Jaap G Neels

University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

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Publications (18)192.79 Total impact

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    Article: Osteopontin is required for the early onset of high fat diet-induced insulin resistance in mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Insulin resistance is manifested in muscle, adipose tissue, and liver and is associated with adipose tissue inflammation. The cellular components and mechanisms that regulate the onset of diet-induced insulin resistance are not clearly defined. We initially observed osteopontin (OPN) mRNA over-expression in adipose tissue of obese, insulin resistant humans and rats which was normalized by thiazolidinedione (TZD) treatment in both species. OPN regulates inflammation and is implicated in pathogenic maladies resulting from chronic obesity. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that OPN is involved in the early development of insulin resistance using a 2-4 week high fat diet (HFD) model. OPN KO mice fed HFD for 2 weeks were completely protected from the severe skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue insulin resistance that developed in wild type (WT) controls, as determined by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp and acute insulin-stimulation studies. Although two-week HFD did not alter body weight or plasma free fatty acids and cytokines in either strain, HFD-induced hyperleptinemia, increased adipose tissue inflammation (macrophages and cytokines), and adipocyte hypertrophy were significant in WT mice and blunted or absent in OPN KO mice. Adipose tissue OPN protein isoform expression was significantly altered in 2- and 4-week HFD-fed WT mice but total OPN protein was unchanged. OPN KO bone marrow stromal cells were more osteogenic and less adipogenic than WT cells in vitro. Interestingly, the two differentiation pathways were inversely affected by HFD in WT cells in vitro. The OPN KO phenotypes we report reflect protection from insulin resistance that is associated with changes in adipocyte biology and adipose tissue inflammatory status. OPN is a key component in the development of HFD-induced insulin resistance.
    PLoS ONE 01/2010; 5(11):e13959. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Glucocorticoids and thiazolidinediones interfere with adipocyte-mediated macrophage chemotaxis and recruitment.
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    ABSTRACT: The link between intra-abdominal adiposity and type II diabetes has been known for decades, and adipose tissue macrophage (ATM)-associated inflammation has recently been linked to insulin resistance. However, the mechanisms associated with ATM recruitment remain ill defined. Herein, we describe in vitro chemotaxis studies, in which adipocyte conditioned medium was used to stimulate macrophage migration. We demonstrate that tumor necrosis factor alpha and free fatty acids, key inflammatory stimuli involved in obesity-associated autocrine/paracrine inflammatory signaling, stimulate adipocyte expression and secretion of macrophage chemoattractants. Pharmacological studies showed that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists and glucocorticoids potently inhibit adipocyte- induced recruitment of macrophages. This latter effect was mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor, which led to decreased chemokine secretion and expression. In vivo results were quite comparable; treatment of high fat diet-fed mice with dexamethasone prevented ATM accumulation in epididymal fat. This decrease in ATM was most pronounced for the proinflammatory F4/80(+), CD11b(+), CD11c(+) M-1-like ATM subset. Overall, our results elucidate a beneficial function of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activation and glucocorticoid receptor/glucocorticoids in adipose tissue and indicate that pharmacologic prevention of ATM accumulation could be beneficial.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 10/2009; 284(45):31223-35. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Keratinocyte-derived Chemokine in Obesity
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    ABSTRACT: Obese adipose tissue (AT) is associated with chronic inflammation, and we hypothesized that the keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), the mouse ortholog of human interleukin-8, plays a role in obesity-mediated AT inflammation and the subsequent manifestation of insulin resistance. KC expression is increased in the AT and plasma of genetically (ob/ob) and high fat diet-induced obese mouse models, and this increase may be mediated by the elevated leptin and tumor necrosis factor-α levels associated with obesity. Obesity-induced KC expression occurs primarily in stromal vascular cells and not in adipocytes, and it is high in preadipocytes and decreases during adipogenesis. Although KC has no effect on adipogenesis, it induces adipocyte expression of inflammatory factors and the insulin resistance mediator, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3. Using chimeric mice deficient in the KC receptor CXCR2 in their bone marrow, we show that the lack of CXCR2 in hematopoietic cells is sufficient to protect from adipose and skeletal muscle macrophage recruitment and development of insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice. These studies suggest that KC and its receptor CXCR2 are potential targets for the development of new therapeutic approaches for treatment of obesity-related insulin resistance, type II diabetes, and related cardiovascular diseases.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 07/2009; 284(31):20692-20698. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Keratinocyte-derived chemokine in obesity: expression, regulation, and role in adipose macrophage infiltration and glucose homeostasis.
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    ABSTRACT: Obese adipose tissue (AT) is associated with chronic inflammation, and we hypothesized that the keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), the mouse ortholog of human interleukin-8, plays a role in obesity-mediated AT inflammation and the subsequent manifestation of insulin resistance. KC expression is increased in the AT and plasma of genetically (ob/ob) and high fat diet-induced obese mouse models, and this increase may be mediated by the elevated leptin and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels associated with obesity. Obesity-induced KC expression occurs primarily in stromal vascular cells and not in adipocytes, and it is high in preadipocytes and decreases during adipogenesis. Although KC has no effect on adipogenesis, it induces adipocyte expression of inflammatory factors and the insulin resistance mediator, suppressor of cytokine signaling 3. Using chimeric mice deficient in the KC receptor CXCR2 in their bone marrow, we show that the lack of CXCR2 in hematopoietic cells is sufficient to protect from adipose and skeletal muscle macrophage recruitment and development of insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice. These studies suggest that KC and its receptor CXCR2 are potential targets for the development of new therapeutic approaches for treatment of obesity-related insulin resistance, type II diabetes, and related cardiovascular diseases.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 07/2009; 284(31):20692-8. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Ablation of CD11c-positive cells normalizes insulin sensitivity in obese insulin resistant animals.
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    ABSTRACT: Obese adipose tissue is characterized by infiltration of macrophages. We and others recently showed that a specific subset of macrophages is recruited to obese adipose and muscle tissue. This subset expresses CD11c and produces high levels of proinflammatory cytokines that are linked to the development of obesity-associated insulin resistance. Here, we used a conditional cell ablation system, based on transgenic expression of the diphtheria toxin receptor under the control of the CD11c promoter, to study the effects of depletion of CD11c+ cells in obese mouse models. Our results show that CD11c+ cell depletion results in rapid normalization of insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, CD11c+ cell ablation leads to a marked decrease in inflammatory markers, both locally and systemically, as reflected by gene expression and protein levels. Together, these results indicate that these CD11c+ cells are a potential therapeutic target for treatment of obesity-related insulin resistance and type II diabetes.
    Cell metabolism 11/2008; 8(4):301-9. · 17.35 Impact Factor
  • Article: Vitronectin inhibits plasminogen activator inhibitor-1-induced signalling and chemotaxis by blocking plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 binding to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein.
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    ABSTRACT: We have previously reported that the serpin plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activates the Janus kinase (Jak)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) signalling pathway and stimulates cell migration by binding to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein. All the free forms (cleaved, latent or active) of this inhibitor were shown to be motogenic. However, the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 can also interact with vitronectin which acts as a cofactor by increasing the half-life of the active form of the serpin. Since vitronectin influences most of the biological functions of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, we explored the effects of vitronectin on signalling and cell migration induced by this serpin. We found that the interaction between vitronectin and the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 suppressed signalling and cell migration. In fact, a purified vitronectin(1-97)/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 complex was not chemotactic. Vitronectin interaction with the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 blocks the binding of this serpin to its motogenic receptor, the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein. Consequently, vitronectin inhibits the activation of the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription signalling pathway by the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and subsequent cell migration. In conclusion, we have unveiled a new inhibitory role of vitronectin, which turns off the intracellular signalling and migration-promoting activity of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Thus, the motogenic (cleaved, latent or active) and non-motogenic (in complex with vitronectin) forms of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 have different properties that may explain the rather contrasting physiological and pathological roles of this serpin.
    The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology 08/2008; 41(3):578-85. · 4.89 Impact Factor
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    Article: Blockade of alpha4 integrin signaling ameliorates the metabolic consequences of high-fat diet-induced obesity.
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    ABSTRACT: Many prevalent diseases of advanced societies, such as obesity-induced type 2 diabetes, are linked to indolent mononuclear cell-dependent inflammation. We previously proposed that blockade of alpha4 integrin signaling can inhibit inflammation while limiting mechanism-based toxicities of loss of alpha4 function. Thus, we hypothesized that mice bearing an alpha4(Y991A) mutation, which blocks signaling, would be protected from development of high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. Six- to eight-week-old wild-type and alpha4(Y991A) C57Bl/6 male mice were placed on either a high-fat diet that derived 60% calories from lipids or a chow diet. Metabolic testing was performed after 16-22 weeks of diet. Alpha4(Y991A) mice were protected from development of high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. This protection was conferred on wild-type mice by alpha4(Y991A) bone marrow transplantation. In the reverse experiment, wild-type bone marrow renders high-fat diet-fed alpha4(Y991A) acceptor animals insulin resistant. Furthermore, fat-fed alpha4(Y991A) mice showed a dramatic reduction of monocyte/macrophages in adipose tissue. This reduction was due to reduced monocyte/macrophage migration rather than reduced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production. Alpha4 integrins contribute to the development of HFD-induced insulin resistance by mediating the trafficking of monocytes into adipose tissue; hence, blockade of alpha4 integrin signaling can prevent the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance.
    Diabetes 08/2008; 57(7):1842-51. · 8.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: A subpopulation of macrophages infiltrates hypertrophic adipose tissue and is activated by free fatty acids via Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 and JNK-dependent pathways.
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    ABSTRACT: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are characterized by decreased insulin sensitivity, elevated concentrations of free fatty acids (FFAs), and increased macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue (AT). Here, we show that FFAs can cause activation of RAW264.7 cells primarily via the JNK signaling cascade and that TLR2 and TLR4 are upstream of JNK and help transduce FFA proinflammatory signals. We also demonstrate that F4/80(+)CD11b(+)CD11c(+) bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) have heightened proinflammatory activity compared with F4/80(+)CD11b(+)CD11c(-) bone marrow-derived macrophages and that the proinflammatory activity and JNK phosphorylation of BMDCs, but not bone marrow-derived macrophages, was further increased by FFA treatment. F4/80(+)CD11b(+)CD11c(+) cells were found in AT, and the proportion and number of these cells in AT is increased in ob/ob mice and by feeding wild type mice a high fat diet for 1 and 12 weeks. AT F4/80(+)CD11b(+)CD11c(+) cells express increased inflammatory markers compared with F4/80(+)CD11b(+)CD11c(-) cells, and FFA treatment increased inflammatory responses in these cells. In addition, we found that CD11c expression is increased in skeletal muscle of high fat diet-fed mice and that conditioned medium from FFA-treated wild type BMDCs, but not TLR2/4 DKO BMDCs, can induce insulin resistance in L6 myotubes. Together our results show that FFAs can activate CD11c(+) myeloid proinflammatory cells via TLR2/4 and JNK signaling pathways, thereby promoting inflammation and subsequent cellular insulin resistance.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 12/2007; 282(48):35279-92. · 4.77 Impact Factor
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    Article: JNK1 in hematopoietically derived cells contributes to diet-induced inflammation and insulin resistance without affecting obesity.
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    ABSTRACT: Obesity-induced insulin resistance is a major factor in the etiology of type 2 diabetes, and Jun kinases (JNKs) are key negative regulators of insulin sensitivity in the obese state. Activation of JNKs (mainly JNK1) in insulin target cells results in phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates (IRSs) at serine and threonine residues that inhibit insulin signaling. JNK1 activation is also required for accumulation of visceral fat. Here we used reciprocal adoptive transfer experiments to determine whether JNK1 in myeloid cells, such as macrophages, also contributes to insulin resistance and central adiposity. Our results show that deletion of Jnk1 in the nonhematopoietic compartment protects mice from high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance, in part through decreased adiposity. By contrast, Jnk1 removal from hematopoietic cells has no effect on adiposity but confers protection against HFD-induced insulin resistance by decreasing obesity-induced inflammation.
    Cell Metabolism 12/2007; 6(5):386-97. · 13.67 Impact Factor
  • Article: Bone marrow-specific Cap gene deletion protects against high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance.
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    ABSTRACT: Cbl-associated protein (Cap) is a member of a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-independent pathway for insulin-stimulated translocation of the glucose transporter GLUT4. Despite this positive role of Cap in glucose uptake, here we show that deletion of the gene encoding Cap (official gene name: Sorbs1) protects against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance in mice while also having an opposite, insulin-sensitizing effect, accompanied by reduced tissue markers of inflammation. Given the emerging role of chronic inflammation in insulin resistance and the macrophage in initiating this inflammatory process, we considered that Sorbs1 deletion from macrophages may have resulted in the observed protection from HFD-induced insulin resistance. Using bone marrow transplantation to generate functional Sorbs1-null macrophages, we show that the insulin-sensitive phenotype can be transferred to wild-type mice by transplantation of Sorbs1-null bone marrow. These studies show that macrophages are an important cell type in the induction of insulin resistance and that Cap has a modulatory role in this function.
    Nature Medicine 05/2007; 13(4):455-62. · 22.46 Impact Factor
  • Article: Cell signaling. A new way to burn fat.
    Jaap G Neels, Jerrold M Olefsky
    Science 07/2006; 312(5781):1756-8. · 31.20 Impact Factor
  • Article: A New Way to Burn Fat
    Jaap G. Neels, Jerrold M. Olefsky
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    ABSTRACT: Acetyl-CoA carboxylase controls fat storage and utilization in adipose cells. An important regulator of this enzyme modulates its degradation and is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of insulin resistance and obesity.
    Science 06/2006; 312(5781):1756-1758. · 31.20 Impact Factor
  • Article: Autoamplification of tumor necrosis factor-alpha: a potential mechanism for the maintenance of elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha in male but not female obese mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Although tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is elevated in adipose tissue in obesity and may contribute to the cardiovascular and metabolic risks associated with this condition, the mechanisms leading to elevated TNF-alpha remain elusive. We hypothesized that autoamplification of TNF-alpha contributes to the maintenance of elevated TNF-alpha in obesity. Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with TNF-alpha, or injection of TNF-alpha into C57BL/6J mice, up-regulated TNF-alpha mRNA in adipocytes and in adipose tissues, respectively. Ob/ob male but not female mice lacking TNF-alpha receptors showed significantly lower levels of adipose TNF-alpha mRNA when compared with TNF-alpha receptor-expressing ob/ob mice. Thus, the lack of endogenous TNF-alpha signaling reduced adipose TNF-alpha mRNA in ob/ob male mice. Additionally, hyperinsulinemia potentiated this TNF-alpha-mediated autoamplification response in adipose tissues and in adipocytes in a synergistic and dose-dependent manner. Studies in which TNF-alpha was injected into lean mice lacking individual TNF-alpha receptors indicated that TNF-alpha autoamplification in adipose tissues was mediated primarily via the p55 TNF-alpha receptor whereas the p75 TNF-alpha receptor appeared to augment this response. Finally, TNF-alpha autoamplification in adipocytes occurred via the protein kinase C signaling pathway and the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB. Thus, TNF-alpha can positively autoregulate its own biosynthesis in adipose tissue, contributing to the maintenance of elevated TNF-alpha in obesity.
    American Journal Of Pathology 03/2006; 168(2):435-44. · 4.89 Impact Factor
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    Article: Inflamed fat: what starts the fire?
    Jaap G Neels, Jerrold M Olefsky
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    ABSTRACT: Obesity is associated with increased macrophage infiltration of adipose tissue, and these macrophages may be an important component of the chronic inflammatory response playing a crucial role in the development of insulin resistance. This prompts the question as to how macrophages infiltrate obese adipose tissue. In this issue of the JCI, Weisberg et al. show the importance of C-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) in macrophage recruitment to adipose tissue and the development of obesity and its complications.
    Journal of Clinical Investigation 02/2006; 116(1):33-5. · 15.39 Impact Factor
  • Article: Inhibition of endogenous leptin protects mice from arterial and venous thrombosis.
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    ABSTRACT: Human obesity is associated with an increased risk for arterial and venous thrombosis and with elevated levels of leptin in the blood. Leptin administration promotes arterial thrombosis in mice, and leptin-deficient ob/ob mice have an attenuated thrombotic response to injury. Thus, endogenous leptin may regulate arterial and venous thrombosis in vivo. Experiments were performed to test this hypothesis. A leptin-neutralizing antibody was administered intravenously into wild-type mice 15 minutes before carotid artery injury with ferric chloride. The antibody-treated mice demonstrated prolonged times to thrombotic occlusion and formed unstable, embolizing thrombi. Thus, inhibiting leptin converted the thrombotic phenotype of wild-type mice into one that closely resembled that of ob/ob mice. The effect of leptin inhibition on venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism was also investigated. Injection of a mixture of collagen and epinephrine into the jugular vein induced fatal pulmonary embolism in >90% of the control wild-type mice but in <40% of their antibody-treated counterparts. Histological analysis revealed that the antibody significantly reduced the number of occlusive thrombi in the pulmonary vessels. Inhibition of circulating leptin protects against arterial and venous thrombosis in mice and possibly in hyperleptinemic obese individuals.
    Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 12/2004; 24(11):2196-201. · 6.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: Angiogenesis in an in vivo model of adipose tissue development.
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    ABSTRACT: Obesity is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer. Angiogenesis is a critical component of these pathological processes, and expanding adipose tissue represents one of the few sites of active angiogenesis in the adult. Despite the potential importance of angiogenesis in obesity, little is known about underlying mechanisms. This problem is magnified by the absence of useful quantitative model systems. In this report, we examine the angiogenic process using the 3T3-F442A model of adipose tissue development. In this model, 3T3-F442A preadipocytes are implanted subcutaneously into athymic Balb/c nude mice. We show that these cells develop into highly vascularized fat pads over the next 14-21 days, and that these fat pads are morphologically similar to normal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Histological studies demonstrate that a new microvasculature is evident as early as 5 days after cell implantation, and real-time quantitative RT-PCR analyses show that the expression of endothelial cell markers and adipogenesis markers increase in parallel during fat pad development. Finally, these preliminary studies suggest that the neovasculature originates by sprouting from larger, host-derived blood vessels that run parallel to peripheral nerves and that endothelial progenitor cells play little, if any, role in this process.
    The FASEB Journal 07/2004; 18(9):983-5. · 5.71 Impact Factor
  • Article: Disulfide bonding arrangements in active forms of the somatomedin B domain of human vitronectin.
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    ABSTRACT: The N-terminal cysteine-rich somatomedin B (SMB) domain (residues 1-44) of the human glycoprotein vitronectin contains the high-affinity binding sites for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and the urokinase receptor (uPAR). We previously showed that the eight cysteine residues of recombinant SMB (rSMB) are organized into four disulfide bonds in a linear uncrossed pattern (Cys(5)-Cys(9), Cys(19)-Cys(21), Cys(25)-Cys(31), and Cys(32)-Cys(39)). In the present study, we use an alternative method to show that this disulfide bond arrangement remains a major preferred one in solution, and we determine the solution structure of the domain using NMR analysis. The solution structure shows that the four disulfide bonds are tightly packed in the center of the domain, replacing the traditional hydrophobic core expected for a globular protein. The few noncysteine hydrophobic side chains form a cluster on the outside of the domain, providing a distinctive binding surface for the physiological partners PAI-1 and uPAR. The hydrophobic surface consists mainly of side chains from the loop formed by the Cys(25)-Cys(31) disulfide bond, and is surrounded by conserved acidic and basic side chains, which are likely to contribute to the specificity of the intermolecular interactions of this domain. Interestingly, the overall fold of the molecule is compatible with several arrangements of the disulfide bonds. A number of different disulfide bond arrangements were able to satisfy the NMR restraints, and an extensive series of conformational energy calculations performed in explicit solvent confirmed that several disulfide bond arrangements have comparable stabilization energies. An experimental demonstration of the presence of alternative disulfide conformations in active rSMB is provided by the behavior of a mutant in which Asn(14) is replaced by Met. This mutant has the same PAI-1 binding activity as rVN1-51, but its fragmentation pattern following cyanogen bromide treatment is incompatible with the linear uncrossed disulfide arrangement. These results suggest that active forms of the SMB domain may have a number of allowed disulfide bond arrangements as long as the Cys(25)-Cys(31) disulfide bond is preserved.
    Biochemistry 07/2004; 43(21):6519-34. · 3.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein is a motogenic receptor for plasminogen activator inhibitor-1.
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    ABSTRACT: Although plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is known to stimulate cell migration, little is known about underlying mechanisms. We show that both active and inactive (e.g. cleaved) PAI-1 can activate the Jak/Stat signaling system and stimulate cell migration in chemotaxis, haptotaxis, chemokinesis, and wound healing assays. Moreover, antibodies to the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP) and an LRP antagonist (RAP) blocked these motogenic effects of PAI-1, while a PAI-1 mutant that did not bind to LRP failed to activate the Jak/Stat signaling pathway or to stimulate cell migration. PAI-1 had no chemotactic effect on LRP-deficient cells. These results indicate that LRP is a signaling molecule, that it mediates the migration-promoting activity of PAI-1, and that this activity does not require intact, biologically active PAI-1. Activation of this LRP-dependent signaling pathway by PAI-1 may begin to explain how the inhibitor stimulates cell migration in a variety of normal and pathological processes.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 06/2004; 279(21):22595-604. · 4.77 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2006–2009
    • University of California, San Diego
      • Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism
      San Diego, CA, USA
    • The Institute for Molecular Medicine
      Huntington Beach, CA, USA
  • 2004–2009
    • The Scripps Research Institute
      • Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
      La Jolla, CA, USA