Overexpression of short heterodimer partner recovers impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of pancreatic β-cells overexpressing UCP2

The short heterodimer partner (SHP) (NR0B2) is an orphan nuclear receptor whose function in pancreatic β-cells is unclear. Mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP2) in β-cells is upregulated in obesity-related diabetes, causing impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). We investigated whether SHP plays a role in UCP2-induced GSIS impairment. We overexpressed SHP in normal islet cells and in islet cells overexpressing UCP2 by an adenovirus-mediated infection technique. We found that SHP overexpression enhanced GSIS in normal islets, and restored GSIS in UCP2-overexpressing islets. SHP overexpression increased the glucose sensitivity of ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels and enhanced theATP/ADP ratio. A peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) antagonist, GW9662, did not block the SHP effect on GSIS. SHP overexpression also corrected the impaired sensitivity of UCP2-overexpressing β-cells to methylpyruvate, another energy fuel that bypasses glycolysis and directly enters the Krebs cycle. KATP channel inhibition mediated by dihydroxyacetone, which gives reducing equivalents directly to complex II of the electron transport system, was similar in Ad-Null-, Ad-UCP2- and Ad-UCP2+Ad-SHP-infected cells. The mitochondrial metabolic inhibitor sodium azide totally blocked the effect of SHP overexpression on GSIS. These results suggest that SHP positively regulates GSIS in β-cells and restores glucose sensitivity in UCP2-overexpressing β-cells by enhancing mitochondrial glucose metabolism, independent of PPARγ activation.

Estrogen Receptor α Inhibits IL-1β Induction of Gene Expression in the Mouse Liver

Estrogens have been suggested to modulate several inflammatory processes. Here, we show that IL-1β treatment induced the expression of approximately 75 genes in the liver of ovariectomized mice. 17α-Ethinyl estradiol (EE) pretreatment reduced the IL-1β induction of approximately one third of these genes. Estrogen receptor α (ERα) was required for this inhibitory activity, because EE inhibition of IL-1β-stimulated gene expression occurred in ERβ knockout mice, but not in ERα knockout mice. EE treatment induced expression of 40 genes, including the transcriptional repressor short heterodimer partner and prostaglandin D synthase, known modulators of nuclear factor-κB signaling. However, the ER agonists genistein and raloxifene both inhibited IL-1β gene induction without stimulating the expression of prostaglandin D synthase, short heterodimer partner, or other ER-inducible genes, indicating that induction of gene expression was not required for ER inhibition of IL-1β signaling. Finally, the ability of EE to repress IL-1β gene induction varied among tissues. For example, EE inhibited IL-1β induction of lipopolysaccharide-induced c-x-c chemokine (LIX) in the liver, but not in the spleen or lung. The degree of EE repression did not correlate with ER expression. cAMP response element binding protein-binding protein (CBP)/p300 levels also varied between tissues. Together, these results are consistent with a model of in vivo ER interference with IL-1β signaling through a coactivator-based mechanism.

Induction of short heterodimer partner 1 precedes downregulation of Ntcp in bile duct-ligated mice

Cholestasis is associated with retention of bile acids and reduced expression of the Na+/taurocholate cotransporter (Ntcp), the major hepatocellular bile acid uptake system. This study aimed to determine whether downregulation of Ntcp in obstructive cholestasis 1) is a consequence of bile acid retention and 2) is mediated by induction of the transcriptional repressor short heterodimer partner 1 (SHP-1). To study the time course for the changes in serum bile acid levels as well as SHP-1 and Ntcp steady-state mRNA levels, mice were subjected to common bile duct ligation (CBDL) for 3, 6, 12, 24, 72, and 168 h and compared with sham-operated controls. Serum bile acid levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. SHP-1 and Ntcp steady-state mRNA expression were assessed by Northern blotting. In addition, Ntcp protein expression was studied by Western blotting and immunofluorescence microscopy. Increased SHP-1 mRNA expression paralleled elevations of serum bile acid levels and was followed by downregulation of Ntcp mRNA and protein expression in CBDL mice. Maximal SHP-1 mRNA expression reached a plateau phase after 6-h CBDL (12-fold; P < 0.001) and preceded the nadir of Ntcp mRNA levels (12%, P < 0.001) by 6 h. In conclusion, bile acid-induced expression of SHP-1 may, at least in part, mediate downregulation of Ntcp in CBDL mice. These findings support the concept that downregulation of Ntcp in cholestasis limits intracytoplasmatic accumulation of potentially toxic bile acids.