1 Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, National Institutes of Health, Phoenix, Arizona
2 Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
3 Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
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ABSTRACT |
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Obesity is a metabolic risk factor for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease (1). The development of obesity requires either an increasing number of differentiated adipocytes or an increasing size of preexisting adipocytes due to additional storage of energy as triglycerides (2). This process of adipocyte differentiation and development is controlled by a number of transcription factors that include the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR
) (3,4), the family of CCAAT enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs) (5) and the basic helix-loop-helix leucine zipper transcriptional factor ADD1/SREBP1 (6). C/EBP-ß and -
and ADD1/SREBP1 induce the expression of PPAR
, which triggers the adipogenic process by transactivation of adipose-specific genes involved in lipid storage and metabolism, such as aP2 (fatty acid binding protein), PEPCK (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase), AOX (acyl-CoA oxidase) and LPL (lipoprotein lipase) (7,8).
The critical role of PPAR in adipogenesis, energy homeostasis, and insulin sensitivity has led to studies on the expression of this gene. Two alternatively spliced isoforms of PPAR
, namely PPAR
1 and PPAR
2, are expressed in adipose tissues, heart, muscle, and liver. In these tissues, PPAR
1 is much more abundant than PPAR
2 (9). Both isoforms possess ligand-dependent and -independent domains. However, PPAR
2 has an additional 28 amino acids in the NH2-terminus that renders its ligand-independent activity 510 times higher than that of PPAR
1. This ligand-independent activation requires insulin stimulation (10). It has been shown that natural PPAR
ligands, such as prostaglandins (11), fatty acids (12), or synthetic ligands such as thiazolidinediones (TZDs), bind to PPAR
and lead to ligand-dependent activation. In particular, activation of the PPAR
by TZD, an antidiabetic drug, can lead to increased insulin sensitivity and improved glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes (13) and is currently an effective treatment for some individuals with this disease.
The Pima Indians of Arizona have an extremely high prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Their diabetes is characterized by obesity, dysfunction of insulin secretion, insulin resistance (decreased glucose disposal), and increased hepatic glucose output (hepatic insulin resistance) (14). Previous studies have suggested that genetic variation in PPAR may constitute a predisposing factor for obesity, type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistance, and a Pro12Ala substitution in exon B of PPAR
2 has been associated with BMI and type 2 diabetes in several populations (1519). To determine the genetic impact of PPAR
2 on obesity and type 2 diabetes in Pima Indians, we screened the PPAR
2 gene for functional genetic variants that could contribute to the development of these diseases.
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RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS |
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For detailed metabolic testing, individuals are admitted to our clinical research ward for 710 days, and only individuals found to be healthy by medical history, physical examination, and routine laboratory tests and who are not taking medications are studied. Oral glucose tolerance is measured after 23 days on a weight-maintaining diet of mixed composition. Subjects ingest 75 g of glucose, and blood for plasma glucose and insulin measurements is drawn before ingesting the glucose and at 30, 60, 120, and 180 min thereafter. Subjects also receive a 25-g intravenous injection of glucose over 3 min to measure the acute insulin response. Blood samples are collected before infusion and at 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 min after infusion for determination of plasma glucose and insulin concentrations. The acute insulin response is calculated as the mean increment in plasma insulin concentrations from 3 to 5 min.
The hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique is used to determine basal glucose appearance and insulin-stimulated glucose disappearance (uptake) rates (22). Briefly, insulin is infused to achieve physiologic and maximally stimulating plasma insulin concentrations (137 ± 3 and 2,394 ± 68 µU/ml, respectively) for 100 min for each step. Plasma glucose concentrations are held constant at 100 mg/dl by a variable 20% glucose infusion. Tritiated glucose is infused for 2 h before the insulin infusion to calculate rates of postabsorptive glucose appearance rates and to calculate glucose disappearance rates during the lower dose of insulin infusion. During the last 40 min of the low- and high-dose insulin infusion, the rate of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal is calculated, adjusted for steady-state plasma glucose and insulin concentration, and normalized to estimated metabolic body size (EMBS = fat-free mass + 17.7 kg) as described (22,23). The rate of endogenous glucose output (measured by a primed [30 µCi/min], continuous [0.3 µCi/min] [3-3H] glucose infusion) is determined during the physiological dose of insulin infusion. Endogenous glucose output is assumed to be zero during maximally stimulating insulin infusion (22,23). Body composition was estimated by underwater weighing until January of 1996 and is currently measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DPX-1; Lunar Radiation, Madison, WI). A conversion equation derived from comparative analyses is used to make estimates of body composition comparable between methods (24).
The measurement of energy expenditure (EE) and substrate oxidation in the respiratory chamber has been described previously (24). Briefly, after an overnight fast, subjects enter the chamber for 23 h and are fed calories to maintain the energy according a previously determined equation. The rate of energy expenditure is measured continuously and calculated for each 15-min interval and then extrapolated for 24 h (24-h EE). Carbon dioxide (VCO2) and oxygen (VO2) production are measured for every 15-min interval. The 24-h respiratory quotient (24-h RQ) is calculated as a ratio of 24-h VCO2 and 24-h VO2. The 24-h carbohydrate, lipid, and protein oxidation are determined based on the 24-h RQ, 24-h EE, and 24-h urinary nitrogen excretion (24).
Single nucleotide polymorphism identification and genotyping.
Genomic DNA was obtained from peripheral lymphocytes. To identify sequence variants, all seven exons and 12 kb of the PPAR
2-specific promoter region were PCR amplified and sequenced in DNA samples from 24 non-first-degree related Pima Indians. Among these 24 subjects, 13 were diabetic (BMI 31.86 ± 2.6 kg/m2, age of onset of diabetes 40.4 ± 4.0 years), 10 were nondiabetic subjects (BMI 32.2 ± 2.3 kg/m2), and 1 had an unknown diabetes status. Sequencing was performed using the Big Dye Terminator (Applied Biosystems) on an automated DNA capillary sequencer (model 3700; Applied Biosystems). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified by sequencing were genotyped in DNA from 985 subjects using the TaqMan Allelic Discrimination (AD) Assay (Applied Biosystems). The TaqMan genotyping reaction was amplified on a GeneAmp PCR system 9600 (95°C for 10 min, followed by 38 cycles of 95°C for 15 s, and 62°C for 1 min), and fluorescence was detected on an ABI Prism 7700 sequence detector (Applied Biosystems). Sequence information for all oligonucleotide primers and probes is available upon request. The DNA region encompassing the Pro12Ala substitution was sequenced using primers forward 5'-tcagtgtgaattacagcaaa-3' and reverse 5'-gaagacaaactacaagagca-3'. Genotyping of the Pro12Ala by AD was performed using primers forward 5'-gttatgggtgaaactctgggagat-3' and reverse 5'-gcagacagtgtatcagtgaaggaatc-3' and the TaqMan MGB probes: Fam-ctcctattgacccagaaa; Vic-tctcctattgacgcagaa (Applied Biosystems). The DNA region encompassing the promoter E2 box polymorphism at -2821 bp was sequenced with primers forward 5'-tcaaccaatgggttgtca-3' and reverse 5'-gtagccaaagacaggttctg-3' and genotyped by AD using primers forward 5'-ttccttatgcactatgtactccttctg-3' and reverse 5'-ccatacccttctgtctccaaagtc-3' and Turbo TaqMan probes: Fam-tctcaacctctgcattgcaca and Vic-tcttctcaacctctacattgcaca (Applied Biosystems).
Statistical analyses.
Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Analysis System of the SAS institute (Cary, NC). For continuous variables, the general estimating equation procedure was used to adjust for covariates. These analyses account for the correlation among family members (i.e., siblings). Fasting and 2-h plasma insulin concentrations and rates of glucose disposal during the low-dose insulin infusion were log-transformed before analyses to approximate a normal distribution. The association of SNPs with type 2 diabetes was performed by analysis of contingency tables, where the frequencies of the genotypic groups were compared between the diabetic and nondiabetic subjects and adjusted for appropriate covariates.
Functional analysis of the potential E2 box
Constructs
Minimal promoter.
The basal promoter of PPAR2 (nucleotide +120 to -910) was PCR amplified from genomic DNA using the primers forward 5'-tggaataggggtttgctgtaa-3' and reverse 5'-taggccactcatgtgacaaga-3 and subcloned into a pCR2.1-TOPO vector using a TOPO TA cloning kit (Invitrogen). The
1-kb basal promoter fragment was then ligated into a pGL3-basic luciferase reporter vector (Promega) at the SacI and XhoI sites.
Polymorphic E box regulatory element.
A 453-bp fragment of the PPAR promoter (nucleotide -2,619 to -3,072) containing either a C or T nucleotide at position -2821 in the potential putative E box was amplified with primers forward 5'-atgagctcttgcttagggtgctttgt-3' and reverse 5'-tcaggtaccaaagacaggttctgtgaa-3' (SacI and KpnI restriction sites are italicized, respectively). The 453-bp products were then inserted (KpnI and SacI sites) upstream of the basal PPAR
promoter in the pGL3 luciferase reporter vector described above.
All constructs were confirmed by DNA sequence analysis.
Transfection and luciferase assay.
The pGL3 constructs were transiently transfected into a 3T3-L1 cell line (American Type Culture Collection) under both normal and differentiation-induced cellular growth conditions. 3T3-L1 cells were maintained in standard growth medium: Dulbeccos modified Eagle medium (DMEM) (Gibco BRL) modified to contain 4.5 g/l glucose, 1.5 g/l sodium bicarbonate, 10% FCS, and 1% penicillin-streptomycin in 5% CO2 and 95% air atmosphere at 37°C. Cells were transfected at 7090% confluency in six-well plates. To control for transfection efficiency, 0.25 µg pRL plasmid (renilla luciferase under control of TK promoter; Promega) was mixed with 0.75 µg of experimental DNA (1:3 ratio). The total DNA (1 µg) was mixed with 6 µl PLUS reagent (Gibco BRL) in 100 µl DMEM (serum-free) and incubated for 15 min at room temperature. LipofectAmine (4 µl) (Gibco BRL) in 100 µl DMEM was added to the mixture and incubated for an additional 15 min. Parallel transfections were performed with a positive control vector, pGL3-promoter (beetle luciferase under control of cytomegalovirus promoter; Promega) and a negative control vector, pGL3-basic (a promoter-less beetle luciferase vector; Promega). Cells were rinsed with transfection medium (growth medium without antibiotics) and incubated with 1 ml of the DNA/liposome mixture for 3 h at 37°C. An additional 2 ml of transfection medium was added and incubated for 15 h. To maintain the transfected cells in the nondifferentiated state, the medium was replaced with standard growth medium. To induce differentiation of the transfected cells, the medium was replaced with differentiation medium (growth medium plus 1 µmol/l dexamethasome, 0.5 mmol/l 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, and 0.01 µmol/l insulin [Sigma]). After 48 h, cells were harvested for the luciferase assay.
For each cell extract, dual luciferase assays were performed in triplicate using the standard protocol (Promega), and light was measured with a luminometer (BioScan). Beetle luciferase activity was normalized for renilla luciferase activity. Each transfection was repeated five to six times, and data were averaged. The difference in the averaged activity was analyzed by an unpaired t test.
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RESULTS |
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Neither the Pro12Ala nor the C-2821T was associated with type 2 diabetes. The genotypic distribution and allele frequency for each of these SNPs in diabetic versus nondiabetic subjects is given in Table 1. Among a total of 985 subjects genotyped for Pro12Ala, 657 were diabetic (BMI 37.75 ± 0.40 kg/m2, age of onset of diabetes 37.40 ± 0.63 years), and 328 were nondiabetic (BMI 35.76 ± 0.58 kg/m2). The minor allelic frequency of the Pro12Ala was 0.07 in the diabetic group as compared with 0.09 in the nondiabetic group (P = 0.7). Among 985 subjects genotyped for C-2821T, 655 were diabetic (BMI 37.74 ± 0.51 kg/m2, age of onset of diabetes 37.31 ± 0.76 years) and 328 were nondiabetic (BMI 35.80 ± 0.74 kg/m2). The minor allele frequency for the C-2821T was 0.42 in the diabetic group as compared with 0.41 in nondiabetic group (P = 0.9). To estimate the likelihood of erroneously assuming no difference, the statistical power was calculated. Based on the measured variance of diabetes, the power to detect a 10 or 5% difference in allele frequencies between diabetic and nondiabetic groups for Pro12Ala was 0.97 or 0.55, respectively. The power to detect a 10 or 5% difference for C-2821T was 0.65 or 0.21, respectively.
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DISCUSSION |
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Sequencing of the promoter region identified a novel C-2821T SNP that was similarly associated with whole-body insulin sensitivity (muscle) and hepatic insulin sensitivity. This promoter SNP has a different allele frequency as compared with the Pro12Ala variant (0.56 vs. 0.93 for the more common allele, respectively). However, in Pima Indians, the two SNPs are in high linkage disequilibrium and consequently it is difficult to assess whether the promoter SNP or the missense substitution, or both, contribute to the observed in vivo phenotypes. The mechanism(s) by which these variants function remains uncertain. However, it is possible that the Pro12Ala alters PPAR2 activity and that the C-2821T alters PPAR
2 gene transcription. Previous studies have shown the alanine-containing protein to have a reduced ability to activate transcription via binding to PPAR response elements as compared with the proline-containing protein (15). Our in vitro studies comparing the -2821T and -2821C promoters demonstrated increased transcription from the -2821T promoter in both nondifferentiated and differentiated cells. Based on a consensus sequence search for potential transcription factor binding sites (MatInspector V2.2: TRANSFAC 4.0), we identified this polymorphism to be located in a binding site (ctcaACCTcta) for the
-crystallin enhancer binding protein
EF1 (29).
EF1 serves as a repressor of E2-box (CACCTG)-mediated gene activation, such as MyoD-induced myogenesis (30). Our in vitro studies also showed that PPAR
2 expression from a basal promoter alone is greater than expression with the additional
EF1 binding site-2821C allele, consistent with this site functioning as a transcription repressor.
Previous studies have shown that the PPAR2 alanine allele encodes a protein with reduced activity (15), and this report shows that the PPAR
2-2821T allele has increased transcription. Yet, both of these alleles are associated with increased insulin sensitivity and decreased BMI. This apparent discrepancy has been previously addressed by Yamauchi et al. (31). They found that supraphysiological activation of PPAR
by agonist TZD increased triglyceride (TG) content of white adipose tissue (WAT), thereby decreasing TG levels in the liver and muscle, resulting in increased insulin sensitivity. However, moderate reduction of PPAR
activity in heterozygous PPAR
-deficient mice deceased TG content of WAT, skeletal muscle, and liver due to increased leptin expression, increased fatty acid combustion, and decreased lipogenesis, also resulting in increased insulin sensitivity (31). They conclude that, albeit by different mechanisms, both heterozygous PPAR
deficiency and PPAR
agonist ultimately result in improvement of insulin resistance.
Hepatic insulin sensitivity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Hyperglycemia results from excessive release of endogenous glucose due to increased gluconeogenesis, which is, in part, the consequence of decreased hepatic insulin sensitivity. The PPAR2 variants could potentially influence suppression of gluconeogenesis by insulin via either a decreased release of free fatty acids or an increased release of adiponectin from adipocytes. Free fatty acids stimulate endogenous glucose production (32), whereas adiponectin inhibits endogenous glucose production in the liver (33).
Increased levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a gluconeogenic enzyme, is also associated with decreased hepatic insulin sensitivity and predicts the development of type 2 diabetes in Pima Indians (34). Preliminary data indicate that the C-2821T SNP is associated with ALT levels in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (n = 209; P < 0.02 after adjusting for percent body fat and hepatic insulin sensitivity), whereas subjects with higher hepatic insulin sensitivity alleles (T/T) have lower ALT levels (B. Vozarova, unpublished observations). However, it remains unknown whether PPAR2 influences hepatic insulin sensitivity through ALT. A recent study by Tschritter et al. (35) showed that subjects with Ala/Ala or Pro/Ala genotypes have greater insulin clearance than subjects with a Pro/Pro, suggesting an alternate mechanism for increased hepatic insulin sensitivity in Ala allele carriers.
Performing multiple independent comparisons in a large dataset can result in false-positive associations. However, it remains debatable whether to adjust data for numbers of tests (36). The theoretical basis for advocating adjustment for multiple comparisons is the "universal null hypothesis," where each hypothesis tested is independent to each other. Because the multiple hypotheses tested here are highly correlated, we did not perform a Bonferroni correction for independent comparisons. The reproducibility of our findings with those observed in other populations (1519), combined with the known physiological role of PPAR, lead us to believe that our associations are credible. However, we readily recognize that a conservative adjustment for multiple comparisons would render all of these associations nonsignificant.
In summary, a novel functional variation (C-2821T) within the promoter of PPAR2 has been identified. Similar to the well-characterized Pro12Ala, this promoter variant is associated with metabolic predictors of type 2 diabetes and obesity. In Pima Indians, this promoter polymorphism is in strong linkage disequilibrium with the Pro12Ala variant; therefore, the relative contribution of each SNP to the observed phenotypes remains unclear. However, in other populations there may be more genetic cross-over between the two variants, thus allowing better assessment as whether these SNPs interact with an additive effect or function independently. Further studies in other populations will be very useful in establishing the relative contribution of this promoter SNP, compared with the Pro12Ala, in determining obesity and type 2 diabetes. In addition, future studies are needed to fully evaluate all of the other common SNPs identified in the promoter of PPAR
and to elucidate the role of PPAR
in the development of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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Address correspondence and reprint requests to Leslie Baier, PhD, Clinical Diabetes and Nutrition Section, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, 4212 N. 16th St., Phoenix, AZ 85016. E-mail: lbaier{at}phx.niddk.nih.gov
Received for publication December 20, 2002 and accepted in revised form April 11, 2003
AD, Allelic Discrimination; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; C/EBP, CCAAT enhancer binding protein; DMEM, Dulbeccos modified Eagle medium; EE, energy expenditure; PPAR, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor
; RQ, respiratory quotient; SNP, single nucleotide polymorphism; TG, triglyceride; TZD, thiazolidinedione; WAT, white adipose tissue
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REFERENCES |
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