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Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is considered an attractive strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Favorable metabolic effects of AMPK activation are mainly observed in skeletal muscle and liver tissue, whereas the effects in human adipose tissue are only poorly understood. Previous studies, which largely employed the AMPK activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside (AICAR), suggest an antilipolytic role of AMPK in adipocytes. The aim of this work was to reinvestigate the role of AMPK in the regulation of lipolysis, using the novel allosteric small-molecule AMPK activators A-769662 and 991, with a focus on human adipocytes. For this purpose, human primary subcutaneous adipocytes were treated with A-769662, 991, or AICAR, as a control, before being stimulated with isoproterenol. AMPK activity status, glycerol release, and the phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), a key regulator of lipolysis, were then monitored. Our results show that both A-769662 and 991 activated AMPK to a level that was similar to, or greater than, that induced by AICAR. In contrast to AICAR, which as expected was antilipolytic, neither A-769662 nor 991 affected lipolysis in human adipocytes, although 991 treatment led to altered HSL phosphorylation. Furthermore, we suggest that HSL Ser660 is an important regulator of lipolytic activity in human adipocytes. These data suggest that the antilipolytic effect observed with AICAR in previous studies is, at least to some extent, AMPK independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipose tissue expansion during obesity is associated with increased macrophage infiltration. Macrophage- derived factors significantly alter adipocyte function, inducing inflammatory responses and decreasing insulin sensitivity. Identification of the major factors that mediate detrimental effects of macrophages on adipocytes may offer potential therapeutic targets. IL-1β, a proinflammatory cytokine, is suggested to be involved in the development of insulin resistance. This study investigated the role of IL-1β in macrophage-adipocyte cross-talk, which affects insulin signaling in human adipocytes. Using macrophage-conditioned (MC) medium and human primary adipocytes, we examined the effect of IL-1β antagonism on the insulin signaling pathway. Gene expression profile and protein abundance of insulin signaling molecules were determined, as was the production of proinflammatory cytokine/chemokines. We also examined whether IL-1β mediates MC medium-induced alteration in adipocyte lipid storage. MC medium and IL-1β significantly reduced gene expression and protein abundance of insulin signaling molecules, including insulin receptor substrate-1, phosphoinositide 3-kinase p85α, and glucose transporter 4 and phosphorylation of Akt. In contrast, the expression and release of the proinflammatory markers, including IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 by adipocytes were markedly increased. These changes were significantly reduced by blocking IL-1β activity, its receptor binding, or its production by macrophages. MC mediuminhibited expression of the adipogenic factors and -stimulated lipolysis was also blunted with IL-1β neutralization. We conclude that IL-1β mediates, at least in part, the effect of macrophages on insulin signaling and proinflammatory response in human adipocytes. Blocking IL-1β could be beneficial for preventing obesity-associated insulin resistance and inflammation in human adipose tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity-related insulin resistance is linked to a chronic state of systemic and adipose tissue-derived inflammation. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is an incretin hormone also acting on adipocytes. We investigated whether GIP affects inflammation, lipolysis, and insulin resistance in human adipocytes. Human subcutaneous preadipocyte-derived adipocytes, differentiated in vitro, were treated with human GIP to analyze mRNA expression and protein secretion of cytokines, glycerol, and free fatty acid release and insulin-induced glucose uptake. GIP induced mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1β, and the IL-1 receptor antagonist IL-1Ra, whereas TNFα, IL-8, and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 remained unchanged. Cytokine induction involved PKA and the NF-κB pathway as well as an autocrine IL-1 effect. Furthermore, GIP potentiated IL-6 and IL-1Ra secretion in the presence of LPS, IL-1β, and TNFα. GIP induced lipolysis via activation of hormone-sensitive lipase and was linked to NF-κB activation. Finally, chronic GIP treatment impaired insulin-induced glucose uptake possibly due to the observed impaired translocation of glucose transporter GLUT4. In conclusion, GIP induces an inflammatory and prolipolytic response via the PKA -NF-κB-IL-1 pathway and impairs insulin sensitivity of glucose uptake in human adipocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]