet-derived growth factor-induced mitogenesis. IRS-1 phosphorylation and glucose transport stimulated by insulin in mature adipocytes were also unaffected by RELMalpha. We show that RELMalpha forms disulfide-linked homooligomers based on results from electrophoresis under reducing and nonreducing conditions, coimmunoprecipitation experiments as well as by mass spectrometry. In addition, RELMalpha is able to form heterooligomers with resistin but not RELMbeta. Since RELMalpha is expressed by adipose tissue and it is a secreted factor, our findings suggest that RELMalpha may be involved in the control of the adipogenesis as well as in the process of muscle differentiation.

3T3 Cells↗

The gene encoding the Acyl-CoA-binding protein is activated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma through an intronic response element functionally conserved between humans and rodents.

The acyl-CoA-binding protein (ACBP) is a 10-kDa intracellular protein that specifically binds acyl-CoA esters with high affinity and is structurally and functionally conserved from yeast to mammals. In vitro studies indicate that ACBP may regulate the availability of acyl-CoA esters for various metabolic and regulatory purposes. The protein is particularly abundant in cells with a high level of lipogenesis and de novo fatty acid synthesis and is significantly induced during adipocyte differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of ACBP expression in mammalian cells have remained largely unknown. Here we report that ACBP is a novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma target gene. The rat ACBP gene is directly activated by PPARgamma/retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) and PPARalpha/RXRalpha, but not by PPARdelta/RXRalpha, through a PPAR-response element in intron 1, which is functionally conserved in the human ACBP gene. The intronic PPAR-response element (PPRE) mediates induction by endogenous PPARgamma in murine adipocytes and confers responsiveness to the PPARgamma-selective ligand BRL49653. Finally, we have used chromatin immunoprecipitation to demonstrate that the intronic PPRE efficiently binds PPARgamma/RXR in its natural chromatin context in adipocytes. Thus, the PPRE in intron 1 of the ACBP gene is a bona fide PPARgamma-response element.

3T3 Cells↗

Deregulated MAPK activity prevents adipocyte differentiation of fibroblasts lacking the retinoblastoma protein.

A functional retinoblastoma protein (pRB) is required for adipose conversion of preadipocyte cell lines and primary mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) in response to treatment with standard adipogenic inducers. Interestingly, lack of functional pRB in MEFs was recently linked to elevated Ras activity. Ras-dependent signaling plays a significant, although incompletely understood, role in adipocyte differentiation, because activated Ras has been reported to either promote or inhibit adipogenesis depending on the cellular context. In various cell types activation of Ras leads to activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt, which exert opposing effects on adipogenesis, with ERK1/2 inhibiting and PKB/Akt promoting terminal differentiation. Here we report that the levels of activated ERK1/2 and PKB/Akt are significantly increased in pRB-deficient MEFs both before and after the addition of adipogenic inducers. Consistently, we detected higher levels of activated Ras in MEFs lacking pRB. Suppression of ERK1/2 activation by the MEK inhibitor UO126 restored the ability of pRB-deficient MEFs to undergo adipocyte differentiation, as manifested by expression of adipocyte marker genes and lipid accumulation. Furthermore and reflecting the elevated levels of activated PKB/Akt in the pRB-deficient MEFs, differentiation proceeded in an insulin-independent manner. In conclusion, we suggest that pRB plays a pivotal role in adipogenesis by suppressing MAPK activity.

Adipocytes↗

Nuclear receptor corepressor-dependent repression of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor delta-mediated transactivation.

The nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR) was isolated as a peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) delta interacting protein using the yeast two-hybrid system. NCoR interacted strongly with the ligand-binding domain of PPAR delta, whereas interactions with the ligand-binding domains of PPAR gamma and PPAR alpha were significantly weaker. PPAR-NCoR interactions were antagonized by ligands in the two-hybrid system, but were ligand-insensitive in in vitro pull-down assays. Interaction between PPAR delta and NCoR was unaffected by coexpression of retinoid X receptor (RXR) alpha. The PPAR delta-RXR alpha heterodimer bound to an acyl-CoA oxidase (ACO)-type peroxisome-proliferator response element recruited a glutathione S-transferase-NCoR fusion protein in a ligand-independent manner. Contrasting with most other nuclear receptors, PPAR delta was found to interact equally well with interaction domains I and II of NCoR. In transient transfection experiments, NCoR and the related silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT) were shown to exert a marked dose-dependent repression of ligand-induced PPAR delta-mediated transactivation; in addition, transactivation induced by the cAMP-elevating agent forskolin was efficiently reduced to basal levels by NCoR as well as SMRT coexpression. Our results suggest that the transactivation potential of liganded PPAR delta can be fine-tuned by interaction with NCoR and SMRT in a manner determined by the expression levels of corepressors and coactivators.

Animals↗

Expression and post-translational modification of human 4-hydroxy-phenylpyruvate dioxygenase.

4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPD) (EC 1.13.11.27) is a key enzyme involved in tyrosine catabolism. Congenital HPD deficiency is a rare, relatively benign condition known as hereditary type III tyrosinemia. The severe type I tyrosinemia, caused by a deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase which functions downstream of HPD in the tyrosine degradation pathway, is often associated with decreased expression of HPD, and interestingly, inhibition of HPD activity seems to ameliorate the clinical symptoms of type I tyrosinemia. The HPD gene was previously mapped to the chromosomal region 12q24-->qter. In the present study high-resolution chromosome mapping localized the HPD gene to 12q24.31. DNase I footprinting, revealed that four regions of the HPD promoter were protected by rat liver nuclear proteins. Computer-assisted analyses suggested that these elements might bind Sp1/AP2, HNF4, HNF3/CREB, and C/EBP, respectively. In transient transfection experiments, the proximal 271bp of the promoter conferred basal transcriptional activation in human Chang cells. Sequences in intron 1 were able to enhance the activity of this basal promoter. Finally, vaccinia virus-based expression provided evidence that HPD is subject to phosphorylation, and furthermore, allowed mapping of the HPD protein in the human keratinocyte 2D database.

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase↗