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Vanadate-induced cell growth arrest is p53-dependent through activation of p21 in C141 cells.

Vanadium is widely used in industry. It is a potent toxic agent and carcinogen. The mechanisms involved in its toxicity and carcinogenesis are still unclear. Improper cell growth is believed to be involved in cancer development. The present study investigated the regulation of p53 on vanadate-induced cell growth arrest using both p53 wild type C141 cells and p53 deficient embryo fibroblasts (p53 -/-). On vanadate stimulation, C141 cells exhibited a dose- and time-dependent S phase arrest as determined by DNA content analysis. In contrast, vanadate was unable to increase the percentage of S phase in p53 -/- cells. Luciferase assay showed that vanadate induced p53 activation in a dose- and time-dependent manner in p53 wild type C141 cells. Addition of pifithrin-alpha (PFT), a specific inhibitor of p53, reduced the activation of p53 with a concomitant decrease in growth arrest at S phase. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that vanadate caused a dose- and time-dependent increase of p21 level in C141 cells. Pretreatment of C141 cells with PFT decreased p21 expression induced by vanadate while the p21 expression did not vary in vanadate stimulated p53 -/- cells. The results obtained from the present study suggest that vanadate is able to induce S phase arrest through p53- and p21-dependent pathway.

Animals↗

Insulin can enhance GLUT4 gene expression in 3T3-F442A cells and this effect is mimicked by vanadate but counteracted by cAMP and high glucose--potential implications for insulin resistance.

UNLABELLED: It is well-established that high levels of cAMP or glucose can produce insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to characterize the interaction between these agents and insulin with respect to adipose tissue/muscle glucose transporter isoform (glucose transporter 4, GLUT4) gene regulation in cultured 3T3-F442A adipocytes and to further elucidate the GLUT4-related mechanisms in insulin resistance. Insulin (10(4) microU/ml) treatment for 16 h clearly increased GLUT4 mRNA level in cells cultured in medium containing 5.6 mM glucose but not in cells cultured in medium with high glucose (25 mM). 8-Bromo-cAMP (1 or 4 mM) or N(6)-monobutyryl cAMP, a hydrolyzable and a non-hydrolyzable cAMP analog, respectively, markedly decreased the GLUT4 mRNA level irrespective of glucose concentrations. In addition, these cAMP analogs also inhibited the upregulating effect of insulin on GLUT4 mRNA level. Interestingly, the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate (1-50 microM) clearly increased GLUT4 mRNA level in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, cAMP-induced inhibition of the insulin effect was also prevented by vanadate. In parallel to the effects on GLUT4 gene expression, both insulin, vanadate and cAMP produced similar changes in cellular GLUT4 protein content and cAMP impaired the effect of insulin to stimulate (14)C-deoxyglucose uptake. In contrast, insulin, vanadate or cAMP did not alter insulin receptor (IR) mRNA or the cellular content of IR protein. IN CONCLUSION: (1) Both insulin and vanadate elicit a stimulating effect on GLUT4 gene expression in 3T3-F442A cells, but a prerequisite is that the surrounding glucose concentration is low. (2) Cyclic AMP impairs the insulin effect on GLUT4 gene expression, but this is prevented by vanadate, probably by enhancing the tyrosine phosphorylation of signalling peptides and/or transcription factors. (3) IR gene and protein expression is not altered by insulin, vanadate or cAMP in this cell type. (4) The changes in GLUT4 gene expression produced by cAMP or vanadate are accompanied by similar alterations in GLUT4 protein expression and glucose uptake, suggesting a role of GLUT4 gene expression for the long-term regulation of cellular insulin action on glucose transport.

3T3 Cells↗

Steady-state kinetic study of vanadate-induced inhibition of ciliary dynein adenosinetriphosphatase activity from Tetrahymena.

Inhibitory action of vanadate (orthovanadate and metavanadate) on ciliary dynein adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) from Tetrahymena was investigated. The apparent concentrations of vanadate giving half-maximal inhibition of Mg-ATPase activity of various dynein fractions were as follows: the axoneme-bound form of dynein at 100 nM, solubilized crude dynein at 50 nM, 14S dynein at 5 microM, and 30S dynein at 20 nM. The Ca-ATPase of 30S dynein was more than 30-fold less sensitive than its Mg-ATPase, and still less sensitive was the Ca-ATPase of 14S dynein. The Mg-ATPase of 30S dynein was most sensitive to vanadate at neutral pH, and the addition of KCl or NaCl into the assay mixture reduced its sensitivity. Varying the assay temperature between 0 and 37 degrees C affected the sensitivity to a slight extent. Metavanadate was as much a potent inhibitor of dynein ATPase as orthovanadate, but vanadium pentoxide was less potent. When the dynein ATPase activity was reciprocally plotted against the concentration of vanadate (the Dixon plot), the inhibition was proved to be biphasic. At lower concentrations of vanadate, the inhibition was more significant. Therefore the Dixon plot had a downward bent. Reexamination of the Lineweaver-Burk plot of 30S dynein Mg-ATP showed a downward bent, which indicates that 30S dynein may have at least two Km values, ca. 1 microM and 3 microM; or otherwise, 30S dynein might possibly have a negatively cooperative nature (Hill coefficient 0.67). The vanadate-induced inhibition of 30S dynein Mg-ATPase was noncompetitive in the entire range of ATP concentration examined. Since the vanadate-induced inhibition of 30S dynein Mg-ATPase could be classified into "tight-binding inhibition", we could estimate the dissociation constant of vanadate and the molecular weight per enzymatic active site according to the kinetics of tight-binding inhibition with several assumptions. Thus, the dissociation constant was 10-15 nM, depending on the ATPase assay condition, while the molecular weight per enzymatic active site was 420 000-480 000, independent of the assay condition with the assumption that the present 30S dynein preparation is totally pure. This value would be reduced about 20% when the purity was taken into consideration.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Is the PTPase-vanadate complex a true transition state analogue?

Vanadate can often bind to phosphoryl transfer enzymes to form a trigonal-bipyramidal structure at the active site. The enzyme-vanadate dissociation constants in these enzymes are much lower than those for phosphate. Therefore, enzyme-bound vanadate moieties are often considered as transition state analogues. To test whether the enzyme-vanadate complex is a true transition state analogue beyond the simple geometry and binding affinity arguments and whether the bond orders of the VO bonds in the complex approach those of the PO bonds in the transition state, the binding properties of vanadate in the Yersinia protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) and its T410A, D356N, W354A, R409K, and D356A mutants have been studied by steady-state kinetic measurements and by difference Raman measurements. The results of the kinetic measurements show no correlation between K(I) and kcat or kcat/K(m) in these mutants. In addition, our analysis of the Raman data shows that the bond order change of the nonbridging V--O bonds in the vanadate complexes does not correlate with the kinetic parameters in a number of PTPase variants as predicted by the transition state binding paradigm. Furthermore, the ionization state of the bound vanadate moiety is not invariant across the PTPase variants studied, and the average bond order of the nonbridging V--O bonds decreased by 0.06-0.07 valence unit in the wild type and all of the mutant PTPases, either in dianionic or in monoanionic form. Thus the complex would resemble an associative transition state, contrary to the previously determined dissociative structure of the transition state. Therefore, it is concluded that vanadate is not a true transition state analogue for the PTPase reactions.

Binding Sites↗

MAPKs mediate S phase arrest induced by vanadate through a p53-dependent pathway in mouse epidermal C141 cells.

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases play an important role in mediation of the signal transduction pathway in cellular response to genotoxic stress. Cell growth arrest is considered as an early stage in response to the genotoxic stress. p53 is well-known as a tumor suppression gene involved in both cell growth arrest and apoptosis. The present study investigated the involvement of MAP kinases in vanadate-induced cell growth arrest and the relationship of p53. DNA content analysis showed that vanadate-induced S phase arrest is time- and dose-dependent in p53 wild-type C141 cells but not in p53-deficient C141 cells. Western blotting results indicated that vanadate caused an inactivation of p-cdk2 at Thr160, which is an important kinase for the progression of S phase, and an increase in expression of p21, which is a key for S phase arrest. In p53-deficient cells, vanadate did not induce any observable change in p21 or p-cdk2 level. In addition, vanadate up-regulated phospho-p38 and ERK, two members of MAP kinases. At the same time, vanadate increased the p53 activity as measured by luciferase assay. Addition of PD98059 and SB202190, inhibitors of ERK and p38, respectively, decreased vanadate-induced S phase arrest, reduced p21 levels, restored activation of p-cdk2, and decreased p53 activity. The study demonstrated that vanadate-induced S phase arrest is mediated by both ERK and p38 in a p53-dependent pathway.

Animals↗

Influence of vanadate on glycolysis, intracellular sodium, and pH in perfused rat hearts.

Vanadium compounds have been shown to cause a variety of biological and metabolic effects including inhibition of certain enzymes, alteration of contractile function, and as an insulin like regulator of glucose metabolism. However, the influence of vanadium on metabolic and ionic changes in hearts remains to be understood. In this study we have examined the influence of vanadate on glucose metabolism and sodium transport in isolated perfused rat hearts. Hearts were perfused with 10 mM glucose and varying vanadate concentrations (0.7-100 microM) while changes in high energy phosphates (ATP and phosphocreatine (PCr)), intracellular pH, and intracellular sodium were monitored using 31P and 23Na NMR spectroscopy. Tissue lactate, glycogen, and (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity were also measured using biochemical assays. Under baseline conditions, vanadate increased tissue glycogen levels two fold and reduced (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity. Significant decreases in ATP and PCr were observed in the presence of vanadate, with little change in intracellular pH. These changes under baseline conditions were less severe when the hearts were perfused with glucose, palmitate and beta-hydroxybutyrate. During ischemia vanadate did not limit the rise in intracellular sodium, but slowed sodium recovery on reperfusion. The presence of vanadate during ischemia resulted in attenuation of acidosis, and reduced lactate accumulation. Reperfusion in the presence of vanadate resulted in a slower ATP recovery, while intracellular pH and PCr recovery was not affected. These results indicate that vanadate alters glucose utilization and (Na+, K+)-ATPase activity and thereby influences the response of the myocardium to an ischemic insult.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Reduction of vanadate to vanadyl by a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Three strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, SC-1, DBVPG 6173 and DBVPG 6037, were studied for vanadate resistance in complex Sabouraud medium since they did not thrive in different minimal media (yeast nitrogen base with and without amino acids). The strain SC-1 was resistant up to 16 mM of vanadate, whereas the strains DBVPG 6173 and DBVPG 6037 were inhibited by 8 mM and 4 mM vanadate, respectively. The vanadate resistance in strain SC-1 was constitutive and due to the reduction of this oxyanion to vanadyl, which was detected by EPR spectroscopy and visible spectroscopy. The transformation of vanadate to vanadyl took place during the exponential growth phase; 10 mM of vanadate was reduced to vanadyl outside the cells since the oxyanion was not detected in the cell biomass and only a negligible concentration of vanadyl (25 nmoles mg-1 cells dry weight) was found in the biomass. The other two vanadate-sensitive yeast strains only accumulated vanadate and did not reduce the oxyanion to vanadyl.

Biomass↗

A kinetic study of the interaction of vanadate with the Ca2+ + Mg2+-dependent ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Ca2+ + Mg2+-dependent ATPase from sarcoplasmic reticulum was inhibited by preincubation with vanadate. When the inhibited enzyme was preincubated in the presence of vanadate and assayed in its absence, a slow reactivation process was observed. This slow, hysteretic, process was exploited to study the influence of Ca2+ and ATP on the dissociation of vanadate. Ca2+ alone slowly displaced vanadate from the inhibited enzyme, and a rate constant of 0.1 min-1, at 25 degrees C, was calculated for this re-activation process. However, ATP re-activated with an apparent constant that hyperbolically depended on ATP concentration, and from it a rate constant for vanadate dissociation induced by ATP of 0.5 min-1 was calculated. It is deduced from the kinetic studies that ATP binds to the enzyme-vanadate complex, forming a ternary complex, with a dissociation constant of 4 microM, and that this binding accelerates vanadate dissociation. Binding experiments with [14C]ATP showed that ATP binds to the enzyme-vanadate complex with a dissociation constant of 12 microM, i.e. the affinities calculated with the isotope technique and the kinetic procedure are of the same order of magnitude.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Reactive oxygen species mediate phorbol ester-regulated tyrosine phosphorylation and phospholipase A2 activation: potentiation by vanadate.

We have previously shown that vanadate potentiates the activating effect of phorbol ester (TPA) on cellular phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in a pathway dependent on the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here we evaluate the chain of enzymes (protein kinases and phosphatases) that participate in this process. Treatment of macrophages with vanadate plus TPA led to activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and NADPH oxidase (O2- generation in intact cells), massive cellular protein tyrosine phosphorylation, suppression of protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity and a sustained activation of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and myelin basic protein kinase activity (the latter three enzyme activities were assessed in cell lysates). Inhibition of ROS formation by diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) prevented PTP inhibition, PTK activation and protein tyrosine phosphorylation by vanadate plus TPA. Vanadate plus H2O2 mimicked the effect of vanadate plus TPA on PKC activation, cellular protein tyrosine phosphorylation, PTP and PTK, but their effects were resistant to DPI. Suppression of PKC activity (down-regulation; selective inhibitors) prevented the above-mentioned effects of vanadate plus TPA, but not of vanadate plus H2O2. Collectively, the results show that ROS formation induced by TPA in association with vanadate is essential in the modulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and PLA2 activity.

Animals↗

Irradiation with ultraviolet light in the presence of vanadate increases Ca2+ permeability of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane via Ca(2+)-ATPase.

The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of rabbit skeletal muscle was irradiated with ultraviolet light (UV) in the presence of vanadate plus 2 mM EGTA, 10 mM MgCl2, 20% DMSO, and 50 mM PIPES (pH 6.5) at room temperature. In the presence of 100 microM vanadate, the Ca(2+)-uptake activity of SR rapidly decreased and was almost lost in 20 min. The activity was inhibited as a function of vanadate concentration with an apparent Ki of about 20 microM. On the other hand, Ca(2+)-dependent ATP hydrolytic activity as well as phosphoenzyme (EP) formation activity decreased very slowly, and more than 50% of these activities remained 20 min after initiation of the vanadate-UV treatment. Half inhibition of these activities required about 100 microM vanadate. The loss of the relationship between Ca(2+)-uptake and ATPase reaction was found to be mainly caused by an increase in the Ca2+ permeability of the SR membrane, which was raised by increasing the vanadate concentration or UV irradiation time in a manner similar to that observed for the Ca2+ uptake. No rise in Ca2+ permeability occurred in liposomes reconstituted from SR lipid when they were irradiated with UV in the presence of 100 microM vanadate. When the vanadate-UV-treated SR was allowed to react with fluoral-P (4-amino-3-penten-2-one), an indicator of aldehyde, and the membrane proteins were separated by HPLC in the presence of SDS, the fluorescent probe was found to be closely associated with the Ca(2+)-ATPase fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Vanadate but not tungstate prevents the fructose-induced increase in GLUT5 expression and fructose uptake by neonatal rat intestine.

Intermediary signals, precociously enhancing GLUT5 transcription in response to perfusion of its substrate, fructose, in the small intestine of neonatal rats, are not known. Because glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), glucose-6-phosphate translocase (G6PT), and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) expression increases parallel to or precedes that of GLUT5, we investigated the link between these gluconeogenic genes and GLUT5 by using vanadate or tungstate, potent inhibitors of gluconeogenesis. Small intestinal perfusions of 20-d-old rats were performed with fructose alone, fructose + vanadate or tungstate, glucose alone, and glucose + vanadate or tungstate. As expected, fructose, but not glucose nor glucose + inhibitor perfusion, increased GLUT5 mRNA abundance and fructose transport. Fructose perfusion dramatically increased G6Pase mRNA abundance but had no effect on G6Pase activity. In sharp contrast, fructose perfusion did not increase FBPase gene expression but stimulated FBPase activity. Both vanadate and tungstate significantly inhibited G6Pase activity but did not prevent the fructose-induced increases in G6Pase and G6PT gene expression. Perfusion with fructose + vanadate prevented the fructose-induced increases in fructose transport and GLUT5 mRNA abundance, whereas perfusion with fructose + tungstate did not. Interestingly, vanadate, but not tungstate, inhibited the fructose-induced increase in FBPase activity. Thus, vanadate inhibition of fructose-induced increases in FBPase activity paralleled exactly vanadate inhibition of fructose-induced increases in GLUT5 mRNA abundance and activity. Fructose-induced changes in FBPase activity may regulate changes in GLUT5 expression and activity in the small intestine of neonatal rats. The marked increases in intestinal G6Pase and GLUT5 mRNA abundance may be a parallel response to different factors released during fructose perfusion.

Animals↗

Pressure effects on the binding of vanadate to the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-transport enzyme.

The effect which hydrostatic pressure exerts on the binding of vanadate to the calcium-transport enzyme was determined. The recent unavailability of radioactive vanadate prevented direct measurements of vanadate binding. The vanadate-free enzyme fraction was instead monitored by phosphorylating it with ATP according to Medda and Hasselbach [Medda, P. & Hasselbach, W. (1983) Eur. J. Biochem. 137, 7-14]. Vanadate binding is reduced with rising pressure at first markedly and subsequently, above 30 MPa, relatively little. The biphasic pressure-binding relationship was analysed by applying a biexponential fitting procedure to the experimental data. The biphasicity of the pressure-binding relationship indicates that the description of vanadate binding requires at least a two-step reaction sequence. The volume increments which predominate at lower pressure values, range from 200-400 ml.mol-1 depending on the composition of the reaction medium containing 5 microM and 20 microM vanadate and no or 15% (by vol.) Me2SO. The binding volumes deduced for the higher pressure range amount to 20-40 ml.mol-1. Vanadate binding is reduced in the presence of 30 microM calcium, and simultaneously both binding volumes are diminished by 100 ml.mol-1 and 20 ml.mol-1 for the low and high pressure values, respectively, as one can expect for mutual interactions between the two ligands of the transport enzyme.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Effect of vanadate on rat myometrium plasma membrane enzyme activities.

Vanadate inhibited K+-activated and K+-activated ouabain-sensitive p-nitrophenyl phosphatases of rat myometrium at nanomolar concentrations. The vanadate concentrations required for 50% inhibition were 220 +/- 30 nM for the K+-activated component of the enzyme and 200 +/- 30 nM for the K+-activated ouabain-sensitive component. Micromolar concentrations of vanadate inhibited acid and alkaline p-nitrophenyl phosphatases. ATP-dependent Ca uptake by the plasma membrane vesicles was not inhibited by 10nM - 1 mM vanadate. Mg2+-ATPase was also not affected. Thus K+-activated and K+-activated ouabain-sensitive p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activities of the plasma membrane were most sensitive to inhibition by vanadate. Preliminary experiments demonstrated that similar to ouabain, vanadate inhibited potassium-induced abolition of spontaneous contractile activity of isolated rat myometrium in K-free Krebs. This effect of vanadate is consistent with vanadate inhibition of K+-activated ouabain-sensitive p-nitrophenyl phosphatase.

Animals↗

Insulin-mimetic agents vanadate and pervanadate stimulate glucose but inhibit amino acid uptake.

The protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitors vanadate and pervanadate (pV) exert insulin-like biologic effects. In cultured differentiated rat L6 skeletal muscle cells, vanadate and pV stimulated 2-deoxy-D-[3H]glucose uptake in a dose- and time-dependent manner. There was no increase in maximum stimulation by additional insulin. In contrast, whereas insulin stimulated [14C]methylaminoisobutyric acid (MeAIB) uptake, basal uptake was inhibited by vanadate and pV. Insulin-stimulated MeAIB uptake was also inhibited in a dose-dependent manner and completely abolished by 5 mM vanadate or 0.1 mM pV. The inhibitory effect on basal MeAIB uptake was associated with a decrease in transporter affinity and a small decrease in maximum transport capacity, whereas the insulin-stimulated increase in maximum transport capacity was completely inhibited. Inhibition of MeAIB uptake by vanadate and pV was not blocked by cycloheximide, and oubain did not inhibit uptake. Vanadate also inhibited amino acid deprivation-stimulated MeAIB uptake. Insulin-stimulated MeAIB uptake was also inhibited in rat hepatoma cells. Thus vanadate and pV mimic insulin to stimulate glucose uptake but inhibit system A amino acid uptake. The relative inhibitory concentrations of vanadate and pV suggest that the mechanism may involve PTP inhibition.

Amino Acids↗

Vanadate restores glucose 6-phosphate in diabetic rats: a mechanism to enhance glucose metabolism.

Vanadate mimics the metabolic actions of insulin. In diabetic rodents, vanadate also sensitizes peripheral tissues to insulin. We have analyzed whether this latter effect is brought about by a mechanism other than the known insulinomimetic actions of vanadium in vitro. We report that the levels of glucose 6-phosphate (G-6-P) in adipose, liver, and muscle of streptozotocin-treated (STZ)-hyperglycemic rats are 77, 50, and 58% of those in healthy control rats, respectively. Normoglycemia was induced by vanadium or insulin therapy or by phlorizin. Vanadate fully restored G-6-P in all three insulin-responsive peripheral tissues. Insulin did not restore G-6-P in muscle, and phlorizin was ineffective in adipose and muscle. Incubation of diabetic adipose explants with glucose and vanadate in vitro increased lipogenic capacity three- to fourfold (half-maximally effective dose = 11 +/- 1 microM vanadate). Lipogenic capacity was elevated when a threshold level of approximately 7.5 +/- 0.3 nmol G-6-P/g tissue was reached. In summary, 1) chronic hyperglycemia largely reduces intracellular G-6-P in all three insulin-responsive tissues; 2) vanadate therapy restores this deficiency, but insulin therapy does not restore G-6-P in muscle tissue; 3) induction of normoglycemia per se (i.e., by phlorizin) restores G-6-P in liver only; and 4) glucose and vanadate together elevate G-6-P in adipose explants in vitro and significantly restore lipogenic capacity above the threshold of G-6-P level. We propose that hyperglycemia-associated decrease in peripheral G-6-P is a major factor responsible for peripheral resistance to insulin. The mechanism by which vanadate increases peripheral tissue capacity to metabolize glucose and to respond to the hormone involves elevation of this hexose phosphate metabolite and the cellular consequences of this elevated level of G-6-P.

Adipose Tissue↗

Aortic responses to vanadate: independence from (Na,K)-ATPase and comparison of Dahl salt-sensitive and salt-resistant rats.

Vanadate at doses from 10(-4.5) to 10(-3) M caused a dose-dependent contraction of the rat aorta in vitro. Aortas of Dahl salt-hypertension sensitive (S) rats responded to vanadate with a greater contraction than Dahl salt-hypertension resistant (R) rats. In contrast, S and R aortic responses to depolarization with potassium were equal, and responses to norepinephrine were less in S than R. The mechanism by which vanadate causes the aortic response was studied in S rats. In aortic smooth muscle sodium-loaded by exposure to low potassium media followed by a norepinephrine-induced contraction, a relaxation induced with 5 mM potassium was not influenced by 10(-3) M vanadate. Since this potassium-induced relaxation is known to be a reflection of (NaK)-ATPase activity, these data show that vanadate (up to 10(-3) M does not inhibit (Na,K)-ATPase in intact smooth muscle cells although it is a known potent inhibitor of (Na,K)-ATPase in isolated cell membrane preparations. Response to vanadate was not changed by alpha-blockade with phentolamine or by blocking (Na,K)-ATPase with ouabain. Vanadate contraction was blocked by 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene, a known inhibitor of anion transport, suggesting that vanadate anions must enter smooth muscle cells to induce contraction.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Correction of chronic hyperglycemia with vanadate, but not with phlorizin, normalizes in vivo glycogen repletion and in vitro glycogen synthase activity in diabetic skeletal muscle.

Vanadate has insulin-like activity in vitro and in vivo. To characterize the in vivo mechanism of action of vanadate, we examined meal tolerance, insulin-mediated glucose disposal, in vivo liver and muscle glycogen synthesis, and in vitro glycogen synthase activity in 90% partially pancreatectomized rats. Four groups were studied: group I, sham-operated controls; group II, diabetic rats; group III, diabetic rats treated with vanadate; and group IV, diabetic rats treated with phlorizin. Insulin sensitivity, assessed with the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique in awake, unstressed rats, was reduced by approximately 28% in diabetic rats. Both vanadate and phlorizin treatment completely normalized meal tolerance and insulin-mediated glucose disposal. Muscle glycogen synthesis was reduced by approximately 80% in diabetic rats (P less than 0.01) and was completely restored to normal by vanadate, but not by phlorizin treatment. Glycogen synthase activity was reduced in skeletal muscle of diabetic rats (P less than 0.05) compared with controls and was increased to supranormal levels by vanadate treatment (P less than 0.01). Phlorizin therapy did not reverse the defect in muscle glycogen synthase. These results suggest that (a) the defect in muscle glycogen synthesis is the major determinant of insulin resistance in diabetic rats; (b) both vanadate and phlorizin treatment normalize meal tolerance and insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats; (c) vanadate treatment specifically reverses the defect in muscle glycogen synthesis in diabetic rats. This effect cannot be attributed to the correction of hyperglycemia because phlorizin therapy had no direct influence on the glycogenic pathway.

Animals↗

Vanadate treatment restores the expression of genes for key enzymes in the glucose and ketone bodies metabolism in the liver of diabetic rats.

Oral administration of vanadate to diabetic streptozotocin-treated rats decreased the high blood glucose and D-3-hydroxybutyrate levels related to diabetes. The increase in the expression of the P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) gene, the main regulatory enzyme of gluconeogenesis, was counteracted in the liver and the kidney after vanadate administration to diabetic rats. Vanadate also counteracted the induction in tyrosine aminotransferase gene expression due to diabetes and was able to increase the expression of the glucokinase gene to levels even higher than those found in healthy animals. Similarly, an induction in pyruvate kinase mRNA transcripts was observed in diabetic vanadate-treated rats. These effects were correlated with changes on glucokinase and pyruvate kinase activities. Vanadate treatment caused a decrease in the expression of the liver-specific glucose transporter, GLUT-2. Thus, vanadate was able to restore liver glucose utilization and block glucose production in diabetic rats. The increase in the expression of the mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (HMGCoAS) gene, the key regulatory enzyme in the ketone bodies production pathway, observed in diabetic rats was also blocked by vanadate. Furthermore, a similar pattern in the expression of PEPCK, GLUT-2, HMGCoAS, and the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha genes has been observed. All of these results suggest that the regulation of the expression of genes involved in the glucose and ketone bodies metabolism could be a key step in the normalization process induced by vanadate administration to diabetic rats.

Animals↗