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M J Saad

Publications and source records attributed to M J Saad.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

A high-fructose diet induces changes in pp185 phosphorylation in muscle and liver of rats.

Insulin stimulates the tyrosine kinase activity of its receptor resulting in the tyrosine phosphorylation of pp185, which contains insulin receptor substrates IRS-1 and IRS-2. These early steps in insulin action are essential for the metabolic effects of insulin. Feeding animals a high-fructose diet results in insulin resistance. However, the exact molecular mechanism underlying this effect is unknown. In the present study, we determined the levels and phosphorylation status of the insulin receptor and pp185 (IRS-(1/2)) in liver and muscle of rats submitted to a high-fructose diet evaluated by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. Feeding fructose (28 days) induced a discrete insulin resistance, as demonstrated by the insulin tolerance test. Plasma glucose and serum insulin and cholesterol levels of the two groups of rats, fructose-fed and control, were similar, whereas plasma triacylglycerol concentration was significantly increased in the rats submitted to the fructose diet (P<0.05). There were no changes in insulin receptor concentration in the liver or muscle of either group. However, insulin-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation was reduced to 72 +/- 4% (P<0.05) in the liver of high-fructose rats. The IRS-1 protein levels were similar in both liver and muscle of the two groups of rats. In contrast, there was a significant decrease in insulin-induced pp185 (IRS-(1/2)) phosphorylation, to 83 +/- 5% (P<0.05) in liver and to 77 +/- 4% (P<0.05) in muscle of the high-fructose rats. These data suggest that changes in the early steps of insulin signal transduction may have an important role in the insulin resistance induced by high-fructose feeding.

Animals↗

Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc in liver, muscle and adipose tissue of insulin resistant rats.

Insulin stimulates rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of the protein Shc, which subsequently binds to Grb2, resulting in the activation of a complex mitogenic signaling network. In this study, we examined the levels of Shc protein, its phosphorylation state and Shc-Grb2 association in liver, muscle and adipose tissue before and after insulin administration in three animal models of insulin resistance (chronic dexamethasone treatment, 72-h starvation and aging). There were no differences in Shc protein expression between tissues from control and insulin resistant animals. In fasted hypoinsulinemic rats, there was a decrease in insulin-induced Shc phosphorylation in liver and adipose tissue. However, a significant increase in Shc phosphorylation was observed in liver and muscle from dexamethasone-treated hyperinsulinemic rats and in liver, muscle and adipose tissue of hyperinsulinemic 20-month-old rats. Alterations in Shc phosphorylation correlated well with the level of Shc-Grb2 association. These results indicate that Shc tyrosyl phosphorylation and Shc-Grb2 association are regulated in the different types of insulin resistance and that this regulation is apparently related to the animals' plasma insulin levels. The Shc-Grb2 association is directly related to the insulin-induced tyrosyl phosphorylation of Shc.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Insulin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and SHC, and SHC/GRB2 association in cerebellum but not in forebrain cortex of rats.

A growth-related branch of the insulin-signaling pathway was studied in the forebrain cortex and cerebellum of Wistar rats. Anesthetized rats received a bolus injection of saline or insulin through the cava vein after which fragments of cerebellum and forebrain cortex were excised and immediately homogenized. Insulin receptor and p46SHCA phosphorylation, and p46SHCA/GRB2 association were detected by immunoprecipitation and blotting with specific antibodies. Insulin stimulated the rapid phosphorylation of its receptor in cerebellum, followed by p46SHCA phosphorylation and GRB2 recruitment. The optimal insulin dose for the induction of p46SHCA/GRB2 binding was 60 microg, and time-course experiments showed that maximum phosphorylation/binding occurred 2-3 min after stimulation. Although insulin receptors and SHC were present in forebrain cortex, there was no increase in their phosphorylation, nor was there any recruitment of GRB2 following stimulation with insulin. Thus, although elements involved in the early intracellular response to insulin are present in the central nervous system, differences in their activation/regulation may account for the functional roles of insulin in these tissues.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Crosstalk between insulin and angiotensin II signalling systems.

Insulin resistance and hypertension commonly occur together. Pharmacological inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system has been found to reduce not only hypertension, but also insulin resistance. This raises the possibility that the renin-angiotensin system may interact with insulin signalling. We have investigated the relationship between insulin and angiotensin II (AII) intracellular signalling in vivo using an intact rat heart model, and in vitro using rat aorta smooth muscle cells (RASMC). Results generated in the in vivo studies indicate that, like insulin, AII stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrates IRS-1 and IRS-2. This leads to binding of IRS-1 and IRS-2 to PI3-kinase. However, in contrast to the effect of insulin. IRS-1- and IRS-2-associated PI3-kinase activity is inhibited by AII in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, AII inhibits insulin-stimulated IRS-1/IRS-2-associated PI3-kinase activity. The in vivo effects of AII are mediated via the AT1 receptor. The results of the in vitro studies indicate that AII inhibits insulin-stimulated, IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase activity by interfering with the docking of IRS-1 with the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase. It appears that AII achieves this effect by stimulating serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit IRS-1, and the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3-kinase. These actions result in the inhibition of normal interactions between the insulin signalling pathway components. Thus, we believe that AII negatively modulates insulin signalling by stimulating multiple serine phosphorylation events in the early components of the insulin signalling cascade. Overactivity of the renin-angiotensin system is likely to impair insulin signalling and contribute to insulin resistance observed in essential hypertension.

Angiotensin II↗

Growth hormone stimulates the tyrosine kinase activity of JAK2 and induces tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates and Shc in rat tissues.

GH stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of various cellular polypeptides, including the GH receptor itself, in an early part of the intracellular response. Some of these phosphorylations are catalyzed by a GH receptor-associated kinase identified as JAK2, a member of the Janus family of tyrosine kinases. In cultured cells, GH stimulates the tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), IRS-2, and Shc. This study investigated whether GH could cause the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRSs and Shc proteins in fasted rat tissues in vivo. GH was administered to fasted Wistar rats via a portal vein, and extracts of different tissues were immunoprecipitated with specific antibodies. GH increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, IRS-2, JAK2, and Shc proteins in the liver, heart, kidney, muscle, and adipose tissue of rats. The roles of these substrates as signaling molecules for GH were further demonstrated by the finding that GH stimulated the association of IRS-1/2 with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, Grb2, and phosphotyrosine phosphatase and of Shc with Grb2. The correlation between JAK2 tyrosyl phosphorylation and IRS-1 tyrosyl phosphorylation in response to GH together with the results of the in vitro tyrosine kinase assay are consistent with the hypothesis that JAK2 may mediate GH-induced phosphorylation of IRS-1.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Myocardial contractile response to an oral glucose load in normal subjects evaluated by echocardiography.

There is a paucity of experimental data on the actual mechanism of insulin-induced changes on the myocardial function. In the present study we investigated the myocardial contractile, response to an oral glucose load using echocardiography. Fifteen healthy volunteers were studied after overnight fast and 150 minutes after the oral load of 75 g glucose. Oral glucose load caused an increase in plasma glucose and insulin levels, which was accompanied by a significant increase in left ventricular shortening (from 35.2 +/- 0.7% at baseline, to 38.5 +/- 0.6% and 39 +/- 0.9% at 30 and 60 minutes post glucose load, respectively [P < 0.05 vs baseline]; ejection fraction rose from 0.73% +/- 0.01 to 0.77% +/- 0.01 (P < 0.05); pressure rate product increased from 7.29 +/- 0.2 to 8.31 +/- 0.3 mmHg x beats per min (P < 0.007) and heart rate enhanced from 68.3 +/- 1.9 to 74 +/- 1.6 (P < 0.034) and 75.3 +/- 1.5 beats per min (P < 0.008) at 60 and 90 minutes after glucose, respectively. Meanwhile, mean arterial pressure decreased significantly (10 +/- 1.5%, P < 0.018) when compared to basal values. These results indicate a significant change in the myocardial contractile response to an oral glucose load, probably related to baroreceptor reflex response as well as an overridden by a potent vasodilator action of insulin. Nevertheless, we could not rule out that the cardiac effects may also be due an insulin-induced sympathetic activation or a direct myocardial effect.

Administration, Oral↗

Regulation of insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and IRS-1 in the muscle of rats: effect of growth hormone and epinephrine.

Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Shc protein have the same binding site at the insulin receptor and compete in their association with the phosphorylated receptor. The present study demonstrates that a decrease in the level of muscle insulin receptor phosphorylation induced by chronic growth hormone (GH) treatment or acute epinephrine infusion is accompanied by a reduction in the level of IRS-1 phosphorylation and in the association with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. In contrast, no change is observed in insulin-stimulated Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, or in the association of this substrate with Grb2. These data suggest that a reduction in insulin receptor phosphorylation may affect post-receptor processes differentially by preserving the phosphorylation of some substrates and pathways, but not of others.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of band 3 in hemoglobinopathies.

In order to investigate the tyrosine phosphorylation of band 3, we performed immunoblotting of intact red cells using anti-phosphotyrosine antibody of 21 patients with sickle cell disorders (11 SS, 5 Sbeta, 5 SC), 7 patients with beta thalassemias (5 beta thal intermedia, 2 deltabeta thal), 10 normal controls, and 1 patient with hereditary spherocytosis. They had not received transfusion for the last 4 months and all were clinically stable. Our results showed an increased tyrosine phosphorylation of two proteins, in the 100 and 80 kD regions, in sickle cell and beta-thalassemic red cells when compared to the normal controls and to the patient with hereditary spherocytosis. Immunoprecipitation of the lysed red cells with anti-band 3 antibody and immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody confirmed that the 100 kD tyrosine phosphorylated protein was band 3. In the sickle cell disease group, the band 3 tyrosine phosphorylation varied from 2- to 10-fold increase compared to control (x +/- SD; SS = 7.8- +/- 2.7-fold; SC = 3.8- +/- 1.3-fold; Sbeta = 5.2- +/- 2.0-fold). It was also higher in the beta-thalassemic group (beta-thal = 4.3- +/- 3.7-fold). There was no significant difference in tyrosine phosphorylation among the various groups tested, except when we compared the phosphorylation in intact red cells of patients with sickle cell anemia and hemoglobinopathy SC (U = 6, P < 0.02). The tyrosine phosphorylation of band 3 was increased in hemoglobinopathies even in the absence of high reticulocyte count. At least two mechanisms might be involved in the increased tyrosine phosphorylation of band 3 in these hemoglobin disorders, probably related to the endogenous reactive oxygen intermediates generated by the abnormal erythrocyte: an inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity or an activation of the protein tyrosine kinase p72syk.

Adolescent↗

Insulin signalling in heart involves insulin receptor substrates-1 and -2, activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the JAK 2-growth related pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperinsulinemia is a common feature of obesity and hypertension and may be associated with abnormal metabolism and growth of heart muscle and vascular wall. Most of the known actions of insulin were characterised in muscle, adipose tissue and liver. In this study we investigate the initial steps of insulin signalling in rat heart. METHODS: After insulin infusion in the cava vein of male Wistar rats, the insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrates-1 and -2, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity and Janus kinase (JAK) 2 engagement were studied by immunoprecipitation and immunoblot of heart extracts. RESULTS: An insulin load induces rapid autophosphorylation of the insulin receptor which is followed by the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates-1 and -2. The phosphorylation of these early intracellular substrates leads to the association of the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and subsequent activation of its catalytic p110 subunit. Besides activation of the lipid metabolising enzyme phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, the phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates-1 and -2 engages the intracellular kinase JAK 2 and induces JAK 2-STAT 1 complex formation. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that the early steps of insulin signalling in heart include the phosphorylation-activation of the insulin receptor, engagement of insulin receptor substrates-1 and -2 with the consequent activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and the involvement of the recently discovered growth related pathway--JAK 2-STAT 1.

Animals↗

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor increases insulin-induced pp185 phosphorylation in liver and muscle of obese rats.

The clinical use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors has been associated with increased insulin sensitivity. However, the molecular mechanism is unknown. The authors examined the early steps in insulin action, i.e., the phosphorylation status of the insulin receptor and of the pp185 in liver and muscle of obese rats treated acutely with captopril, using immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibodies. Following treatment with captopril there was an improvement in insulin-induced insulin receptor and pp185 phosphorylation in the liver and muscle of obese rats. This finding contribute to an explanation of the mechanism by which ACE inhibitors appear to improve insulin sensitivity.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗

Protein deficiency and nutritional recovery modulate insulin secretion and the early steps of insulin action in rats.

Maternal malnutrition was shown to affect early growth and leads to permanent alterations in insulin secretion and sensitivity of offspring. In addition, epidemiological studies showed an association between low birth weight and glucose intolerance in adult life. To understand these interactions better, we investigated the insulin secretion by isolated islets and the early events related to insulin action in the hind-limb muscle of adult rats fed a diet of 17% protein (control) or 6% protein [low (LP) protein] during fetal life, suckling and after weaning, and in rats receiving 6% protein during fetal life and suckling followed by a 17% protein diet after weaning (recovered). The basal and maximal insulin secretion by islets from rats fed LP diet and the basal release by islets from recovered rats were significantly lower than that of control rats. The dose-response curves to glucose of islets from LP and recovered groups were shifted to the right compared to control islets, with the half-maximal response (EC50) occurring at 16.9 +/- 1.3, 12.4 +/- 0.5 and 8.4 +/- 0.1 mmol/L, respectively. The levels of insulin receptor, as well as insulin receptor substrate-1 and phosphorylation and the association between insulin receptor substrate-1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase were greater in rats fed a LP diet than in control rats. In recovered rats, these variables were not significantly different from those of the other two groups. These results suggest that glucose homeostasis is maintained in LP and recovered rats by an increased sensitivity to insulin as a result of alterations in the early steps of the insulin signal transduction pathway.

Animals↗

Pinealectomy causes glucose intolerance and decreases adipose cell responsiveness to insulin in rats.

Although the pineal gland influences several physiological systems, only a few studies have investigated its role in the intermediary metabolism. In the present study, male Wistar rats, pinealectomized or sham-operated 6 wk before the experiment, were submitted to both intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) and insulin binding as well as glucose transport assays in isolated adipocytes. The insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity was assessed in liver and muscle. The insulin secretory response during the IVGTT was impaired, particularly in the afternoon, and the glucose transport responsiveness was 33% lower in pinealectomized rats. However, no difference was observed in the insulin receptor number of adipocytes between groups as well as in insulin-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity, indicating that the initial steps in the insulin signaling were well conserved. Conversely, a 40% reduction in adipose tissue GLUT-4 content was detected. In conclusion, pinealectomy is responsible for both impaired insulin secretion and action, emphasizing the influence of the pineal gland on glucose metabolism.

Adipose Tissue↗

Insulin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc and stimulates Shc/GRB2 association in insulin-sensitive tissues of the intact rat.

Shc is a novel type of tyrosine-phosphorylated protein activated in response to a wide variety of polypeptide ligands. In this study, we used immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting to examine the effect of insulin on Shc tyrosine phosphorylation and Shc/GRB2 association in insulin-sensitive tissues of the intact rat. Following an infusion of insulin, Shc was tyrosine-phosphorylated in the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue in a time- and dose-dependent fashion, which peaked 5 min after exposure to the hormone and, except in the case of adipose tissue, returned to basal values after 15 min. There was coimmunoprecipitation of Shc and the insulin receptor after stimulation with insulin. Receptor tyrosine kinase activity toward Shc was also observed. Following an infusion of insulin, Shc was found to associate with GRB2. These results demonstrate that after stimulation of rat tissues with insulin, Shc binds to the insulin receptor, is tyrosine-phosphorylated, and subsequently associated with GRB2.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

The insulin receptor substrate 1 associates with phosphotyrosine phosphatase SHPTP2 in liver and muscle of rats.

Insulin stimulates the tyrosine kinase activity of its receptor resulting in the phosphorylation of its cytosolic substrate, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) which, in turn, associates with proteins containing SH2 domains. It has been shown that IRS-1 associates with the tyrosine phosphatase SHPTP2 in cell cultures. While the effect of the IRS-1/SHPTP2 association on insulin signal transduction is not completely known, this association may dephosphorylate IRS-1 and may play a critical role in the mitogenic actions of insulin. However, there is no physiological demonstration of this pathway of insulin action in animal tissues. In the present study we investigated the ability of insulin to induce association between IRS-1 and SHPTP2 in liver and muscle of intact rats, by co-immunoprecipitation with anti-IRS-1 antibody and anti-SHPTP2 antibody. In both tissues there was an increase in IRS-1 association with SHPTP2 after insulin stimulation. This association occurred when IRS-1 had the highest level of tyrosine phosphorylation and the decrease in this association was more rapid than the decrease in IRS-1 phosphorylation levels. The data provide evidence against the participation of SHPTP2 in IRS-1 dephosphorylation in rat tissues, and suggest that the insulin signal transduction pathway in rat tissues is related mainly to the mitogenic effects of the hormone.

Animals↗

Insulin receptor has tyrosine kinase activity toward Shc in rat liver.

Insulin induces tyrosine phosphorylation of Shc in cell cultures and in insulin-sensitive tissues of the intact rat. However, the ability of insulin receptor (IR) tyrosine kinase to phosphorylate Shc has not been previously demonstrated. In the present study, we investigated insulin-induced IR tyrosine kinase activity towards Shc. Insulin receptor was immunoprecipitated from liver extracts, before and after a very low dose of insulin into the portal vein, and incubated with immunopurified Shc from liver of untreated rats. The kinase assay was performed in vitro in the presence of exogenous ATP and the phosphorylation level was quantified by immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody. The results demonstrate that Shc interacted with insulin receptor after infusion of insulin, and, more important, there was insulin receptor kinase activity towards immunopurified Shc. The description of this pathway in animal tissue may have an important role in insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity toward mitogenic transduction pathways.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Effect of chronic growth hormone treatment on insulin signal transduction in rat tissues.

Growth hormone (GH) is known to produce insulin resistance, but the exact molecular mechanism remains unclear. We have chronically treated rats with GH and observed that the levels of insulin receptor in the liver or muscle were similar in both the GH-treated and non-treated rats. Insulin-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation was unaltered in the liver, but was reduced in the muscle of rats treated with GH. Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase protein levels decreased in the liver but not muscle of GH-treated rats. There was no change in hepatic and muscle IRS-2 concentrations. A common finding in liver and muscle was the decrease in IRS-1 and IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation associated with a reduction in the interaction between these substrates and PI 3-kinase. These data suggest that changes in the early steps of insulin signal transduction may have a role in the insulin resistance observed in rats exposed to an excess of GH.

Animals↗

Defects in insulin signal transduction in liver and muscle of pregnant rats.

Pregnancy is known to induce resistance, but the exact molecular mechanism involved is unknown. In the present study, we have examined the levels and phosphorylation state of the insulin receptor and of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), as well as the association between IRS-1 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) in the liver and muscle of pregnant rats (day 20 of gestation) by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with anti-insulin receptor, anti-IRS-1, anti-PI 3-kinase and anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. There were no changes in the insulin receptor concentration in the liver and muscle of pregnant rats. However, insulin stimulation of receptor autophosphorylation, as determined by immunoblotting with antiphosphotyrosine antibody, was reduced by 30 +/- 6% (p < 0.02) in muscle and 36 +/- 5% (p < 0.01) in liver at day 20 of gestation. IRS-1 protein levels decreased by 45 +/- 6% (p < 0.002) in liver and by 56 +/- 9% (p < 0.002) in muscle of pregnant rats. In samples previously immunoprecipitated with anti-IRS-1 antibody and blotted with antiphosphotyrosine antibody, the insulin-stimulated IRS-1 phosphorylation levels in the muscle and liver of pregnant rats decreased by 70 +/- 9% (p < 0.01) and 75 +/- 8% (p < 0.01), respectively. The insulin-stimulated IRS-1 association with PI 3-kinase decreased by 81 +/- 6% in muscle (p < 0.01) and 79 +/- 11% (p < 0.01) in the liver during pregnancy. These data suggest that changes in the early steps of insulin signal transduction may have a role in the insulin resistance observed in pregnancy.

Animals↗

Glucose-induced insulin secretion is impaired and insulin-induced phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-1 are increased in protein-deficient rats.

Malnutrition is related to diabetes in tropical countries. In experimental animals, protein deficiency may affect insulin secretion. However, the effect of malnutrition on insulin receptor phosphorylation and further intracellular signaling events is not known. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the rate of insulin secretion and the early molecular steps of insulin action in insulin-sensitive tissues of an animal model of protein deficiency. Pancreatic islets isolated from rats fed a standard (17%) or a low (6%) protein diet were studied for their secretory response to increasing concentrations of glucose in the culture medium. Basal as well as maximal rates of insulin secretion were significantly lower in the islets isolated from rats fed a low protein diet. Moreover, the dose-response curve to glucose was significantly shifted to the right in the islets from malnourished rats compared with islets from control rats. During an oral glucose tolerance test, there were significantly lower circulating concentrations of insulin in the serum of rats fed a low protein diet in spite of no difference in serum glucose concentration between the groups, suggesting an increased peripheral insulin sensitivity. Immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation were used to study the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and the insulin receptor substrate-1 as well as the insulin receptor substrate-1-p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase association in response to insulin. Values were greater in hind-limb muscle from rats fed a low protein diet compared with controls. No differences were detected in the total amount of protein corresponding to the insulin receptor or insulin receptor substrate-1 between muscle from rats fed the two diets. Therefore, we conclude that a decreased glucose-induced insulin secretion in pancreatic islets from protein-malnourished rats is responsible, at least in part, for an increased phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, insulin receptor substrate-1 and its association with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. These might represent some of the factors influencing the equilibrium in glucose concentrations observed in animal models of malnutrition and undernourished subjects.

Animals↗