Insulin receptor-mediated nutritional signalling regulates juvenile hormone biosynthesis and vitellogenin production in the German cockroach.

Female reproductive processes, which comprise, amongst others, the synthesis of yolk proteins and the endocrine mechanisms which regulate this synthesis, need a considerable amount of energy and resources. The role of communicating that the required nutritional status has been attained is carried out by nutritional signalling pathways and, in particular, by the insulin receptor (InR) pathway. In the present study, using the German cockroach, Blattella germanica, as a model, we analysed the role of InR in different processes, but mainly those related to juvenile hormone (JH) synthesis and vitellogenin production. We first cloned the InR cDNA from B. germanica (BgInR) and then determined that its expression levels were constant in corpora allata and fat body during the first female gonadotrophic cycle. Results showed that the observed increase in BgInR mRNA in fat body from starved compared to fed females was abolished in those females treated with systemic RNAi in vivo against the transcription factor BgFoxO. RNAi-mediated BgInR knockdown during the final two nymphal stages produced significant delays in the moults, together with smaller adult females which could not spread the fore- and hindwings properly. In addition, BgInR knockdown led to a severe inhibition of juvenile hormone synthesis in adult female corpora allata, with a concomitant reduction of mRNA levels corresponding to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase-1, HMG-CoA synthase-2, HMG-CoA reductase and methyl farnesoate epoxidase. BgInR RNAi treatment also reduced fat body vitellogenin mRNA and oocyte growth. Our results show that BgInR knockdown produces similar phenotypes to those obtained in starved females in terms of corpora allata activity and vitellogenin synthesis, and indicate that the InR pathway mediates the activation of JH biosynthesis and vitellogenin production elicited by nutrition signalling.

FoxO is required for the activation of hypertrehalosemic hormone expression in cockroaches.

BACKGROUND: FoxO proteins are a subgroup of the Forkhead-box family of transcription factors, which function as the main transcriptional effectors of the insulin receptor pathway. This pathway, activated by the binding of insulin or IGFs (or insect insulin-like peptides), promotes the phosphorylation and inactivation of FoxO because of its export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The homolog of FoxO in the cockroach Blattella germanica works in a situation of nutrient shortage by inhibiting the endocrine induction of reproduction. METHODS: Using Blattella germanica as a model, we studied the functions of FoxO using RNA interference methodologies. We analyzed the mRNA levels of hypertrehalosemic hormone (HTH) and genes related to lipolysis, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis and quantified triacylglycerides, glycogen and trehalose. RESULTS: FoxO knockdown eliminates the starvation-induced expression of HTH in the corpora cardiaca. In addition, FoxO knockdown prevents the activation of the expression of Brummer lipase, glycogen phosphorylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in the fat body of starved females. CONCLUSIONS: Starvation-induced activation of FoxO stimulates the transcription of different genes related to catabolic processes, including HTH and genes involved in lipolysis, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our results show conservation in the action of the transcription factor FoxO in the activation of catabolic processes from basal insects to vertebrates. The results also describe a new and essentially different mode of action of transcription factor FoxO, which works through the activation of neuropeptide HTH expression, which will subsequently produce its own catabolic stimulatory function.

FoxO inhibits juvenile hormone biosynthesis and vitellogenin production in the German cockroach.

The transcription factor Forkhead-box O (FoxO) is the main transcriptional effector of the Insulin Receptor/Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (InR/PI3K) pathway. In a situation of nutrient restriction, the pathway is inactive and FoxO translocates to the nucleus to exert its transcriptional action. In starved females of the cockroach Blattella germanica, the reproductive processes, and in particular the synthesis of juvenile hormone in the corpora allata and that of vitellogenin in the fat body, are arrested. In the present report we examine the possible role of FoxO in the transduction of the nutritional signals to these reproductive events. We first cloned FoxO cDNA from B. germanica (BgFoxO), and showed that its expression is not nutritionally regulated. BgFoxO knockdown using systemic RNAi in vivo in starved females elicited an increase of juvenile hormone biosynthesis, although without modifying mRNA levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) synthase-1, HMG-CoA synthase-2, HMG-CoA reductase or methyl farnesoate epoxidase (CYP15A1) in corpora allata. In addition, BgFoxO RNAi treatment produced a remarkable increase of vitellogenin mRNA levels in fat body and of vitellogenin protein in the haemolymph. Our results indicate that BgFoxO plays an inhibitory role on juvenile hormone biosynthesis and vitellogenin production in a situation of nutrient shortage.

CETP activity variation in mice does not affect two major HDL antiatherogenic properties: macrophage-specific reverse cholesterol transport and LDL antioxidant protection.

CETP inhibition increases HDL cholesterol levels and presumably could contribute to human atheroprotection via increasing macrophage-specific reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) and antioxidant properties of HDL. However, the impact of CETP activity variation on these two antiatherogenic functions of HDL remain unknown. In this study, we assessed the effects of overexpressing CETP in transgenic (Tg) mice on macrophage-specific RCT and HDL ability to protect against LDL oxidative modification. [(3)H]cholesterol-labeled macrophages were injected intraperitoneally into mice maintained on a chow diet or an atherogenic diet, after which the appearance of [(3)H]cholesterol in plasma, liver and feces over 48 h was determined. The degree of protection of oxidative modification of LDL coincubated with HDL was evaluated by measuring relative electrophoretic mobility and dichlorofluorescein fluorescence. CETP-Tg mice presented decreased radiolabeled HDL-bound [(3)H]cholesterol 24 and 48 h after the label injection. However, the magnitude of macrophage-derived [(3)H]cholesterol in liver and feces did not differ between CETP-Tg and control mice on either diet. Similar results were found when [(3)H]cholesterol-labeled endogenous peritoneal macrophages were injected into the CETP-Tg and control mice. Further, the injection of endogenous macrophages from CETP-Tg mice did not alter macrophage RCT in control mice. HDL from CETP-Tg and control mice protected LDL from oxidative modification similarly, and paraoxonase 1, platelet activated factor acetyl-hydrolase and lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase activities of transgenic mice did not differ from those of control mice. In conclusion, CETP overexpression in transgenic mice does not affect RCT from macrophages to feces in vivo or the protection conferred by HDL against LDL oxidative modification.

Cholesterol efflux and the effect of combined treatment with niacin and chromium on aorta of hyperlipidemic rat.

Endothelial cells may play a potential role in cholesterol efflux from peripheral tissues to liver. Cholesterol efflux from cells is essential for activation of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway and cardiovascular health. One of the cholesterol transporters is steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) which promotes intramitochondrial delivery of cholesterol to the cholesterol side-chain cleavage system. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a niacin-chromium complex on aortas of hyperlipidemic rats and on the cholesterol efflux from aorta endothelial cells by examination under light and transmission electron microscopes and evaluating the StAR immunoreactivity, respectively. Aorta lipid peroxidation (LPO) and glutathione (GSH) levels were determined by spectrophotometric methods. After treating hyperlipidemic animals with the complex, the StAR immunoreactivity in endothelial cells increased to achieve cholesterol homeostasis and efflux. Combined treatment with niacin and chromium resulted in an inhibition in the mast cell secretion and a decrease in lipid vacuole size in unilocular adipose tissue surrounding aorta, as well as in a decrease in morphological degenerations observing in aorta of hyperlipidemic rats. Aorta LPO levels increased and GSH levels decreased in the hyperlipidemic group, whereas treatment with niacin and chromium reversed these effects. In conclusion, this study reveals that combined treatment with niacin and chromium prevents the morphological and biochemical changes observed in thoracic aorta of hyperlipidemic rats, and may regulate effectively cardiovascular diseases inducing an increase in StAR levels on endothelial cells.

Possible role of insulin-like growth factor-II C-peptide on catecholamine release and ultrastructural aspects of chromaffin cells in the adrenal gland of the frog.

The present study was undertaken to demonstrate that insulin-like growth factor-II C-peptide (IGF-II C-peptide) affects the function of the adrenal gland of Rana ridibunda (Anura, Amphibia) by stimulating chromaffin cells. Previous studies have shown that insulin-like growth factors affect adrenal gland function in mammals. On the basis of these findings, frogs were injected with IGF-II C-peptide (2.5 microg/0.2 ml), whereas control animals were injected with Ringer solution (0.2 ml). The adrenal glands were removed at 12 and 48 h after injection and fixed, embedded in paraffin wax and Epon, and examined by immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy to investigate whether there were structural changes and activation of chromaffin cells in the frog adrenal gland. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for overall tissue analysis and, in parallel, serotonin was localized using the streptavidin-biotin complex technique while dopamine beta-hydroxylase was shown by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase-3, 3'-diaminobenzidine tetrachloride method. After injection of IGF-II C-peptide, chromaffin cells released serotonin and synthesized dopamine beta-hydroxylase. The most pronounced effect of IGF-II C-peptide on the chromaffin cells was observed at 12h after injection. Our results indicate that there is a possible role of IGF-II C-peptide on chromaffin cell activity enhancing catecholamine release in the adrenal gland of the frog.

Análisis del proteoma hepático de ratones transgénicos de apo A-II humana: identificación de proteínas potencialmente implicadas en la regulación del metabolismo de triglicéridos y la respuesta a la insulina / Analysis of the liver proteome of human apolipoprotein A-II transgenic mice: identification of proteins potentially involved in the regulation of triglyceride metabolism and insulin response

Introducción. La función de la apolipoproteína A-II (apo A-II) en el metabolismo lipoproteico y su relación con la arteriosclerosis es poco conocida. Los estudios realizados en humanos y ratones modificados genéticamente han demostrado un efecto directo de la apo A-II en el metabolismo de los triglicéridos y los ácidos grasos libres (AGL) y la sensibilidad a la insulina. El objetivo principal de este estudio es la identificación de proteínas diferencialmente expresadas en el hígado de ratones transgénicos de apo A-II humana (h) y su potencial relación con el metabolismo de los triglicéridos y la glucosa. Material y métodos. Se realizaron estudios metabólicos de las lipoproteínas ricas en triglicéridos, la betaoxidación hepática y la prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa en ratones transgénicos de apo A-IIh y en controles en situación de ayunas y tras una carga oral de aceite de oliva. Los cambios en el perfil de expresión proteica se analizaron mediante el análisis comparativo de geles bidimensionales y la identificación de proteínas mediante espectrometría de masas MALDI-TOF. Resultados. Los ratones transgénicos de apo A-IIh presentaban un incremento del colesterol y los triglicéridos de las lipoproteínas que contienen apo B, hipertrigliceridemia aumentada tras la carga oral de ácido oleico, así como un aclaramiento acelerado de la glucosa tras la prueba de sobrecarga de glucosa. Estos cambios estaban asociados a una reducción en el catabolismo de las lipoproteínas ricas en triglicéridos y la tasa de betaoxidación hepática, pero sin cambios significativos en la actividad de la lipoproteína lipasa. De las más de 1.000 manchas resueltas en el rango pH 3 a 10, se identificaron 55 alteraciones significativas en los ratones transgénicos en comparación con los ratones controles, 16 de las cuales estaban relacionadas directamente con el metabolismo de los AGL y los carbohidratos. Conclusiones. La sobreexpresión apo A-IIh en ratones transgénicos induce hipertrigliceridemia posprandial debido, al menos en parte, a un defecto en el catabolismo de las lipoproteínas ricas en triglicéridos. La aproximación proteómica nos ha permitido detectar y caracterizar diferencias en el proteoma hepático de los ratones transgénicos de apo A-IIh y establecer proteínas potencialmente involucradas en el metabolismo de los AGL. Se requieren más estudios bioquímicos y moleculares para investigar el significado funcional de los cambios encontrados (AU)

Introduction. The role of apolipoprotein A-II (apo A-II) in lipoprotein metabolism and its relationship with atherosclerosis is poorly understood. Several studies both in humans and genetically modified mice have shown a direct effect of apo A-II on triglyceride and free fatty acid (FFA) metabolism and on insulin sensitivity. The aim of this study was to identify the proteins differentially expressed in the livers of human apo A-II transgenic mice and their potential relationship with triglyceride and glucose metabolism. Matherial and methods. Metabolic studies of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, liver beta-oxidation and the glucose tolerance test were conducted in C57BL/6 control mice and human apo A-II transgenic mice in both fasting and postprandial states. The changes in protein expression patterns were determined by analysis of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis while protein identification was performed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Results. Human apo A-II transgenic mice showed an increase in cholesterol and triglycerides from apo B-containing lipoproteins, a higher response after oral fat test with oleic acid and higher glucose clearance after the glucose test. These changes were associated with a reduction in the clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and in the rate of liver beta-oxidation, but there were no significant changes in lipoprotein lipase activity. Within the pH 3-10 range, 55 out of more than 1,000 spots were identified to be significantly altered in human apo A-II transgenic mice compared with control mice, and 16 of these spots were directly related with FFA and carbohydrate metabolism. Conclusions. Overexpression of human apo A-II in transgenic mice induces postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. This finding is at least partly due to reduced catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. We have been able to detect and characterize differences in the liver proteome of human apo A-II transgenic mice and to identify proteins potentially related to FFA metabolism. Further biochemical and molecular studies are required to investigate the functional significance of the changes found (AU)