Different expression and distribution of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 in obese and lean animal models of type 2 diabetes (Short communication)

11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) is a NADPH dependent oxidoreductase of the endoplasmic reticulum lumen which converts cortisone to cortisol and plays a role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. The aim of our study was to investigate the correlation between the expression/activity of 11βHSD1 and obesity. Liver and adipose tissue microsomes of an obese (Zucker) and a non-obese (Goto-Kakizaki) type 2 diabetes model rat strains were used. 11βHSD1 expression was detected at mRNA, protein and activity level. The activity of 11βHSD1 was increased in the adipose tissue and decreased in the liver of the obese Zucker rat, while its mRNA levels were significantly different only in the adipose tissue. In diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rat both the expression and the activity of 11βHSD1 were elevated in liver, but not in adipose tissue. These results suggest that the prereceptorial glucocorticoid activation is different in the liver and adipose tissue of the two diabetes models. This phenomenon might be responsible for the obese and lean phenotypes in type 2 diabetes

Cooperativity between 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is based on a common pyridine nucleotide pool in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum.

11 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11 beta HSD1) is a NADP(H)-dependent oxidoreductase of the ER lumen, which may have an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. Here, the functional coupling of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6PDH) was investigated in rat liver microsomal vesicles. The results demonstrate the existence of a separate intraluminal pyridine nucleotide pool in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum and a close cooperation between 11 beta PHSD1 and H6PDH based on their co-localization and the mutual generation of cofactors for each other. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Uncoupled redox systems in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. Pyridine nucleotides stay reduced in an oxidative environment.

The redox state of the intraluminal pyridine nucleotide pool was investigated in rat liver microsomal vesicles. The vesicles showed cortisone reductase activity in the absence of added reductants, which was dependent on the integrity of the membrane. The intraluminal pyridine nucleotide pool could be oxidized by the addition of cortisone or metyrapone but not of glutathione. On the other hand, intraluminal pyridine nucleotides were slightly reduced by cortisol or glucose 6-phosphate, although glutathione was completely ineffective. Redox state of microsomal protein thiols/disulfides was not altered either by manipulations affecting the redox state of pyridine nucleotides or by the addition of NAD(P)(+) or NAD(P)H. The uncoupling of the thiol/disulfide and NAD(P)(+)/NAD(P)H redox couples was not because of their subcompartmentation, because enzymes responsible for the intraluminal oxidoreduction of pyridine nucleotides were distributed equally in smooth and rough microsomal subfractions. Instead, the phenomenon can be explained by the negligible representation of glutathione reductase in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen. The results demonstrated the separate existence of two redox systems in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen, which explains the contemporary functioning of oxidative folding and of powerful reductive reactions