Acute troglitazone action in isolated perfused rat liver.
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1. The thiazolidinedione compound, troglitazone, enhances insulin action and reduces plasma glucose concentrations when administered chronically to type 2 diabetic patients. 2. To analyse to what extent thiazolidinediones interfere with liver function, we examined the acute actions of troglitazone (0.61 and 3.15 microM) on hepatic glucose and lactate fluxes, bile secretion, and portal pressure under basal, insulin- and/or glucagon-stimulated conditions in isolated perfused rat livers. 3. During BSA-free perfusion, high dose troglitazone increased basal (P < 0.01), but inhibited glucagon-stimulated incremental glucose production by approximately 75% (10.0 +/- 2.5 vs control: 40.0 +/- 7.2 micromol g liver(-1), P < 0.01). In parallel, incremental lactate release rose approximately 6 fold (13.1 +/- 5.9 vs control: 2.2 +/- 0.8 mmol g liver(-1), P < 0.05), while bile secretion declined by approximately 67% [0.23 +/- 0.02 vs control: 0.70 +/- 0.05 mg g liver(-1) min(-1)), P < 0.001]. Low dose troglitazone infusion did not enhance the inhibitory effect of insulin on glucagon-stimulated glucose production, but rapidly increased lactate release (P < 0.0005) and portal venous pressure (+0.17 +/- 0.07 vs +0.54 +/- 0.07 cm buffer height, P < 0.0001). 4. These results indicate that troglitazone exerts both insulin-like and non-insulin-like hepatic effects, which are blunted by addition of albumin, possibly due to troglitazone binding. (+info)
p300 interacts with the N- and C-terminal part of PPARgamma2 in a ligand-independent and -dependent manner, respectively.
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The nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) activates the transcription of multiple genes involved in intra- and extracellular lipid metabolism. Several cofactors are crucial for the stimulation or the silencing of nuclear receptor transcriptional activities. The two homologous cofactors p300 and CREB-binding protein (CBP) have been shown to co-activate the ligand-dependent transcriptional activities of several nuclear receptors as well as the ligand-independent transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor. We show here that the interaction between p300/CBP and PPARgamma is complex and involves multiple domains in each protein. p300/CBP not only bind in a ligand-dependent manner to the DEF region of PPARgamma but also bind directly in a ligand-independent manner to a region in the AB domain localized between residue 31 to 99. In transfection experiments, p300/CBP could thereby enhance the transcriptional activities of both the activating function (AF)-1 and AF-2 domains. p300/CBP displays itself at least two docking sites for PPARgamma located in its N terminus (between residues 1 and 113 for CBP) and in the middle of the protein (between residues 1099 and 1460). (+info)
L-764406 is a partial agonist of human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. The role of Cys313 in ligand binding.
(3/2596)
Insulin-sensitizing thiazolidinedione (TZD) compounds are high affinity ligands for a member of the nuclear receptor family, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma. A scintillation proximity assay for measurement of 3H-radiolabeled TZD binding to human PPARgamma under homogeneous conditions was developed. Using this approach, a novel non-TZD compound (L-764406) was shown to be a potent (apparent binding IC50 of 70 nM) PPARgamma ligand. Preincubation of PPARgamma with L-764406 prevented binding of the [3H]TZD, suggesting a covalent interaction with the receptor; in addition, structurally related analogues of L-764406, which would be predicted not to interact with PPARgamma in a covalent fashion, did not displace [3H]TZD binding to PPARgamma. Covalent binding of L-764406 was proven by an observed molecular weight shift of a tryptic PPARgamma ligand binding domain (LBD) peptide by mass spectrometric analysis. A specific cysteine residue (Cys313 in helix 3 of hPPARgamma2) was identified as the attachment site for this compound. In protease protection experiments, the liganded receptor adopted a typical agonist conformation. L-764406 exhibited partial agonist activity in cells expressing a chimeric receptor containing the PPARgamma LBD and a cognate reporter gene and also induced the expression of the adipocyte-specific gene aP2 in 3T3-L1 cells. In contrast, L-764406 did not exhibit activity in cells transfected with chimeric receptors containing PPARalpha or PPARdelta LBDs. The partial agonist properties of L-764406 were also evident in a co-activator association assay, indicating that the increased transcription in cells was co-activator mediated. Thus, L-764406 is a novel non-TZD ligand for PPARgamma and is also the first known partial agonist for this receptor. The results suggest a critical functional role for Cys313, and helix 3, in contributing to ligand binding and subsequent agonist-induced conformational changes. (+info)
Hemodynamic basis for the acute cardiac effects of troglitazone in isolated perfused rat hearts.
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Troglitazone is a thiazolidinedione used for the treatment of NIDDM and potentially for other insulin-resistant disease states. Troglitazone has recently been shown to increase cardiac output and stroke volume in human subjects. These actions are thought to be mediated by the reduction of peripheral resistance, but a potential direct effect on cardiac function has not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the direct cardiac hemodynamic effects of troglitazone in isolated perfused rat hearts. Five groups of hearts were studied. Hearts were tested under isovolumetric contraction with a constant coronary flow, and troglitazone (0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 micromol) was administered by bolus injection. Peak isovolumetric left ventricular pressure (LVPmax), peak rate of rise of LVP (dP/dt(max)), and peak rate of fall of LVP (dP/dt(min)) were significantly increased 1 min after troglitazone administration in a dose-dependent manner, while the heart rate (HR) and coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). HR was then fixed by pacing and/or CPP was fixed with nitroprusside to eliminate any effect of the two variables on the action of troglitazone. With constant HR and/or constant CPP, the effect of troglitazone on LVPmax, dP/dt(max), and dP/dt(min) was still unchanged. In addition, the positive inotropic, positive lusitropic, and negative chronotropic actions of troglitazone were not influenced even when hearts were pretreated with prazosin, propranolol, or nifedipine. In conclusion, troglitazone has direct positive inotropic, positive lusitropic, negative chronotropic, and coronary artery dilating effects. The inotropic and chronotropic actions of troglitazone are not mediated via adrenergic receptors or calcium channels. These findings have important clinical implications for diabetic patients with congestive heart failure. (+info)
Fatty acids modulate the composition of extracellular matrix in cultured human arterial smooth muscle cells by altering the expression of genes for proteoglycan core proteins.
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In diabetes-associated microangiopathies and atherosclerosis, there are alterations of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the intima of small and large arteries. High levels of circulating nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are present in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. High concentrations of NEFAs might alter the basement membrane composition of endothelial cells. In arteries, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are the major producers of proteoglycans and glycoproteins in the intima, and this is the site of lipoprotein deposition and modification, key events in atherogenesis. We found that exposure of human arterial SMCs to 100-300 micromol/albumin-bound linoleic acid lowered their proliferation rate and altered cell morphology. SMCs expressed 2-10 times more mRNA for the core proteins of the proteoglycans versican, decorin, and syndecan 4 compared with control cells. There was no change in expression of fibronectin and perlecan. The decorin glycosaminoglycan chains increased in size after exposure to linoleic acid. The ECM produced by cells grown in the presence of linoleic acid bound 125I-labeled LDL more tightly than that of control cells. Darglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma ligand, neutralized the NEFA-mediated induction of the decorin gene. This suggests that some of the NEFA effects are mediated by PPAR-gamma. These actions of NEFAs, if present in vivo, could contribute to changes of the matrix of the arterial intima associated with micro- and macroangiopathies. (+info)
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ligands are potent inhibitors of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo.
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Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear receptor that functions as a transcription factor to mediate ligand-dependent transcriptional regulation. Activation of PPARgamma by the naturally occurring ligand, 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2), or members of a new class of oral antidiabetic agents, e.g. BRL49653 and ciglitizone, has been linked to adipocyte differentiation, regulation of glucose homeostasis, inhibition of macrophage and monocyte activation, and inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. Here we report that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) express PPARgamma mRNA and protein. Activation of PPARgamma by the specific ligands 15d-PGJ2, BRL49653, or ciglitizone, dose dependently suppresses HUVEC differentiation into tube-like structures in three-dimensional collagen gels. In contrast, specific PPARalpha and -beta ligands do not affect tube formation although mRNA for these receptors are expressed in HUVEC. PPARgamma ligands also inhibit the proliferative response of HUVEC to exogenous growth factors. Treatment of HUVEC with 15d-PGJ2 also reduced mRNA levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptors 1 (Flt-1) and 2 (Flk/KDR) and urokinase plasminogen activator and increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) mRNA. Finally, administration of 15d-PGJ2 inhibited vascular endothelial cell growth factor-induced angiogenesis in the rat cornea. These observations demonstrate that PPARgamma ligands are potent inhibitors of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, and suggest that PPARgamma may be an important molecular target for the development of small-molecule inhibitors of angiogenesis. (+info)
Induction of solid tumor differentiation by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ligand troglitazone in patients with liposarcoma.
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Agonist ligands for the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma have been shown to induce terminal differentiation of normal preadipocytes and human liposarcoma cells in vitro. Because the differentiation status of liposarcoma is predictive of clinical outcomes, modulation of the differentiation status of a tumor may favorably impact clinical behavior. We have conducted a clinical trial for treatment of patients with advanced liposarcoma by using the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ligand troglitazone, in which extensive correlative laboratory studies of tumor differentiation were performed. We report here the results of three patients with intermediate to high-grade liposarcomas in whom troglitazone administration induced histologic and biochemical differentiation in vivo. Biopsies of tumors from each of these patients while on troglitazone demonstrated histologic evidence of extensive lipid accumulation by tumor cells and substantial increases in NMR-detectable tumor triglycerides compared with pretreatment biopsies. In addition, expression of several mRNA transcripts characteristic of differentiation in the adipocyte lineage was induced. There was also a marked reduction in immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67, a marker of cell proliferation. Together, these data indicate that terminal adipocytic differentiation was induced in these malignant tumors by troglitazone. These results indicate that lineage-appropriate differentiation can be induced pharmacologically in a human solid tumor. (+info)
Inhibition of LDL oxidation in vitro but not ex vivo by troglitazone.
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Diabetic subjects are at increased risk for developing coronary artery disease, in part because of increased oxidation of LDL, which promotes atherogenesis. Troglitazone, a new antidiabetic drug of the thiazolidinedione class, acts as an insulin sensitizer and improves hyperglycemia. Structurally, it contains a tocopherol moiety similar to vitamin E and has been shown to have antioxidant properties in vitro. Therefore, we evaluated whether troglitazone inhibited LDL oxidation both in vitro and in type 2 diabetic subjects ex vivo. Troglitazone inhibited oxidation of LDL induced by Cu2+ or 2'2'-azobis-2-amidinopropane hydrochloride (AAPH) with 50% inhibition at 1 micromol/l and 100% inhibition at 5-10 micromol/l troglitazone. The inhibition of LDL oxidation by troglitazone also was time dependent. In addition, troglitazone inhibited oxidation of 125I-labeled LDL and its subsequent uptake and degradation by macrophages. To determine whether troglitazone was incorporated into LDL particles or acted in the aqueous milieu, troglitazone was incubated overnight at 37 degrees C with LDL or plasma before LDL re-isolation. After re-isolation, LDL that was incubated with troglitazone was no longer protected from oxidation, compared with probucol-treated LDL, which remained protected. Further, [14C]troglitazone did not get incorporated into LDL. This suggests that troglitazone exerts its antioxidant effect in the aqueous milieu of LDL. Consistent with this was the observation that the lag phases of copper-induced conjugated diene formation, a measure of the susceptibility in vivo, was similar for subjects taking troglitazone (76 +/- 5 min, n = 9) to subjects not taking the drug (77 +/- 3 min, n = 11; NS). Thus, troglitazone may be of value as an aqueous-phase antioxidant in addition to its effect on glucose homeostasis. (+info)