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The mechanism by which leptin reverses diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is unknown. We examined the acute insulinin- dependent effects of leptin replacement therapy in a streptozotocin-induced rat model of DKA. Leptin infusion reduced rates of lipolysis, hepatic glucose production (HGP), and hepatic ketogenesis by 50% within 6 hours and were independent of any changes in plasma glucagon concentrations; these effects were abrogated by coinfusion of corticosterone. Treating leptin- and corticosterone-infused rats with an adipose triglyceride lipase inhibitor blocked corticosterone-induced increases in plasma glucose concentrations and rates of HGP and ketogenesis. Similarly, adrenalectomized type 1 diabetic (T1D) rats exhibited decreased rates of lipolysis, HGP, and ketogenesis; these effects were reversed by corticosterone infusion. Leptin-induced decreases in lipolysis, HGP, and ketogenesis in DKA were also nullified by relatively small increases (15 to 70 pM) in plasma insulin concentrations. In contrast, the chronic glucose-lowering effect of leptin in a STZ-induced mouse model of poorly controlled T1D was associated with decreased food intake, reduced plasma glucagon and corticosterone concentrations, and decreased ectopic lipid (triacylglycerol/diacylglycerol) content in liver and muscle. Collectively, these studies demonstrate marked differences in the acute insulin-independent effects by which leptin reverses fasting hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis in a rodent model of DKA versus the chronic pleotropic effects by which leptin reverses hyperglycemia in a non-DKA rodent model of T1D., Introduction Recent studies have demonstrated that leptin, administered either systemically or into the cerebroventricular or hypothalamic space, can lower plasma glucose concentrations and prolong life in insulinopenic rodent models of [...]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D), but whether NAFLD plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of T2D is uncertain. One proposed mechanism linking NAFLD to hepatic insulin resistance involves diacylglycerol-mediated (DAG-mediated) activation of protein kinase C-ζ (PKCζ) and the consequent inhibition of insulin receptor (INSR) kinase activity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying PKCζinhibition of INSR kinase activity is unknown. Here, we used mass spectrometry to identify the phosphorylation site [Thr.sup.1160] as a PKCζ substrate in the functionally critical INSR kinase activation loop. We hypothesized that [Thr.sup.1160] phosphorylation impairs INSR kinase activity by destabilizing the active configuration of the INSR kinase, and our results confirmed this prediction by demonstrating severely impaired INSR kinase activity in phosphomimetic T1160E mutants. Conversely, the INSR T1160A mutant was not inhibited by PKCζ in vitro. Furthermore, mice with a threonine-to-alanine mutation at the homologous residue [Thr.sup.1150] ([Insr.sup.T1150A] mice) were protected from high fat diet-induced hepatic insulin resistance. InsrTm0A mice also displayed increased insulin signaling, suppression of hepatic glucose production, and increased hepatic glycogen synthesis compared with WT controls during hyperinsulinemic clamp studies. These data reveal a critical pathophysiological role for INSR [Thr.sup.1160] phosphorylation and provide further mechanistic links between PKCζ and INSR in mediating NAFLD-induced hepatic insulin resistance., Introduction Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease in industrialized nations (1). NAFLD is observed in nearly 100% of obese people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) [...]

Multiple insulin-regulated enzymes participate in hepatic glycogen synthesis, and the rate-controlling step responsible for insulin stimulation of glycogen synthesis is unknown. We demonstrate that glucokinase (GCK)-mediated glucose phosphorylation is the rate-controlling step in insulin-stimulated hepatic glycogen synthesis in vivo, by use of the somatostatin pancreatic clamp technique using [13C6]glucose with metabolic control analysis (MCA) in three rat models: 1) regular chow (RC)-fed male rats (control), 2) high fat diet (HFD)-fed rats, and 3) RC-fed rats with portal vein glucose delivery at a glucose infusion rate matched to the control. During hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia dosedependently increased hepatic glycogen synthesis. At similar levels of hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, HFD-fed rats exhibited a decrease and portal delivery rats exhibited an increase in hepatic glycogen synthesis via the direct pathway compared with controls. However, the strong correlation between liver glucose-6-phosphate concentration and net hepatic glycogen synthetic rate was nearly identical in these three groups, suggesting that the main difference between models is the activation of GCK. MCA yielded a high control coefficient for GCK in all three groups. We confirmed these findings in studies of hepatic GCK knockdown using an antisense oligonucleotide. Reduced liver glycogen synthesis in lipid-induced hepatic insulin resistance and increased glycogen synthesis during portal glucose infusion were explained by concordant changes in translocation of GCK. Taken together, these data indicate that the rate of insulin-stimulated hepatic glycogen synthesis is controlled chiefly through GCK translocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The connection between adipose glucocorticoid action and whole-body metabolism is incompletely understood. Thus, we generated adipose tissue-specific glucocorticoid receptor-knockout (Ad-GcR-/-) mice to explore potential mechanisms. Ad-GcR-/- mice had a lower concentration of fasting plasma nonesterified fatty acids and less hepatic steatosis. This was associated with increased protein kinase B phosphorylation and increased hepatic glycogen synthesis after an oral glucose challenge. High-fat diet (HFD)-fed Ad-GcR-/- mice were protected against the development of hepatic steatosis and diacylglycerol-PKCe-induced impairments in hepatic insulin signaling. Under hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic conditions, hepatic insulin response was ~10-fold higher in HFD-fed Ad-GcR-/- mice. Insulin-mediated suppression of adipose lipolysis was improved by 40% in Ad-GcR-/- mice. Adipose triglyceride lipase expression was decreased and insulin-mediated perilipin dephosphorylation was increased in Ad-GcR-/- mice. In metabolic cages, food intake decreased by 3 kcal/kg per hour in Ad-GcR-/- mice. Therefore, physiologic adipose glucocorticoid action appears to drive hepatic lipid accumulation during stressors such as fasting. The resultant hepatic insulin resistance prevents hepatic glycogen synthesis, preserving glucose for glucose-dependent organs. Absence of adipose glucocorticoid action attenuates HFD-induced hepatic insulin resistance; potential explanations for reduction in hepatic steatosis include reductions in adipose lipolysis and food intake.--Abulizi, A., Camporez, J.-P., Jurczak, M. J., Høyer, K. F., Zhang, D., Cline, G. W., Samuel, V. T., Shulman, G. I., Vatner, D. F. Adipose glucocorticoid action influences whole-body metabolism via modulation of hepatic insulin action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyruvate kinase is an important enzyme in glycolysis and a key metabolic control point. We recently observed a pyruvate kinase liver isoform (PKL) phosphorylation site at S113 that correlates with insulin resistance in rats on a 3 day high-fat diet (HFD) and suggests additional control points for PKL activity. However, in contrast to the classical model of PKL regulation, neither authentically phosphorylated PKL at S12 nor S113 alone is sufficient to alter enzyme kinetics or structure. Instead, we show that cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are activated by the HFD and responsible for PKL phosphorylation at position S113 in addition to other targets. These CDKs control PKL nuclear retention, alter cytosolic PKL activity, and ultimately influence glucose production. These results change our view of PKL regulation and highlight a previously unrecognized pathway of hepatic CDK activity and metabolic control points that may be important in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. • High-fat diet induces, whereas PKCε-knockdown rescues hepatic PKL S113 phosphorylation • PKL phosphorylation at S113 by CDKs or S12 by PKA increases gluconeogenesis • Neither S12 or S113 phosphorylation alters PKL kinetics or structure • CDK1-mediated phosphorylation of PKL S113 traps PKL in the nucleus Gassaway et al. identify a diet-induced, cyclin-dependent kinase-regulated phosphorylation site at S113 on pyruvate kinase. Although they determine that neither phosphorylation of this site nor the canonical PKA-regulated S12 site directly impacts enzyme kinetics, they demonstrate that S113 phosphorylation alters pyruvate kinase subcellular localization and influences glucose production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with many human diseases and results from mismatch of damage and repair over the life of the organelle. PARK2 is a ubiquitin E3 ligase that regulates mitophagy, a repair mechanism that selectively degrades damaged mitochondria. Deletion of PARK2 in multiple in vivo models results in susceptibility to stress-induced mitochondrial and cellular dysfunction. Surprisingly, Park2 knockout (KO) mice are protected from nutritional stress and do not develop obesity, hepatic steatosis or insulin resistance when fed a high-fat diet (HFD). However, these phenomena are casually related and the physiological basis for this phenotype is unknown. We therefore undertook a series of acute HFD studies to more completely understand the physiology of Park2 KO during nutritional stress. We find that intestinal lipid absorption is impaired in Park2 KO mice as evidenced by increased fecal lipids and reduced plasma triglycerides after intragastric fat challenge. Park2 KO mice developed hepatic steatosis in response to intravenous lipid infusion as well as during incubation of primary hepatocytes with fatty acids, suggesting that hepatic protection from nutritional stress was secondary to changes in energy balance due to altered intestinal triglyceride absorption. Park2 KO mice showed reduced adiposity after 1-wk HFD, as well as improved hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity. These studies suggest that changes in intestinal lipid absorption may play a primary role in protection from nutritional stress in Park2 KO mice by preventing HFD-induced weight gain and highlight the need for tissue-specific models to address the role of PARK2 during metabolic stress., (Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.)