Membrane Fatty Acid Binding Protein Research Articles

Evaluation of expression of amino acid and fatty acid metabolic transporters in the placenta of pregnant women with glucose intolerance.

Pregnant women with glucose intolerance often have large infants, even with strict glycemic control. We examined the expression of amino and fatty acid metabolic transporters in the placentas of such mothers to clarify the role of factors other than glucose transport resulting in giant infants. Deliveries at our hospital between 2017 and 2022 were assessed. Immunohistochemical staining of membrane transporters related to glucose, amino acid, and fatty acid transport was performed using postpartum placental tissue. Stained areas were classified and scored, and compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for large for gestational age infant as the outcome and maternal age, prepartum body mass index, primipara/multipara, gestational week, and glucose intolerance as confounding factors. Among 1725 subjects, 101 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed (glucose-intolerant [GI] group, n = 61; non-GI group, n = 40). Per unit villus, there was decreased expression of amino acid-related transporters. However, per unit placenta, the immunohistochemical staining scores for glucose, amino acid, and fatty acid transport were significantly higher in the GI than in the non-GI group. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1, odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 12.35 [2.93-52.05], p < 0.001) and placenta-plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein (placenta-FABPpm, 6.27 [1.64-23.88], p = 0.007) were significantly higher in the GI than in the non-GI group. Activation of LAT1 and placenta-FABPpm expressions observed in the placentas of glucose-intolerant women despite glycemic control indicate that nutrients other than blood glucose should also be effectively managed.

The effects of training, acute exercise and dietary fatty acid composition on muscle lipid oxidative capacity in European starlings.

Migratory birds undergo seasonal changes to muscle biochemistry. Nonetheless, it is unclear to what extent these changes are attributable to the exercise of flight itself versus endogenous changes. Using starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) flying in a wind tunnel, we tested the effects of exercise training, a single bout of flight and dietary lipid composition on pectoralis muscle oxidative enzymes and lipid transporters. Starlings were either unexercised or trained over 2 weeks to fly in a wind tunnel and sampled either immediately following a long flight at the end of this training or after 2 days recovery from this flight. Additionally, they were divided into dietary groups that differed in dietary fatty acid composition (high polyunsaturates versus high monounsaturates) and amount of dietary antioxidant. Trained starlings had elevated (19%) carnitine palmitoyl transferase and elevated (11%) hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase in pectoralis muscle compared with unexercised controls, but training alone had little effect on lipid transporters. Immediately following a long wind-tunnel flight, starling pectoralis had upregulated lipid transporter mRNA (heart-type fatty acid binding protein, H-FABP, 4.7-fold; fatty acid translocase, 1.9-fold; plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein, 1.6-fold), and upregulated H-FABP protein (68%). Dietary fatty acid composition and the amount of dietary antioxidants had no effect on muscle catabolic enzymes or lipid transporter expression. Our results demonstrate that birds undergo rapid upregulation of catabolic capacity that largely becomes available during flight itself, with minor effects due to training. These effects likely combine with endogenous seasonal changes to create the migratory phenotype observed in the wild.

Co-overexpression of CD36 and FABPpm increases fatty acid transport additively, not synergistically, within muscle.

We aimed to determine the combined effects of overexpressing plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm) and fatty acid translocase (CD36) on skeletal muscle fatty acid transport to establish if these transport proteins function collaboratively. Electrotransfection with either FABPpm or CD36 increased their protein content at the plasma membrane (+75% and +64%), increased fatty acid transport rates by +24% for FABPpm and +62% for CD36, resulting in a calculated transport efficiency of ∼0.019 and ∼0.053 per unit protein change for FABPpm and CD36, respectively. We subsequently used these data to determine if increasing both proteins additively or synergistically increased fatty acid transport. Cotransfection of FABPpm and CD36 simultaneously increased protein content in whole muscle (FABPpm, +46%; CD36, +45%) and at the sarcolemma (FABPpm, +41%; CD36, +42%), as well as fatty acid transport rates (+50%). Since the relative effects of changing FABPpm and CD36 content had been independently determined, we were able to a predict a change in fatty acid transport based on the overexpression of plasmalemmal transporters in the cotransfection experiments. This prediction yielded an increase in fatty acid transport of +0.984 and +1.722 pmol/mg prot/15 s for FABPpm and CD36, respectively, for a total increase of +2.96 pmol/mg prot/15 s. This calculated determination was remarkably consistent with the measured change in transport, namely +2.89 pmol/mg prot/15 s. Altogether, these data indicate that increasing CD36 and FABPpm alters fatty acid transport rates additively, but not synergistically, suggesting an independent mechanism of action within muscle for each transporter. This conclusion was further supported by the observation that plasmalemmal CD36 and FABPpm did not coimmunoprecipitate.

Relationships Between Placental Lipid Activated/Transport-Related Factors and Macrosomia in Healthy Pregnancy.

To assess associations between infants with macrosomia and placental expression levels of lipid activated/transport-related factors and umbilical cord blood lipid concentrations in healthy pregnancy. We conducted a case-control study of 38 macrosomic neonates (MS group) and 39 normal-birth-weight newborns (NC group) in a healthy pregnancy. Cord blood lipid levels were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer, mRNA and protein expression levels of placental lipid activated/transport-related factors were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot, respectively. Compared with NC group, cord blood total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were decreased in the MS group. The mRNA and protein expression levels of placental peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα, PPARγ), plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm), and fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) were significantly higher in the MS group than the NC group. And there was a weak positive correlation between the expression of PPARγ, FABP4, and FABP3 mRNA in the placenta and the HDLC (rs = 0.439; P = 0.005), NEFA (rs = 0.342; P = 0.041), and TG (rs = 0.349; P = 0.034) levels in the cord blood in the MS group, respectively. After multivariate adjustment, the logistic regression analysis showed that high placental PPARα (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.022; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.032-8.853) and FAT/CD36 (AOR=2.989; 95%CI 1.029-8.679) and low LDLC concentration in the cord blood (AOR=0.246; 95%CI 0.080-0.759) increased the risk of macrosomia. The increased PPARα and FAT/CD36 expression levels may influence the occurrence of fetal macrosomia through regulating placental lipid transport.

Feeding frequency affects the growth performance, nutrient digestion and absorption of growing pigs with the same daily feed intake

Feeding-frequency regimen is an important part of animal husbandry and production, which can influence the feeding behavior and regulate the growth of animals. The present study was conducted to investigate the growth, digestion and absorption functions of growing pigs under different feeding frequencies with the same total daily feed intake. Twenty-four Duroc × Landrance × Yorkshire growing pigs were randomly assigned to three groups: feeding one time per day (M1), feeding three times per day (M3) and feeding five times per day (M5); each group consisted of eight replicates (pens), with one pig per pen. During the one-month experimental period, each pig was fed an equal amount of diet daily. The results showed that final body weight (FBW), average daily gain (ADG) in M3 and M5 groups were significantly higher than in the M1 group, but feed: gain (F: G) was significantly lower than in the M1 group (P < 0.05). Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of crude protein (CP) in the M3 and M5 groups was significantly higher than that in the M1 group (P < 0.05). Compared with the M1 group, the activities of trypsin and chymotrypsin in the pancreas of M3 and M5 groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The activity of pepsin in M3 and M5 groups tended to increase (P = 0.08), while the activity of duodenum sucrase and ileum lipase in M3 and M5 groups was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). A lower level of maltase activity but a higher level of lipase in duodenum were found in the M5 group as compared with in the M1 group (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of genes EAAT3, ATB0,+, T1R1 and PepT1 in duodenum of pigs in M3 and M5 groups were significantly higher than those in the M1 group. Moreover, the mRNA expression of fatty acid transport protein 2 (FATP2) and plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm) in duodenum in M3 and M5 groups, and FABPpm in ileum in the M5 group tended to increase as compared with the M1 group. Different feeding frequencies had no effect on the levels of cholecystokinin (CCK), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), peptide tyrosine (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in duodenum and ileum. These results indicate that feeding frequency affected the digestion and absorption of protein and fat in growing pigs, and eventually impacted the growth performance of pigs with the same daily feed intake.

Maternal diet high in Omega-3 fatty acids upregulate genes involved in neurotrophin signalling in fetal brain during pregnancy in C57BL/6 mice

Neurotrophins play a critical role in the development, maintenance, and proper function of the brain. We investigated the effects of maternal diet high in omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on fatty acids composition and the gene expression of neurotrophins in fetal brain at different gestation stages. Female C57BL/6 mice (7-weeks old, n = 8/group) were fed a diet containing high, low or very low n-3 PUFA (9, 3 or 1% w/w, respectively), with an n-6:n-3 PUFA of 5:1, 20:1 and 40:1, respectively, for two weeks before mating and throughout pregnancy. Animals were sacrificed during pregnancy at gestation day 12.5 and 18.5 to determine placental and fetal-brain fatty acids composition. The gene expressions of endothelial lipase (EL) and plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm) were measured in the placenta, while major facilitator superfamily domain-containing 2a (Mfsd2a), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin-receptor kinase (TrK)-B, and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) were measured in fetal-brain, using qPCR. The protein expression of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB) was determined using ELISA. The high n-3 PUFA diet increased the mRNA expression of EL, FABPpm, and Mfsd2a at both gestation days, compared to other groups. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total n-3 PUFA were significantly higher in the high n-3 PUFA group, compared to the other groups at both gestation days. The high n-3 PUFA diet also increased the mRNA expressions of BDNF, TrKB and CREB, as well as the protein concentration of pCREB as gestation progressed, compared to the other groups. Our findings show for the first time that maternal diet high in n-3 PUFA increased the mRNA expression of Mfsd2a, which correlated with an increase in DHA accretion in the fetal-brain. A diet high in n-3 PUFA increased neurotrophin signalling in fetal-brain as gestation progressed, demonstrating the importance of n-3 PUFA during brain development.

Ablating the Rab-GTPase activating protein TBC1D1 predisposes rats to high-fat diet-induced cardiomyopathy.

Although the role of TBC1D1 within the heart remains unknown, expression of TBC1D1 increases in the left ventricle following an acute infarction, suggesting a biological importance within this tissue. We investigated the mechanistic role of TBC1D1 within the heart, aiming to establish the consequences of attenuating TBC1D1 signalling in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy, as well as to determine potential sex differences. TBC1D1 ablation increased plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein content and myocardial palmitate oxidation. Following high-fat feeding, TBC1D1 ablation dramatically increased fibrosis and induced end-diastolic dysfunction in both male and female rats in the absence of changes in mitochondrial bioenergetics. Altogether, independent of sex, ablating TBC1D1 predisposes the left ventricle to pathological remodelling following high-fat feeding, and suggests TBC1D1 protects against diabetic cardiomyopathy. TBC1D1, a Rab-GTPase activating protein, is involved in the regulation of glucose handling and substrate metabolism within skeletal muscle, and is essential for maintaining pancreatic β-cell mass and insulin secretion. However, the function of TBC1D1 within the heart is largely unknown. Therefore, we examined the role of TBC1D1 in the left ventricle and the functional consequence of ablating TBC1D1 on the susceptibility to high-fat diet-induced abnormalities. Since mutations within TBC1D1 (R125W) display stronger associations with clinical parameters in women, we further examined possible sex differences in the predisposition to diabetic cardiomyopathy. In control-fed animals, TBC1D1 ablation did not alter insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, or echocardiogram parameters, but increased accumulation of a plasma membrane fatty acid transporter and the capacity for palmitate oxidation. When challenged with an 8week high-fat diet, TBC1D1 knockout rats displayed a four-fold increase in fibrosis compared to wild-type animals, and this was associated with diastolic dysfunction, suggesting a predisposition to diet-induced cardiomyopathy. Interestingly, high-fat feeding only induced cardiac hypertrophy in male TBC1D1 knockout animals, implicating a possible sex difference. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity and substrate sensitivity to pyruvate and ADP were not altered by diet or TBC1D1 ablation, nor were markers of oxidative stress, or indices of overt heart failure. Altogether, independent of sex, ablation of TBC1D1 not only increased the susceptibility to high-fat diet-induced diastolic dysfunction and left ventricular fibrosis, independent of sex, but also predisposed male animals to the development of cardiac hypertrophy. These data suggest that TBC1D1 may exert cardioprotective effects in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Effects of nutritional status and diet composition on fatty acid transporters expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

This study investigated the expression of zebrafish (Danio rerio) fatty acid transporters, such as scavenger receptor CD36, plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm), and fatty acid transport protein family (FATPs), in responses to nutritional status and diet composition. For diet composition study, three isonitrogenous (43% crude protein) purified diets were formulated to contain 6%, 12% and 18% crude lipid levels. Meanwhile five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic purified diets were formulated to contain different lipid sources including fish oil (FO; rich in n-3 HUFA), palmitic acid (PA; rich in C16:0), olive oil (OO; rich in C18:1n-9), sunflower oil (SO; rich in C18:2n-6) or perilla oil (PO; rich in C18:3n-3) as the sole lipid source. Results showed that liver CD36, FABPpm-a, FABPpm-b, FATP1-a and FATP6, intestine CD36, FABPpm-a and FABPpm-b, and muscle CD36 and FATP1-b were significantly increased during postprandial period. During starvation, liver CD36, FABPpm-a, FABPpm-b and FATP1-a, intestine FABPpm-a, FABPpm-b, FATP4 and FATP6, and muscle FATP1-b, FATP4 and FATP6 were significantly increased. The expression of some fatty acid transporters (including liver CD36 and FABPpm-b, intestine FABPpm-a, and muscle CD36, FABPpm-a, FATP1-a, FATP2 and FATP4) was up-regulated by refeeding, while the expression of other fatty acid transporters (liver FABPpm-a and intestine FATP1-a, FATP4 and FATP6) was down-regulated by refeeding. The expression of several fatty acid transporters (liver FATP2 and FATP4, and intestine CD36, FATP2 and FATP4) was significantly increased by high-lipid diet, whereas CD36, FATP1-b, FATP2 and FATP4 expression in the muscle were reduced by increasing dietary lipid level. Compared with FO group, the muscle of fish fed the diet with OO had a higher CD36 mRNA abundance, while the muscle of fish fed the diet with OO and PO had a higher FATP1-b expression. Compared with the FO group, the hepatic FATP2 mRNA was significantly increased in the PA group, while the intestine FATP2 mRNA was significantly increased in the SO and PO groups. In addition, intestine FATP4 expression in the PA and OO groups was lower compared with the FO group. The results indicate that zebrafish fatty acid transporters play a central role in coordinating the mobilization of fuel substrates in responses to nutritional status and diet composition.

Dynamic role of the transmembrane glycoprotein CD36 (SR-B2) in cellular fatty acid uptake and utilization

The widely expressed transmembrane glycoprotein, cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), a scavenger receptor class B protein (SR-B2), serves many functions in lipid metabolism and signaling. Here, we review CD36's role in facilitating cellular long-chain fatty acid uptake across the plasma membrane, particularly in heart and skeletal muscles. CD36 acts in concert with other membrane proteins, such as peripheral plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein, and is an intracellular docking site for cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding protein. The cellular fatty-acid uptake rate is governed primarily by the presence of CD36 at the cell surface, which is regulated by the subcellular vesicular recycling of CD36 from endosomes to the plasma membrane. CD36 has been implicated in dysregulated fatty acid and lipid metabolism in pathophysiological conditions, particularly in high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and diabetic cardiomyopathy. Current research is exploring signaling pathways and vesicular trafficking routes involving CD36 to identify metabolic targets to manipulate the cellular utilization of fatty acids. Because of its rate-controlling function in the use of fatty acids in the heart and muscle, CD36 would be a preferable target to protect myocytes against lipotoxicity. Despite a poor understanding of its mechanism of action, CD36 has emerged as a pivotal membrane protein involved in whole-body lipid homeostasis.

Short-term starvation in silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus): molecular effects on lipid mobilization and utilization

To investigate the effects of short-term starvation on lipid metabolism, juvenile silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) with an initial weight of 18.1 ± 1.53 g were starved for 6 days. Fish were sampled on days 0, 2, 4 and 6 of starvation (S0, S2, S4 and S6, respectively) and then analysed. The results showed that short-term starvation induced a significant decrease in visceral index, hepatosomatic index. The crude lipid content was also significantly decreased by 42.22% and 82.96% on S2 and S6 respectively. In addition, short-term starvation significantly decreased the plasma triacylglycerol, non-esterified fatty acid and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Moreover, short-term starvation significantly increased the expressions of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) at the mRNA and protein levels in the muscle and the ATGL expression at the protein level in the liver. The expressions of fatty acid translocase (CD36) and plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm) at the protein level in the muscle were significantly increased by short-term starvation, while the expressions of fatty acid transport protein 1 (FATP1), FABPpm and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) at the protein level in the liver were significantly increased by short-term starvation. Furthermore, the expressions of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) α and PPARγ at the mRNA and protein levels in the muscle were significantly elevated by short-term starvation. These findings suggested that short-term starvation increased lipid mobilization and utilization possibly through activation of lipolysis-related genes (HSL and ATGL), lipid uptake-related genes (LPL, CD36, FATP1 and FABPpm) and PPARs.

C2C12 골격근 세포에서 FAT/CD36 발현 조절에 있어 Insulin-like growth factor-I이 미치는 영향

본 연구에서는 C2C12 근육 세포의 분화 과정에 있어 IGF-I이 지방산의 수송을 담당하는 지방산 수송체인 FAT/CD36의 mRNA 및 단백질 발현에 미치는 영향에 대해 알아보았다. 그 결과 근육세포의 분화 과정에 있어 FAT/CD36의 단백질과 mRNA 발현이 분화 시간 의존적으로 유의하게 증가하였으며, IGF-I의 처리에 의해서도 유의하게 조절되었음을 알 수 있었다. 이는 IGF-I이 골격근 세포의 성장 및 분화를 촉진하여 근육 관련 유전자들의 발현을 조절하는 기능뿐만 아니라, 골격근의 주요 에너지원으로 사용되는 지방산의 수송을 담당하는 FAT/CD36의 발현에도 영향을 미친다는 것으로 해석할 수 있겠다. 향후 IGF-I이 골격근 세포에서 FAT/CD36의 발현에 영향을 미침으로써 골격근의 지방산 흡수와 산화율을 조절하는지, 그에 따라 지방대사에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지에 대한 연구가 필요할 것이며, 이와 관련된 신호전달 체계 및 기전에 대한 연구도 진행 되어야 할 것이다. Fatty acid transporters are key mediators of skeletal muscle lipid metabolism. Several protein groups have been implicated in cellular long-chain fatty acid uptake or oxidation, including fatty acid transporter proteins (FATPs), the plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm), and the fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36). FAT/CD36 is highly expressed in skeletal muscle and known to be regulated by various factors such as exercise and hormones. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a well-known regulator of skeletal muscle cells. However, it has not been studied whether there is any interaction between IGF-I and FAT/CD36 in skeletal muscle cells. In this study, the effects of IGF-I treatment on FAT/CD36 induction were examined. Differentiated C2C12 cells were treated with 20 ng/ml of IGF-I at different time points. Treatment of C2C12 cells with IGF-I resulted in increased FAT/CD36 mRNA and protein expression. After 24 and 48 hr of IGF-I treatment, FAT/CD36 mRNA increased 89% and 24% respectively. The increase of both proteins returned to the control level after 72 hr of IGF-I treatment, suggesting that the FAT/CD36 gene is regulated pretranslationally by IGF-I in skeletal muscle cells. These results suggest that IGF-I can regulate the expression of FAT/CD36 in skeletal muscle cells. In conclusion, IGF-I induces a rapid transcriptional modification of the FAT/CD36 gene in C2C12 skeletal muscle cells and has modulating effects on fatty acid uptake proteins as well as oxidative proteins.

AMPKα is critical for enhancing skeletal muscle fatty acid utilization during in vivo exercise in mice.

The importance of AMPK in regulation of fatty acid (FA) oxidation in skeletal muscle with contraction/exercise is unresolved. Using a mouse model lacking both AMPKα1 and -α2 in skeletal muscle specifically (mdKO), we hypothesized that FA utilization would be impaired in skeletal muscle. AMPKα mdKO mice displayed normal respiratory exchange ratio (RER) when fed chow or a high-fat diet, or with prolonged fasting. However, in vivo treadmill exercise at the same relative intensity induced a higher RER in AMPKα mdKO mice compared to wild-type (WT = 0.81 ± 0.01 (sem); mdKO = 0.87 ± 0.02 (sem); P < 0.01), indicating a decreased utilization of FA. Further, ex vivo contraction-induced FA oxidation was impaired in AMPKα mdKO muscle, suggesting that the increased RER during exercise originated from decreased skeletal muscle FA oxidation. A decreased muscle protein expression of CD36 (cluster of differentiation 36) and FABPpm (plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein) (by ∼17-40%), together with fully abolished TBC1D1 (tre-2/USP6, BUB2, cdc16 domain family member 1) Ser(237) phosphorylation during contraction/exercise in AMPKα mdKO mice, may impair FA transport capacity and FA transport protein translocation to sarcolemma, respectively. AMPKα is thus required for normal FA metabolism during exercise and muscle contraction.

Acute cold and exercise training up-regulate similar aspects of fatty acid transport and catabolism in house sparrows (Passer domesticus).

Summit maximum thermoregulatory metabolic rate (Msum) and maximum exercise metabolic rate (MMR) both increase in response to acute cold or exercise training in birds. Because lipids are the main fuel supporting both thermogenesis and exercise in birds, adjustments to lipid transport and catabolic capacities may support elevated energy demands from cold and exercise training. To examine a potential mechanistic role for lipid transport and catabolism in organismal cross-training effects (exercise effects on both exercise and thermogenesis, and vice versa), we measured enzyme activities and mRNA and protein expression in pectoralis muscle for several key steps of lipid transport and catabolism pathways in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) during acute exercise and cold training. Both training protocols elevated pectoralis protein levels of fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), cytosolic fatty acid-binding protein, and citrate synthase (CS) activity. However, mRNA expression of FAT/CD36 and both mRNA and protein expression of plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein did not change for either training group. CS activities in supracoracoideus, leg and heart, and carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) and β-hydroxyacyl CoA-dehydrogenase activities in all muscles did not vary significantly with either training protocol. Both Msum and MMR were significantly positively correlated with CPT and CS activities. These data suggest that up-regulation of trans-sarcolemmal and intramyocyte lipid transport capacities and cellular metabolic intensities, along with previously documented increases in body and pectoralis muscle masses and pectoralis myostatin (a muscle growth inhibitor) levels, are common mechanisms underlying the training effects of both exercise and shivering in birds.

The interplay between glucose and fatty acids on tube formation and fatty acid uptake in the first trimester trophoblast cells, HTR8/SVneo.

The study aims to investigate the impacts of hyperglycemia in the presence of fatty acids on early placentation processes that involves tube formation, cellular growth and proliferation, and metabolic activities of the first trimester trophoblast cells. Effects of maternal circulatory glucose levels that mimic physiological (5.5mM), pre-diabetic (11mM) and diabetic (≥25mM) phenotypes on tube formation (as a measure of angiogenesis in vitro), cellular viability and proliferation, fatty acid uptake and expression of genes associated with invasion, angiogenesis and fatty acid metabolism were examined using HTR8/SVneo cells. Glucose (25mM) induced tube formation, viability, and proliferation of the first trimester trophoblast cells, HTR8/SVneo. Tube formation was, however, disintegrated in the presence of high glucose (40mM) which was partially protected by eicosapentaenoic acid, 20:5n-3 (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid, 22:6n-3 in vitro. Glucose (25mM)-mediated induction in tube formation was favored by increased cellular uptake of [(14)C]EPA (p<0.05). Treatment of HTR8/SVneo cells with glucose (25mM) significantly increased mRNA and protein level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) (p<0.05). In addition, glucose (25mM) stimulated the expression of fatty acid binding protein-4, FABP4, and plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein, FABPpm, in these cells (p<0.05). Glucose-stimulated tube formation in a 'concentration-dependent' manner, and this may involve activation of several factors that include MMP9 and fatty acid uptake and metabolism.

Regulation of fatty acid binding proteins by hypoxia inducible factors 1α and 2α in the placenta: Relevance to pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is characterized by placental hypoxia and dyslipidemia. Arachidonic and docosahexanoic acids are essential maternal nutrients for fetal development. They are transported via placental trophoblast cells by membrane and cytosolic fatty acid binding proteins. Others report the expressions of these proteins which are increased in hypoxic trophoblasts. Using bioinformatics, BeWo cells, reporter assays, quantitative real-time PCR and immunoblotting we tested the hypothesis that hypoxia inducible factors 1α (HIF-1α) and/or 2α (HIF-2α) regulate the expressions of FABP1, FABP3, FABP4 and FATP2 proteins. Three hypoxia responsive elements (HRE) were identified in FABP1 which cumulatively responded strongly to HIF-1α and weakly to HIF-2α. FABP3 expression partially responded to HIF-1α. Two putative HRE were validated in FABP4 both of which responded weakly to HIF-1α and HIF-2α. FATP2 protein expression reacted positively to hypoxia. Thus, fetal essential fatty acid supply via the placenta is protected under hypoxia. It will be interesting to determine if our findings are replicated in human pre-eclamptic placenta.

Plasma membrane phospholipase A2controls hepatocellular fatty acid uptake and is responsive to pharmacological modulation: implications for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Excess hepatic fat accumulation leads to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a serious threat to health for which no effective treatment is available. However, the mechanism responsible for fatty acid uptake by hepatocytes remains unclear. Using the human hepatocyte-derived tumor cell line HepG2, we found that fatty acid influx is mediated by a heterotetrameric plasma membrane protein complex consisting of plasma membrane fatty acid-binding protein, caveolin-1, CD36, and calcium-independent membrane phospholipase A2 (iPLA2β). Blocking iPLA2β with the bile acid-phospholipid conjugate ursodeoxycholate-lysophosphatidylethanolamide (UDCA-LPE) caused the dissociation of the complex, thereby inhibiting fatty acid influx (IC50 47 μM), and suppressed the synthesis of all subunits through a reduction in lysophosphatidylcholine from 8.0 to 3.5 μmol/mg of protein and corresponding depletion of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase. These findings were substantiated by an observed 56.5% decrease in fatty acid influx in isolated hepatocytes derived from iPLA2β-knockout mice. Moreover, steatosis and inflammation were abrogated by UDCA-LPE treatment in a cellular model of NASH. Thus, iPLA2β acts as an upstream checkpoint for mechanisms that regulate fatty acid uptake, and its inhibition by UDCA-LPE qualifies this nontoxic compound as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of NASH.-Stremmel, W., Staffer, S., Wannhoff, A., Pathil, A., Chamulitrat, W. Plasma membrane phospholipase A2 controls hepatocellular fatty acid uptake and is responsive to pharmacological modulation: implications for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Seasonal upregulation of catabolic enzymes and fatty acid transporters in the flight muscle of migrating hoary bats, Lasiurus cinereus

The high energy density of fat, and limited capacity for carbohydrate storage suggest that migrating bats should fuel endurance flights with fat, as observed in migrating birds. Yet, cursorial mammals are unable to support high intensity exercise with fat stores. We hypothesized that migratory bats and birds have converged on similar physiological mechanisms to fuel endurance flight with fat. We predicted bats would seasonally upregulate fatty acid transport and oxidation pathways when migration demands were high. We studied seasonal variation in mitochondrial oxidative enzyme activities and fatty acid transport protein expression in the flight muscle of hoary bats (Lasiurus cinereus). Carnitine palmitoyl transferase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and citrate synthase activity increased during migration. There were no changes in expression of fatty acid translocase or plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein. Heart-type fatty acid binding protein expression increased 5-fold in migrating females, but did not vary seasonally in males. An aerial insectivore lifestyle, and the coincidence of migration and pregnancy may explain differences in transporter expression compared to previously studied birds. Overall, our results are consistent with seasonal upregulation of lipid metabolism and aerobic capacity, and confirm that migration poses distinct physiological challenges for bats.

In obese Zucker rats, lipids accumulate in the heart despite normal mitochondrial content, morphology and long‐chain fatty acid oxidation

We aimed to determine whether an increased rate of long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) transport and/or a reduction in mitochondrial oxidation contributes to lipid deposition in hearts, as lipid accumulation within cardiac muscle has been associated with heart failure. In hearts of lean and obese Zucker rats we examined: (a) triacylglycerol (TAG) and mitochondrial content and distribution using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), (b) LCFA oxidation in cardiac myocytes, and in isolated subsarcolemmal (SS) and intermyofibrillar (IMF) mitochondria, and (c) rates of LCFA transport into cardiac vesicles. Compared to lean rats, in obese Zucker rats, lipid droplet size was similar but there were more (P < 0.05) droplets, and TAG esterification rates and contents were markedly increased. TEM analyses and biochemical determinations showed that SS and IMF mitochondria in obese animals did not appear to be different in their appearance, area, density and number, nor in citrate synthase, β-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and carnitine palmitoyl-transferase-I enzymatic activities, electron transport chain proteins, nor in their rates of LCFA oxidation either in cardiac myocytes or in isolated SS and IMF mitochondria (P > 0.05). In contrast, sarcolemmal plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm) and fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) protein and palmitate transport rates into cardiac vesicles were increased (P < 0.05; +50%) in obese animals. Collectively these data indicate that mitochondrial dysfunction in LCFA oxidation is not responsible for lipid accumulation in obese Zucker rat hearts. Rather, increased sarcolemmal LCFA transport proteins and rates of LCFA transport result in a greater number of lipid droplets within cardiac muscle.

Exercise training increases sarcolemmal and mitochondrial fatty acid transport proteins in human skeletal muscle

Fatty acid oxidation is highly regulated in skeletal muscle and involves several sites of regulation, including the transport of fatty acids across both the plasma and mitochondrial membranes. Transport across these membranes is recognized to be primarily protein mediated, limited by the abundance of fatty acid transport proteins on the respective membranes. In recent years, evidence has shown that fatty acid transport proteins move in response to acute and chronic perturbations; however, in human skeletal muscle the localization of fatty acid transport proteins in response to training has not been examined. Therefore, we determined whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) increased total skeletal muscle, sarcolemmal, and mitochondrial membrane fatty acid transport protein contents. Ten untrained females (22 +/- 1 yr, 65 +/- 2 kg; .VO(2peak): 2.8 +/- 0.1 l/min) completed 6 wk of HIIT, and biopsies from the vastus lateralis muscle were taken before training, and following 2 and 6 wk of HIIT. Training significantly increased maximal oxygen uptake at 2 and 6 wk (3.1 +/- 0.1, 3.3 +/- 0.1 l/min). Training for 6 wk increased FAT/CD36 at the whole muscle (10%) and mitochondrial levels (51%) without alterations in sarcolemmal content. Whole muscle plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm) also increased (48%) after 6 wk of training, but in contrast to FAT/CD36, sarcolemmal FABPpm increased (23%), whereas mitochondrial FABPpm was unaltered. The changes on sarcolemmal and mitochondrial membranes occurred rapidly, since differences (< or =2 wk) were not observed between 2 and 6 wk. This is the first study to demonstrate that exercise training increases fatty acid transport protein content in whole muscle (FAT/CD36 and FABPpm) and sarcolemmal (FABPpm) and mitochondrial (FAT/CD36) membranes in human skeletal muscle of females. These results suggest that increases in skeletal muscle fatty acid oxidation following training are related in part to changes in fatty acid transport protein content and localization.

Response of Sarcolemmal Fatty Acid Transport Proteins to Moderate Exercise in Human and Rat Muscle

Fatty acid transport proteins, including fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) and plasma membrane fatty acid binding protein (FABPpm) are responsible for protein-mediated uptake of long chain fatty acids (LCFA) into skeletal muscle. These proteins have been shown to exist in intracellular vesicles and translocate to the plasma membrane in response to acute electrical stimulation in rat skeletal muscle, however this has not been tested in exercising animals or humans. PURPOSE: To determine if prolonged moderate intensity exercise increases the content of fatty acid transport proteins at the sarcolemma in rat and human skeletal muscle and if this is accompanied by an increase in LCFA transport in rats. METHODS: Nine male and female subjects cycled for 120 min at ∼60 ± 2% VO2 max. Two skeletal muscle biopsies were taken at rest and again following 120 min of cycling and expired gases were sampled throughout exercise. Giant sarcolemmal vesicles were prepared from the muscle biopsies and the remaining muscle was used for whole muscle measurements. 4 male and 4 female Sprague-Dawley rats completed a 2 h treadmill run at 20 m/min while four male and four female rats acted as non-running controls. Giant sarcolemmal vesicles were prepared from the hindlimb muscles and palmitate uptake was measured. Protein content of FAT/CD36 and FABPpm were measured in both giant sarcolemmal vesicles and whole rat and human skeletal muscle homogenates. RESULTS: In human skeletal muscle, plasma membrane FAT/CD36 protein content increased by 40-300% following 120 min of exercise (p < 0.05), while whole muscle homogenate FAT/CD36 was unchanged. There was no change in FABPpm protein in human muscle. Transport increased 1.2-fold (p < 0.05) with exercise in rat muscle, which correlated with an increase in sarcolemmal FAT/CD36 (1.2-fold) and FABPpm (1.3-fold) protein. There was no change in sarcolemmal protein content in whole muscle. CONCLUSIONS: The rat and human data suggest that fat transport proteins are mobilized and translocated to the plasma membrane of skeletal muscle during prolonged endurance exercise to assist with increased LCFA uptake into the cell. The increase was restricted to FAT/CD36 in human skeletal muscle, and the increase was larger and more variable than found in rat skeletal muscle. Funded by CIHR and NSERC, Canada.