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Biomedical subjects

Robert V Considine

Publications and source records attributed to Robert V Considine.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Leptin levels, leptin receptor gene polymorphisms, and energy metabolism in women.

OBJECTIVE: Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is mainly determined by fat-free mass and additionally by age, sex, hormones, and possibly genetic differences. We evaluated whether leptin levels and polymorphisms in the leptin receptor (LEPR) gene were associated with energy expenditure phenotypes. METHODS: RMR, body composition, and leptin levels were measured in 125 overweight and obese women. Three LEPR polymorphisms, Lys109Arg, Gln223Arg, and Lys656Asn, were typed on genomic DNA of another group of 192 women in whom RMR was measured. Fat, protein, and carbohydrate oxidation were calculated for 103 of these subjects. In 38 subjects, glucose-induced thermogenesis was measured over 3 hours. RESULTS: In the first study group, a negative correlation between RMR and leptin levels was found after controlling for fat and fat-free mass. In multiple regression analysis, leptin contributed significantly to RMR, independent of body composition. In the second study group, RMR was not associated with LEPR polymorphisms. Differences in substrate oxidation rates were found among genotypes at the Lys656Asn site. In fasting conditions, Lys656Lys showed a trend to oxidize more carbohydrates and less fat than Asn656 carriers, a trend which became significant after the glucose load when carbohydrate oxidation rate in Lys656Lys was 15% higher than in Asn656 carriers (p = 0.04), and fat oxidation rate was 44% lower (p = 0.02). DISCUSSION: These results suggest that DNA sequence variations in the LEPR gene could affect substrate oxidation. We hypothesize that this might be caused by differences in glucose levels, leading to differences in glucose oxidation rates.

Adolescent↗

Hexosamines regulate leptin production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes through transcriptional mechanisms.

This study was undertaken to examine the regulation of leptin gene (LEP) transcription and leptin release by hexosamines in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Glucosamine (1 mM), an intermediate in hexosamine biosynthesis, increased leptin release to 117.0 +/- 7.3% (P = 0.0430; n = 9) and 134.6 +/- 6.5% of the control value (P = 0.0367; n = 4) by 48 and 96 h, respectively. With 0.01 mM glucosamine, leptin release was increased to 120.0 +/- 3.0% of the control value (P = 0.0069; n = 4) by 96 h of treatment. Glucose at 5 and 20 mM stimulated leptin release to 759 +/- 227% and 1104 +/- 316% of the control value over the 96-h culture period. Inhibition of hexosamine biosynthesis with 6-diazo-5-oxonorleucine (20 microM) reduced glucose-stimulated leptin release 13 +/- 2.3% and 29.9 +/- 6.6% at 24 and 96 h, respectively (n = 4; P < 0.05). A 24-h incubation in 5 mM glucose significantly increased (163.0 +/- 19.3%; n = 7) the activity of a human LEP promoter electroporated into differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. Glucosamine (1 mM; 48 h) also increased LEP promoter activity 170.0 +/- 13.0% (n = 5). Mutation of the three Sp1 binding sites in the LEP construct significantly reduced promoter activity. However, glucose (5 mM; 24 h) and glucosamine (1 mM; 48 h) increased the activity of the mutated promoter to 165 +/- 40% (n = 8) and 143 +/- 13% of the control value (n = 8). Glucosamine significantly increased O-glycosylation of Sp1 by 16.1 +/- 4.5% (P = 0.0305; n = 3). These data demonstrate that glucose and hexosamines regulate leptin production through transcriptional mechanisms localized to the proximal portion of the LEP promoter. Hexosamine-mediated regulation of LEP gene expression does not depend on Sp1 binding to traditional sites on the promoter.

3T3 Cells↗

Human obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with alterations in SREBP1 isoform expression that are reproduced ex vivo by tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-1 is a transcription factor with important roles in the control of fatty acid metabolism and adipogenesis. Little information is available regarding the expression of this molecule in human health or disease. Exposure of isolated human adipocytes to insulin enhanced SREBP1 gene expression and promoted its proteolytic cleavage to the active form. Furthermore, 3 h of in vivo hyperinsulinemia also significantly increased SREBP1 gene expression in human skeletal muscle. Transcript levels of SREBP1c, the most abundant isoform in adipose tissue, were significantly decreased in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese normoglycemic and type 2 diabetic subjects compared with that of nonobese normoglycemic control subjects. In skeletal muscle, SREBP1 expression was significantly reduced in type 2 diabetic subjects but not in obese subjects. Within the diabetic group, the extent of SREBP1 suppression was inversely related to metabolic control and was normalized by 3 h of in vivo hyperinsulinemia. Exposure of isolated human adipocytes to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) produced a marked and specific decrease in the mRNA encoding the SREBP1c isoform and completely blocked the insulin-induced cleavage of SREBP1 protein. Thus, both the expression and proteolytic maturation of human SREBP1 are positively modulated by insulin. The specific reduction in the SREBP1c isoform seen in the adipose tissue of obese and type 2 diabetic subjects can be recapitulated ex vivo by TNF-alpha, suggesting a possible mechanism for this association.

Adipocytes↗