Takaaki Nakamura

Shiga University of Medical Science, Ōtsu-shi, Shiga-ken, Japan

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Publications (13)50.33 Total impact

  • Article: MafA differentiates rat intestinal cells into insulin-producing cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Recent studies have suggested that basic leucine zipper transcription factor MafA has a crucial role in pancreatic beta-cell-specific insulin gene transcription. Thus, we investigated whether MafA overexpression in the intestine induces insulin production in small-intestinal epithelial cells in vivo. Recombinant adenovirus containing MafA gene (Ad-MafA) was prepared and administered orally to streptozocin-treated diabetic rats. Insulin gene expression was observed in the intestine by RT-PCR analysis, and then insulin protein was detected by immunohistochemical analysis after Ad-MafA administration. Furthermore, MafA overexpression in the intestine increased plasma insulin levels and ameliorated hyperglycemia. These results indicate that MafA overexpression in the intestine induces intestinal epithelial cells newly to produce and release insulin.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 11/2006; 349(1):136-43. · 2.48 Impact Factor
  • Article: The transcription factor AP-2beta causes cell enlargement and insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
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    ABSTRACT: We have reported the association of variations in the activating protein-2beta (AP-2beta) transcription factor gene with type 2 diabetes. This gene was preferentially expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a differentiation stage-dependent manner, and preliminary experiments showed that subjects with the disease-susceptible allele showed stronger expression in adipose tissue than those without the susceptible allele. Thus, we overexpressed the AP-2beta gene in 3T3-L1 adipocytes to clarify whether AP-2beta might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes through dysregulation of adipocyte function. In cells overexpressing AP-2beta, cells increased in size by accumulation of triglycerides accompanied by enhanced glucose uptake. On the contrary, suppression of AP-2beta expression by small interfering RNA inhibited glucose uptake. Enhancement of glucose uptake by AP-2beta overexpression was attenuated by inhibitors of phospholipase C (PLC) and atypical protein kinase Czeta/lambda (PKCzeta/lambda), but not by a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor. Consistently, we found activation of PLC and atypical PKC, but not PI3-K, by AP-2beta expression. Furthermore, overexpression of PLCgamma enhanced glucose uptake, and this activation was inhibited by an atypical PKC inhibitor, suggesting that the enhanced glucose uptake may be mediated through PLC and atypical PKCzeta/lambda, but not PI3-K. Moreover, we observed the increased tyrosine phosphorylation of Grb2-associated binder-1 (Gab1) and its association with PLCgamma, indicating that Gab1 may be involved in AP-2beta-induced PLCgamma activation. Finally, AP-2beta overexpression was found to relate to the impaired insulin signaling. We propose that AP-2beta is a candidate gene for producing adipocyte hypertrophy and may relate to the abnormal characteristics of adipocytes observed in obesity.
    Endocrinology 05/2006; 147(4):1685-96. · 4.46 Impact Factor
  • Article: A mammalian dpy-19 homologue is expressed in GABAergic neurons.
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    ABSTRACT: Gsh2 homeobox transcription factors play a crucial role in the development of GABAergic neurons. Caenorhabditis elegans's mab-5 gene is homologous to Gsh2; its expression is controlled by dpy-19. This study produced the polyclonal anti-mammalian DPY-19 (MDPY-19) antibody and showed the distribution of anti-MDPY-19 immunopositive cells. In addition, the mammalian dpy-19 (Mdpy-19) 5'-flanking region was analyzed by in vivo transient transfection assays. Mdpy-19 is expressed in ependymal cells in the adult rat brain, embryonic neuroepithelial cells, and cultured neural stem cells. In the adult rat ventricular zone, immunoreactivity with MDPY-19 of the dorsal area is stronger than that of the ventral area. Embryonic neuroepithelial cells and radial glial cells show strong anti-MDPY-19 immunoreactivity. We created the Mdpy-19 green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene. Our results show that Mdpy-19 is expressed in neural stem cells and progenitor cells, especially radial glial cells. Only ependymal cells among differentiated cells express Mdpy-19 gene. However, the possibility exists that the Mdpy-19 gene is able to transcript in GABAergic neurons. It is suggested that a factor existing in mature neurons withdraws the expression of Mdpy-19.
    Medical Molecular Morphology 07/2005; 38(2):79-83. · 1.39 Impact Factor
  • Article: Diet high in lipid hydroperoxide by vitamin E deficiency induces insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion in normal rats.
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    ABSTRACT: To clarify the effect of dietary lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) on development of glucose intolerance, we fed Sprague-Dawley rats on a diet containing elevated LPO level for 10 weeks and measured both insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. The contents of LPO in both plasma and skeletal muscle in the LPO-fed rats were significantly higher than those in the controls. Both insulin resistance evaluated by steady-state blood glucose (SSBG) methods and impaired insulin secretion evaluated by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were found in the LPO-fed rats as compared with control rats. Furthermore, the levels of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 protein in the skeletal muscle were significantly lower in the LPO-fed rats. Those impairments were not reversed in LPO-fed rats with supernormal levels of plasma vitamin E following vitamin E supplementation for 5 weeks. Moreover, the immunohistochemical study revealed that NF-kappaB-p50 protein was found in the nucleus of pancreatic beta-cells of the LPO-fed rats, whereas it was not observed in the nucleus of the islets in the control rats. These findings indicate that NF-kappaB is activated in response to oxidative stress in pancreatic islet cells in LPO-fed rats. In conclusion, our studies reveal that diet high in LPO by vitamin E deficiency accelerates glucose intolerance through impairments of both sensitivity and secretion of insulin.
    Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 03/2005; 67(2):99-109. · 2.75 Impact Factor
  • Article: Regulation of ATP-sensitive potassium channel subunit Kir6.2 expression in rat intestinal insulin-producing progenitor cells.
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    ABSTRACT: We have reported that the combined expression of Pdx-1 (pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1) and Isl-1 (islet 1) enables immature rat enterocytes (IEC-6) to produce and release insulin. A key component regulating the release of insulin is the ATP-sensitive potassium channel subunit Kir6.2. To investigate the regulation of Kir6.2 gene expression, we assessed Kir6.2 expression in IEC-6 cells expressing Pdx-1 and/or Isl-1. We observed that Kir6.2 protein was expressed de novo in IEC-6 cells expressing both Pdx-1 and Isl-1 but not in cells expressing Pdx-1 alone. Next, we analyzed the regions of the Kir6.2 promoter (-1677/-45) by performing a luciferase assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The results have demonstrated that Kir6.2 promoter possesses two regions regulating the promoter activity: a Foxa2-binding site (-1364 to -1210) and an Sp1/Sp3-binding site (-1035 to -939). The additional expression of Isl-1 in IEC-6 cells expressing Pdx-1 attenuated overexpression of Foxa2 protein and enhanced Kir6.2 expression. Finally, knockdown of Isl-1 using the iRNA technique resulted in decreased expression of Kir6.2 protein in a rat pancreatic beta-cell line (RIN-5F cells). These results indicate that expression of Kir6.2 in the rat intestine is moderated by Isl-1.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 02/2005; 280(3):1893-900. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B associates with insulin receptor and negatively regulates insulin signaling without receptor internalization.
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    ABSTRACT: Phosphorylated platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor becomes internalized and then is dephosphorylated by protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, it remains unclear where PTP1B dephosphorylates insulin receptor and inhibits its activity. To clarify how and where PTP1B could interact with insulin receptor, we overexpressed a phosphatase-inactive mutant, PTP1BC/S, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Although PDGF receptor was maximally associated with PTP1BC/S at 30 min after PDGF stimulation, the maximal association of insulin receptor with PTP1BC/S was attained at 5 min after insulin stimulation. Furthermore, dansylcadaverine, a blocker of receptor internalization, inhibited this PDGF-induced association of PTP1BC/S with its receptor. However, dansylcadaverine did not affect the insulin-stimulated association of PTP1BC/S with insulin receptor, as well as dephosphorylation of insulin receptor by PTP1B. These results indicate that PTP1B might interact with insulin receptor and deactivate it without internalization. Finally, we overexpressed the wild-type and cytosolic-form of PTP1B to determine the role of ER-anchoring of PTP1B, and found that both inhibited insulin signaling equally. Thus, our data indicate that localization of PTP1B at the ER is not needed for insulin receptor dephosphorylation by PTP1B.
    Journal of Biochemistry 08/2004; 136(1):89-96. · 2.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B as new activator for hepatic lipogenesis via sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 gene expression.
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    ABSTRACT: Like hyperglycemia, postprandial (diet-induced) hypertriglyceridemia is thought to play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of insulin resistant/metabolic syndrome. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) is a key transcription factor to induce postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. We found that insulin-resistant rats fed a diet high in fructose showed an increased proteintyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) content with strong expression of SREBP-1 mRNA in the liver. To clarify the association of PTP1B with SREBP-1 gene expression, we overexpressed PTP1B in rat hepatocytes, which led to increased mRNA content and promoter activity of SREBP-1a and -1c, resulting in the increased mRNA expression of fatty-acid synthase, one of the SREBP-1-responsive lipogenic genes. Because PTP1B overexpression increased phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, we inhibited PP2A activity by expression of its selective inhibitor, SV40 small T antigen and found that this normalized the PTP1B-enhanced SREBP-1a and -1c mRNA expressions through activation of the Sp1 site. These results indicate that PTP1B may regulate gene expression of SREBP-1 via enhancement of PP2A activity, thus mediating hepatic lipogenesis and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. We demonstrate here a unique serial activation of the PTP1B-PP2A axis as a novel mechanism for the regulation of gene expression in the biosynthesis of triglyceride.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 11/2003; 278(44):43095-101. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Sumoylation of Pdx1 is associated with its nuclear localization and insulin gene activation.
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    ABSTRACT: Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (Pdx1) is a transcription factor, and its phosphorylation is thought to be essential for activation of insulin gene expression. This phosphorylation is related to a concomitant shift in molecular mass from 31 to 46 kDa. However, we found that Pdx1 was modified by SUMO-1 (small ubiquitin-related modifier 1) in beta-TC-6 and COS-7 cells, which were transfected with Pdx1 cDNA. This modification contributed to the increase in molecular mass of Pdx1 from 31 to 46 kDa. Additionally, sumoylated Pdx1 localized in the nucleus. The reduction of SUMO-1 protein by use of RNA interference (SUMO-iRNAs) resulted in a significant decrease in Pdx1 protein in the nucleus. A 34-kDa form of Pdx1 was detected by the cells exposed to SUMO-iRNAs in the presence of lactacystin, a proteasome inhibitor. Furthermore, the reduced nuclear sumoylated Pdx1 content was associated with significant lower transcriptional activity of the insulin gene. These findings indicate that SUMO-1 modification is associated with both the localization and stability of Pdx1 as well as its effect on insulin gene activation.
    AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism 05/2003; 284(4):E830-40. · 4.75 Impact Factor
  • Article: Membrane localization of 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 stimulates activities of Akt and atypical protein kinase C but does not stimulate glucose transport and glycogen synthesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
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    ABSTRACT: It is reported that 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK-1) is activated in a phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent manner and phosphorylates Akt, p70S6 kinase, and atypical protein kinase C (PKC), but its function on insulin signaling is still unclear. We cloned a full-length pdk-1 cDNA from a human brain cDNA library, and the adenovirus to overexpress wild type PDK-1 (PDK-1WT) or membrane-targeted PDK-1 (PDK-1CAAX) was constructed. Overexpressed PDK-1WT existed mainly at cytosol, and PDK-1CAAX was located at the plasma membrane. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, insulin induced mobility shift of PDK-1 protein, but overexpressed PDK-1WT and CAAX were shifted at the basal state. Insulin stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of PDK-1WT, but PDK-1CAAX was already tyrosine-phosphorylated at the basal state. Overexpression of PDK-1WT led to a full activation of PKC zeta/lambda without insulin stimulation but showed only the minimum effects to stimulate phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3. In contrast, the overexpression of PDK-1CAAX caused phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3 more strongly without insulin stimulation. However, PDK-1CAAX did not affect 2-deoxyglucose uptake and inhibited glycogen synthesis, surprisingly. Finally, PDK-1CAAX expression inhibited insulin-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, the translocation of PDK-1 from cytosol to the plasma membrane is critical for Akt and GSK-3 activation. On the other hand, only atypical PKC and Akt activation was insufficient for stimulation of glucose transport, and constitutive activation of Akt-GSK-3 pathway may inhibit glycogen synthesis and MAPK cascade in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 11/2002; 277(41):38863-9. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Insulin activates CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins and proinflammatory gene expression through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is a key molecule mediating signals of insulin in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). To examine the effect of chronic activation of PI3K on the gene expression of VSMCs, membrane-targeted p110CAAX, a catalytic subunit of PI3K, was overexpressed in rat VSMCs by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer. Similar to insulin's effects, cells overexpressing p110CAAX exhibited a 10- to 15-fold increase in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA expression as compared with the control cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analysis showed that the overexpression of p110CAAX activated neither the NF-kappaB binding nor the activator protein (AP-1) binding activities. We found that two CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) binding sites located between 2.6 and 3.6 kb upstream of the MCP-1 gene were responsible for the induction by p110CAAX. The overexpression of C/EBP-beta and C/EBP-delta but not C/EBP-alpha caused 6- to 8-fold induction of MCP-1 promoter activity. Consistently, the overexpression of p110CAAX as well as insulin induced mRNA expression and nuclear expression of C/EBP-beta and C/EBP-delta in VSMCs. These results clearly indicate that the activation of PI3K induced proinflammatory gene expression through activating C/EBP-beta and C/EBP-delta but not NF-kappaB, which may explain the proinflammatory effect of insulin in the insulin-resistant state.
    Journal of Biological Chemistry 10/2002; 277(39):36631-9. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Somatostatin].
    Takaaki Nakamura, Atsunori Kashiwagi
    Nippon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine 08/2002; 60 Suppl 7:252-8.
  • Article: Amelioration of high fructose-induced metabolic derangements by activation of PPARalpha.
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    ABSTRACT: To elucidate molecular mechanisms of high fructose-induced metabolic derangements and the influence of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) activation on them, we examined the expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and PPARalpha as well as its nuclear activation and target gene expressions in the liver of high fructose-fed rats with or without treatment of fenofibrate. After 8-wk feeding of a diet high in fructose, the mRNA contents of PPARalpha protein and its activity and gene expressions of fatty acid oxidation enzymes were reduced. In contrast, the gene expressions of SREBP-1 and lipogenic enzymes in the liver were increased by high fructose feeding. Similar high fructose effects were also found in isolated hepatocytes exposed to 20 mM fructose in the media. The treatment of fenofibrate (30 mg.kg(-1).day(-1)) significantly improved high fructose-induced metabolic derangements such as insulin resistance, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and fat accumulation in the liver. Consistently, the decreased PPARalpha protein content, its activity, and its target gene expressions found in high fructose-fed rats were all improved by fenofibrate treatment. Furthermore, we also found that the copy number of mitochondrial DNA, the expressions of mitochondrial transcription factor A, ATPase-6 subunit, and uncoupling protein-3 were increased by fenofibrate treatment. These findings suggest that the metabolic syndrome in high fructose-fed rats is reversed by fenofibrate treatment, which is associated with the induction of enzyme expression related to beta-oxidation and the enhancement of mitochondrial gene expression.
    AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism 06/2002; 282(5):E1180-90. · 4.75 Impact Factor
  • Article: Combined expression of pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 and islet factor 1 induces immature enterocytes to produce insulin.
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    ABSTRACT: Immature rat intestinal stem cells (IEC-6) given the ability to express the transcription factor, pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx-1), yielded YK cells. Although these cells produced multiple enteroendocrine hormones, they did not produce insulin. Exposure of YK cells to 2 nmol/l betacellulin yielded BYK cells that showed the presence of insulin expression in cytoplasm and that secreted insulin into culture media. By examining the mechanism of differentiation in BYK cells, we found that another transcription factor, islet factor 1 (Isl-1) was newly expressed with the disappearance of Pax-6 expression in those cells after exposure to betacellulin. These results indicated that combined expression of Pdx-1 and Isl-1 in IEC-6 cells was required for the production of insulin. In fact, overexpression of both Pdx-1 and Isl-1 in IEC-6 cells (Isl-YK-12, -14, and -15 cells) gave them the ability to express insulin without exposure to betacellulin. Furthermore, implantation of the Isl-YK-14 cells into diabetic rats reduced the animals' plasma glucose levels; glucose levels dropped from 19.4 to 16.9 mmol/l 1 day after the injection of cells. As expected, the plasma insulin concentrations were 2.7 times higher in the diabetic rats injected with Isl-YK-14 cells compared to in controls. In summary, our results indicated that immature intestinal stem cells can differentiate into insulin-producing cells given the ability to express the transcription factors Pdx-1 and Isl-1.
    Diabetes 06/2002; 51(5):1398-408. · 8.29 Impact Factor