Analysis of lipid metabolism in adipocytes using a fluorescent fatty acid derivative. I. Insulin stimulation of lipogenesis.

Stimulation of lipid synthesis (lipogenesis) is one of the most pronounced metabolic actions of insulin. Here we demonstrate insulin-stimulated lipogenesis in isolated rat adipocytes using a fatty acid derivative which carries a fluorophore. Three major fluorescent lipid products (lipids 1, 2, 3) are generated as revealed by TLC analysis and subsequent fluorescent scanning or imaging. Lipolytic digestion and labeling studies suggest monoacylglycerol-3-phosphate and diacylglycerol (-3-phosphate) structures harboring a single fluorescent fatty acyl residue each for lipids 1 and 3 (2), respectively. Fluorescent triglycerides are not generated. Assaying acylation with isolated microsomes using the purified lipids 1 and 3 indicates that incorporation of one fluorescent fatty acyl residue into glycerol(-3-phosphate) interferes with subsequent esterification. Pretreatment of the adipocytes with insulin significantly stimulates synthesis of lipids 1 and 2, only. The insulin concentration-response relationship (EC50 = 0.5 nM) and the maximal insulin response for synthesis of lipid 1 (stimulation factor = 14- to 20-fold at low glucose and 3- to 7-fold at high glucose) are comparable with those for incorporation of [3-3H]glucose into total adipocyte lipids. Thus this fluorescence-based assay may be useful for studying insulin action and lipogenesis.

Stimulation of glucose utilization in 3T3 adipocytes and rat diaphragm in vitro by the sulphonylureas, glimepiride and glibenclamide, is correlated with modulations of the cAMP regulatory cascade.

The long-term hypoglycemic activity of sulphonylurea drugs has been attributed, in part at least, to the stimulation of glucose utilization in extra-pancreatic tissues. The novel sulphonylurea, glimepiride, gives rise to a longer lasting reduction in the blood sugar level in dogs and rabbits compared to glibenclamide (Geisen K, Drug Res 38: 1120-1130, 1988). This cannot be explained adequately by elevated plasma insulin levels. This study investigated whether this prolonged hypoglycemic phase was based on the drug's abilities to stimulate glucose utilization and affect the underlying regulatory mechanisms in insulin-sensitive cells in vitro. It was found that in the absence of added insulin, glimepiride and glibenclamide (1-50 microM) stimulated lipogenesis (3T3 adipocytes) and glycogenesis (isolated rat diaphragm) approximately 4.5- and 2.5-fold, respectively, and reduced the isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis (rat adipocytes) up to 40-60%. The increased glucose utilization was correlated with a 3-4-fold higher 2-deoxyglucose transport rate and amount of GLUT4 at the plasma membrane, as well as with increased activities of key metabolic enzymes (glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, glycogen synthase) within the same concentration range. Furthermore, the low Km cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase was activated 1.8-fold, whereas the cytosolic cAMP level and protein kinase A activity ratios were significantly lowered after incubation of isoproterenol-stimulated rat adipocytes with the sulphonylureas. In many of the aspects studied the novel sulphonylurea, glimepride, exhibited slightly lower ED50-values than glibenclamide. This study demonstrates correlations existing between drug-induced stimulation of glucose transport/metabolism and cAMP degradation/protein kinase A inhibition as well as between the relative efficiencies of glimepiride and glibenclamide in inducing these extra-pancreatic processes. Therefore, it is suggested that the stimulation of glucose utilization by sulphonylureas is mediated by a decrease of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation of GLUT4 and glucose metabolizing enzymes. The therapeutic relevance of extra-pancreatic effects of sulphonylureas, in general, and of the differences between glimepiride and glibenclamide as observed in vitro in this work, in particular, remain to be elucidated.

Membrane association of lipoprotein lipase and a cAMP-binding ectoprotein in rat adipocytes.

cAMP-binding ectoprotein (Gce1) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) are anchored to plasma membranes of rat adipocytes by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) moieties as demonstrated by cleavage by bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC), reactivity with anti-crossreacting determinant antibodies (anti-CRD), and metabolic labeling with radiolabeled palmitic acid and myo-inositol. Quantitative release from the membrane of LPL and Gce1 requires both lipolytic removal of their GPI anchors and the presence of either 2 M NaCl or 1 mM inositol 1,2-cyclic monophosphate or inositol 1-monophosphate. PI-PLC-cleaved and released LPL or Gce1 reassociates with isolated plasma membranes of rat adipocytes and, less efficiently, with membranes of 3T3 fibroblasts. The specificity of the reassociation is demonstrated (i) by its inhibition after pretreatment of the membranes with trypsin, (ii) by its competition with inositol 1,2-cyclic monophosphate and inositol 1-monophosphate in a concentration-dependent manner, and (iii) by the limited number of binding sites. Enzymic or chemical removal as well as masking with anti-CRD antibodies of the terminal inositol (cyclic) monophosphate moiety of hydrophilic Gce1 and LPL significantly impairs the reassociation. These data suggest that in rat adipocytes GPI-proteins are not readily released from the cell surface upon lipolytic cleavage, but remain associated through a receptor which specifically recognizes the terminal inositol (cyclic) monophosphate epitope of the (G)PI-PLC-cleaved GPI moiety. This interaction may have implications for the regulated membrane release of GPI-proteins and for their possible internalization.