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Elevated expression of transforming growth factor-beta in adipose tissue from obese mice
F Samad1, K Yamamoto, M Pandey
1Scripps Research Institute, Department of Vascular Biology, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Background:
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is chronically elevated in the adipose tissue from obese humans and mice. This increase in TNF-alpha contributes to the insulin resistance, elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels, and cardiovascular complications associated with obesity and noninsulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM). PAI-1 gene expression in adipose tissue is also stimulated by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Experiments were performed to determine whether TGF-beta is regulated by TNF-alpha and elevated in obesity.
Materials And Methods:
The concentration of TGF-beta and PAI-1 mRNA in murine adipose tissue and cultured 3T3-L1 adipocytes was determined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the cellular localization of these molecules was evaluated using in situ hybridization and cell fractionation. Total TGF-beta protein was determined by employing an ELISA assay.
Results:
TGF-beta mRNA and protein were increased in the adipose tissue from two different strains of genetically obese mice (i.e., ob/ob and db/db), compared with their lean counterparts. This increase in TGF-beta may result from TNF-alpha since TNF-alpha increased TGF-beta mRNA expression in the adipose tissue of lean mice and stimulated TGF-beta production by cultured adipocytes. Administration of TGF-beta increased PAI-1 antigen in the plasma and PAI-1 mRNA in the adipocytes of lean mice, and enhanced the rate of PAI-1 synthesis by adipocytes in vitro.
Conclusions:
TNF-alpha contributes to the elevated TGF-beta expression demonstrated in the adipose tissue of obese mice. A potential role for TGF-beta in the increased PAI-1 and vascular pathologies associated with obesity/NIDDM is suggested.