53 research outputs found

    A proteomic analysis of the functional effects of fatty acids in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts

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    Previous studies have demonstrated that long chain fatty acids influence fibroblast function at sub-lethal concentrations. This study is the first to assess the effects of oleic, linoleic or palmitic acids on protein expression of fibroblasts, as determined by standard proteomic techniques. The fatty acids were not cytotoxic at the concentration used in this work as assessed by membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation and the MTT assay but significantly increased cell proliferation. Subsequently, a proteomic analysis was performed using two dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and MS based identification. Cells treated with 50 μM oleic, linoleic or palmitic acid for 24 h were associated with 24, 22, 16 spots differentially expressed, respectively. Among the identified proteins, α-enolase and far upstream element binding protein 1 (FBP-1) are of importance due to their function in fibroblast-associated diseases. However, modulation of α-enolase and FBP-1 expression by fatty acids was not validated by the Western blot technique

    Unsaturated Fatty Acids Revert Diet-Induced Hypothalamic Inflammation in Obesity

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    Background: In experimental models, hypothalamic inflammation is an early and determining factor in the installation and progression of obesity. Pharmacological and gene-based approaches have proven efficient in restraining inflammation and correcting the obese phenotypes. However, the role of nutrients in the modulation of hypothalamic inflammation is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we show that, in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity, partial substitution of the fatty acid component of the diet by flax seed oil (rich in C18:3) or olive oil (rich in C18:1) corrects hypothalamic inflammation, hypothalamic and whole body insulin resistance, and body adiposity. In addition, upon icv injection in obese rats, both v3 and v9 pure fatty acids reduce spontaneous food intake and body mass gain. These effects are accompanied by the reversal of functional and molecular hypothalamic resistance to leptin/insulin and increased POMC and CART expressions. In addition, both, v3 and v9 fatty acids inhibit the AMPK/ACC pathway and increase CPT1 and SCD1 expression in the hypothalamus. Finally, acute hypothalamic injection of v3 and v9 fatty acids activate signal transduction through the recently identified GPR120 unsaturated fatty acid receptor. Conclusions/Significance: Unsaturated fatty acids can act either as nutrients or directly in the hypothalamus, reverting dietinduced inflammation and reducing body adiposity. These data show that, in addition to pharmacological and geneti

    Tarefas alternativas para o ensino e a aprendizagem de funções: análise de uma intervenção no Ensino Médio

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    Neste artigo focalizamos a aplicação de duas tarefas matemáticas alternativas para o ensino e a aprendizagem de funções, junto a alunos do Ensino Médio. Tais tarefas foram elaboradas levando-se em consideração a seguinte abordagem metodológica: (i) resolução de problemas e/ou investigação matemática e (ii) uma proposta pedagógica que defende o desenvolvimento do conhecimento matemático mediante um equilíbrio entre lógica e intuição. Utilizamos uma abordagem de pesquisa qualitativa (caracterizada como estudo de caso) para analisar o potencial didático-pedagógico deste tipo de metodologia no Ensino Médio. Verificamos que tarefas, tais como as que serão apresentadas e discutidas neste artigo, favorecem uma aprendizagem mais significativa aos alunos, permitindo-lhes maior compreensão conceitual, e tornam-se ainda mais potentes quando se considera o contexto sócio-cultural dos alunos

    Metformin attenuates the exacerbation of the allergic eosinophilic inflammation in high fat-diet-induced obesity in mice

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    A positive relationship between obesity and asthma has been well documented. The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator metformin reverses obesity-associated insulin resistance (IR) and inhibits different types of inflammatory responses. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of metformin on the exacerbation of allergic eosinophilic inflammation in obese mice. Male C57BL6/J mice were fed for 10 weeks with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity. The cell infiltration and inflammatory markers in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissue were evaluated at 48 h after ovalbumin (OVA) challenge. HFD obese mice displayed peripheral IR that was fully reversed by metformin (300 mg/kg/day, two weeks). OVA-challenge resulted in higher influx of total cell and eosinophils in lung tissue of obese mice compared with lean group. As opposed, the cell number in BAL fluid of obese mice was reduced compared with lean group. Metformin significantly reduced the tissue eosinophil infiltration and prevented the reduction of cell counts in BAL fluid. In obese mice, greater levels of eotaxin, TNF-α and NOx, together with increased iNOS protein expression were observed, all of which were normalized by metformin. In addition, metformin nearly abrogated the binding of NF-κB subunit p65 to the iNOS promoter gene in lung tissue of obese mice. Lower levels of phosphorylated AMPK and its downstream target acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) were found in lung tissue of obese mice, which were restored by metformin. In separate experiments, the selective iNOS inhibitor aminoguanidine (20 mg/kg, 3 weeks) and the anti-TNF-α mAb (2 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the aggravation of eosinophilic inflammation in obese mice. In conclusion, metformin inhibits the TNF-α-induced inflammatory signaling and NF-κB-mediated iNOS expression in lung tissue of obese mice. Metformin may be a good pharmacological strategy to control the asthma exacerbation in obese individuals.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, 2012/14225-

    UCP2 protects hypothalamic cells from TNF-alpha-induced damage

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    Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is highly expressed in the hypothalamus; however, little is known about the functions it exerts in this part of the brain. Here, we hypothesized that UCP2 protects hypothalamic cells from oxidative and proapoptotic damage generated by inflammatory stimuli. Intracerebroventricular injection of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced an increase of UCP2 expression in the hypothalamus, which was accompanied by increased expression of markers of oxidative stress and pro-apoptotic proteins. The inhibition of UCP2 expression by an antisense oligonucleotide enhanced the damaging effects of TNF-a. Conversely, increasing the hypothalamic expression of UCP2 by cold exposure reversed most of the effects of the cytokine. Thus, UCP2 acts as a protective factor against cellular damage induced by an inflammatory stimulus in the hypothalamus. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B. V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.5822031033110Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

    Central leptin action improves skeletal muscle AKT, AMPK, and PGC1 alpha activation by hypothalamic PI3K-dependent mechanism

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    Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Central leptin action requires PI3K activity to modulate glucose homeostasis and peripheral metabolism. However, the mechanism behind this phenomenon is not clearly understood. We hypothesize that hypothalamic PI3K activity is important for the modulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) pathway, PGC1 alpha, and AKT in skeletal muscle (SM). To address this issue, we injected leptin into the lateral ventricle of rats. Hypothalamic JAK2 and AKT were activated by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of leptin in a time-dependent manner. Central leptin improved tolerance to glucose (GTT), increased PGC1 alpha expression, and AKT, AMPK, ACC and JAK2 phosphorylation in the soleus muscle. Previous ICV administration of either LY294002 or propranolol (IP) blocked these effects. We concluded that the activation of the hypothalamic PI3K pathway is important for leptin-induced AKT phosphorylation, as well as for active catabolic pathway through AMPK and PGC1 alpha in SM. Thus, a defective leptin signalling PI3K pathway in the hypothalamus may contribute to peripheral resistance to insulin associated to diet-induced obesity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.31416269Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

    Citrate diminishes hypothalamic acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation and modulates satiety signals and hepatic mechanisms involved in glucose homeostasis in rats

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    The hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) pathway is known to play an important role in the control of food intake and energy expenditure. Here, we hypothesize that citrate, an intermediate metabolite, activates hypothalamic ACC and is involved in the control of energy mobilization. Initially, we showed that ICV citrate injection decreased food intake and diminished weight gain significantly when compared to control and pair-fed group results. In addition, we showed that intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of citrate diminished (80% of control) the phosphorylation of ACC, an important AMPK substrate. Furthermore, citrate treatment inhibited (75% of control) hypothalamic AMPK phosphorylation during fasting. In addition to its central effect, ICV citrate injection led to low blood glucose levels during glucose tolerance test (GTT) and high glucose uptake during hyperglycemic-euglycemic clamp. Accordingly, liver glycogen content was higher in animals given citrate (ICV) than in the control group (23.3 +/- 2.5 vs. 2.7 +/- 0.5 mu g mL(-1) mg(-1), respectively). Interestingly, liver AMPK phosphorylation was reduced (80%) by the citrate treatment. The pharmacological blockade Of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor (SR 59230A) blocked the effect of ICV citrate and citrate plus insulin on liver AMPK phosphorylation. Consistently with these results, rats treated with citrate (ICV) presented improved insulin signal transduction in liver, skeletal muscle, and epididymal fat pad. Similar results were obtained by hypothalamic administration of ARA-A, a competitive inhibitor of AMPK. Our results suggest that the citrate produced by mitochondria may modulate ACC phosphorylation in the hypothalamus, controlling food intake and coordinating a multiorgan network that controls glucose homeostasis and energy uptake through the adrenergic system. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.8225-261262127

    TNF-alpha acts in the hypothalamus inhibiting food intake and increasing the respiratory quotient - Effects on leptin and insulin signaling pathways

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    Acting in the hypothalamus, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) produces a potent anorexigenic effect. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are poorly characterized. In this study, we investigate the capacity of TNF-alpha to activate signal transduction in the hypothalamus through elements of the pathways employed by the anorexigenic hormones insulin and leptin. High dose TNF-a promotes a reduction of 25% in 12 h food intake, which is an inhibitory effect that is marginally inferior to that produced by insulin and leptin. In addition, high dose TNF-a increases body temperature and respiratory quotient, effects not reproduced by insulin or leptin. TNF-alpha, predominantly at the high dose, is also capable of activating canonical pro-inflammatory signal transduction in the hypothalamus, inducing JNK, p38, and NF kappa B, which results in the transcription of early responsive genes and expression of proteins of the SOCS family. Also, TNF-a activates signal transduction through JAK-2 and STAT-3, but does not activate signal transduction. through early and intermediary elements of the insulin/leptin signaling pathways such as IRS-2, Akt, ERK and FOXO1. When co-injected with insulin or leptin, TNF-a, at both high and low doses, partially impairs signal transduction through IRS-2, Akt, ERK and FOXO1 but not through JAK-2 and STAT-3. This effect is accompanied by the partial inhibition of the anorexigenic effects of insulin and leptin, when the low, but not the high dose of TNF-alpha is employed. In conclusion, TNF-alpha, on a dose-dependent way, modulates insulin and leptin signaling and action in the hypothalamus. (c) Published by Elsevier Inc.2851050105

    TNF-alpha TRANSIENTLY INDUCES ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM STRESS AND AN INCOMPLETE UNFOLDED PROTEIN RESPONSE IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS

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    Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)In diet-induced obesity, hypothalamic inflammation is triggered as an outcome of prolonged exposure to dietary fats. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation plays a central role in this process, inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress and activating inflammatory cytokine gene transcription. Although saturated fatty acids can induce endoplasmic reticulum stress in the hypothalamus, it is unknown whether inflammatory cytokines alone can activate this mechanism. Here, rats were treated with TNF-alpha or lyposaccharide (LPS) and endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response were evaluated by immunoblot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Activation of TLR4 by LPS was capable of inducing a complete endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response through the PERK/eIF2 alpha and IRE1 alpha/XBP1 pathways. Conversely, TNF-a, injected either locally or systemically, was unable to induce a complete program of unfolded protein response, although the activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress was achieved to a certain degree. Thus, in the hypothalamus, the isolated action of TNF-alpha is insufficient to produce the activation of a complete program of unfolded protein response. (C) 2010 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Key words: obesity, diabetes, food intake, leptin, insulin, cytokine.170410351044Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq
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