Troglitazone Downregulates Δ-6 Desaturase Gene Expression in Human Skeletal Muscle Cell Cultures

Percutaneous biopsies of vastus lateralis muscle (18,19) were taken from 15 nondiabetic healthy volunteers (5 men and 10 women; age, 27.9 ± 6.0 years; BMI, 22.2 ± 2.2 kg/m²), and muscle tissue was processed for cell cultures or immediately snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen. Glucose tolerance of the volunteers was determined by standard oral glucose tolerance test. Insulin sensitivity was determined by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp (20,21) and expressed as clamp-derived glucose metabolic clearance rate (MCR). All clinical chemistry parameters were analyzed in the central laboratory of the University of Tübingen according to standard protocols. The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Tü bingen. Informed written consent was obtained from all subjects.

Myoblasts were isolated from needle biopsies (vastus lateralis muscle) and cultured as previously described by Henry et al. (18), with minor modifications (22). At 80% confluence, cells were fused in α-minimal essential medium supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum and 0.2% antibiotic-antimycotic solution. During the entire fusion period (120 h), cells were incubated with 11.5, 5.75, 2.875, or 0 μmol/l troglitazone dissolved in DMSO (final concentration did not exceed 0.05%). The medium was changed every other day. By the end of the fusion period, cells were harvested in PBS to prepare total RNA for RT-PCR and extract total lipids for quantification of fatty acids.

Total RNA was isolated from myotubes treated with different concentrations of troglitazone (0, 2.875, 5.75, and 11.5 μmol/l for 120 h) using the optimized phenol guanidinium isothiocyanate extraction method according to the manufacturer’s instructions (peqGOLD TriFast; Peqlab Biotechnologie, Erlangen, Germany). Total RNA concentrations were determined by absorbance measurements at 260 nm. Subsequently, 1 μg total RNA was reverse-transcribed using AMV Reverse Transcriptase (1st Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit for RT-PCR; Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Quantitative PCR of cDNA was done using SYBR Green I Dye on a high-speed thermal cycler with an integrated microvolume fluorimeter (LightCycler; Roche Diagnostics). The principal method is described in detail elsewhere (23,24). Briefly, the glass capillaries used in the cycler for reaction vessels serve at the same time as optical elements for efficient illumination and fluorescence, allowing for continuous online and real-time monitoring of the reaction kinetics. Quantification with the LightCycler software includes removing background fluorescence, identifying the log-linear portion of the standard’s amplification curve, and plotting crossing point (cycle number) versus the log of copy number (concentration). At the end of amplification, the PCR products can be melted, and a graph of the first negative derivative of the fluorescence (–dF/dT) versus temperature identifies specific products with different melting temperatures.

The following specific primers (5′ to 3′ orientation) were designed from Δ-6 desaturase sequence (Genbank accession no. AF126700) yielding a 460-bp fragment: cctacaatcaccagcacgaa and ccatgcttggcacatagaga. The amplified product was sequenced (ABI PRISM, 310 Genetic Analyzer; Perkin Elmer, Rodgau-Jugesheim, Germany) to verify its identity. The PCR conditions were optimized using a gradient cycler (Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany). Specific primers from the PPARγ2 sequence (Genbank accession no. AB005520) yielding a 267-bp fragment were designed as reported earlier (25). PCR amplification was performed using the LightCycler/DNA Master SYBR Green I kit (Roche Diagnostics) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Cycling parameters for Δ-6 desaturase cDNA were 95°C for 8 s, 64°C for 5 s, and 72°C for 12 s, with heating and cooling at a rate of 20° C/s. The temperatures for PPAR-γ2 were 95°C for 8 s, 60°C for 5 s, and 72°C for 11 s. The melting curves were acquired at a heating rate of 0.2°C/s, starting at 55°C for PPARγ2 and at 59°C for Δ-6 desaturase. For each set of experiments (cell cultures from one muscle biopsy, treated with 11.5, 5.75, 2.875, or 0 μmol/l troglitazone), the Δ-6 desaturase and PPARγ2 cDNA from the control cells (no troglitazone treatment) were diluted (1:1, 1:5, and 1:10) and used for the amplification standard curve. All analyses were done in triplicate and reported in percent increase or decrease relative to the untreated cells.

Quantitation of fatty acids was perfomed by capillary gas chromatography as previously reported (26), with minor modifications. Total lipids were extracted from the cells and separated by thin-layer chromatography into individual classes of phospholipids, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), diglycerides, triglycerides, and cholesterol ester. The different lipids were scraped off the plate and transferred into screw-capped vials for direct transesterification (27–29). The fatty acid methyl esters of each class were separated by gas chromatography (HP 5890; Hewlett Packard, Waldbronn, Germany) with a flame ionization detector. Separation of the 20 most commonly found fatty acids, including linoleic acid (C18:2 ω6) and γ-linolenic acid (C18:3 ω6), was achieved with a fused silica column, 60 m × 0.25 mm internal diameter, coated with a 0.2-μm film of Rtx-2330 (Restek, Bad Homburg, Germany). Helium was used as carrier gas at a column head pressure of 16 psi. The oven temperature program was 130°C for 0.2 min, heated at a rate of 2°C/min, and held at 260°C for 10 min. Injection mode was 1 μl splitless with different times for the individual lipid classes. Standard curves were used for all 20 fatty acids, with cis-13,16,19-docosatrienoic acid as internal standard. Quantitation was done using HP Chemstation software. The results of linoleic acid (C18:2 ω6) and γ-linolenic acid (C18:3 ω6) were confirmed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis.

All fatty acids, including the internal standards used for the calibration curve, were from Sigma (St. Louis, MO). All other reagents were of analytical grade. Troglitazone was a gift from Dr. H. Horikoshi, Sankyo Pharmaceuticals, Tokyo, Japan.

All results are presented as means ± SE unless noted otherwise. Statistical analysis was done using Student’s t test for paired comparison and multiple regression. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. All analyses were done with SSP statistical package.

Laboratory tests (means ± SD) of fasting plasma glucose (4.8 ± 0.3 mmol/l), fasting insulin (5.3 ± 1.8 mU/l), triglycerides (0.89 ± 0.26 mmol/l), and NEFAs (218 ± 55 μmol/l) were within reference intervals. All subjects had normal glucose tolerance tests according to American Diabetes Association criteria. Clamp-derived glucose MCRs were determined as 7.8 ± 2.2 ml · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹.

Quantitation of Δ-6 desaturase mRNA and PPARγ2 mRNA from troglitazone-treated and untreated control cells was done with a two-step RT-PCR (LightCycler; Roche Diagnostics). Figure 1 shows the quantitation procedure for one set of experiments for both Δ-6 desaturase mRNA and PPARγ2 mRNA: after removing background fluorescence (baseline adjustment, Fig. 1A) and identifying the log-linear portion of the standard’s amplification curve (Fig. 1B), the crossing points were plotted versus the log of copy number. From the resulting crossing points (cycle numbers), a log-linear relationship could be established for the complete range of concentrations in all experiments, with mean squared errors between 0.0013 and 0.0035. In addition to the specificity shown by the melting curve analysis (Fig. 2A), agarose gel separation was done to confirm the amplification products (Fig. 2B).

Quantitation of fatty acids was perfomed by capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. Figure 3 shows a typical chromatogram of transmethylated fatty acids from the cholesterol ester lipid fraction (linoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, and internal standard). The ω6-C18:3/C18:2 ratio was used as activity index for Δ-6 desaturase.

Increasing levels of troglitazone to 11.5 μmol/l caused a dose-dependent decrease in Δ-6 desaturase mRNA and an increase in PPARγ2 mRNA (Figs. 4A and B) in the human skeletal muscle cell cultures. In cells treated with 11.5 μmol troglitazone for 4 days, PPARγ2 mRNA levels were significantly (P < 0.05, paired t test) increased to 301.0 ± 51.5% of the untreated controls (Fig. 5A), and Δ -6 desaturase mRNA levels were significantly (P < 0.0005, paired t test) decreased to 41.7 ± 5.9% of the untreated controls (Fig. 5B). The increase in PPARγ2 mRNA was associated with a decrease in Δ-6 desaturase mRNA in each individual, and there was a strong correlation (P = 0.0012, multiple regression) between the increase in PPARγ2 mRNA and the decrease in Δ-6 desaturase mRNA. There was no correlation between any of the in vitro troglitazone effects observed (increase in PPARγ2 mRNA, decrease in Δ-6 desaturase mRNA, or decrease in Δ-6 desaturase activity) and the in vivo determined MCR as insulin sensitivity marker.

The Δ-6 desaturase activity was estimated by quantifying the fatty acids in the different lipids extracted from the cells. A decrease in Δ-6 desaturase activity would cause a decrease in the ω 6-C18:3/C18:2 ratio. Paralleling the decrease of Δ-6 desaturase mRNA by troglitazone, there was a significant decrease of the ω 6-C18:3/C18:2 ratio (P < 0.05) in all lipid classes (Fig. 5C) under investigation: relative to the untreated cell cultures, the ratio decreased to 47.4 ± 7.5% in cholesterol esters, 54.2 ± 7.4% in phospholipids, 56.7 ± 6.5% in NEFAs, and 67.7 ± 5.9% in triglycerides.

Our results, showing regulation of Δ-6 desaturase by troglitazone, are in good agreement with the downregulation of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by thiazolidinediones (30). SCD1, a Δ-9 desaturase, catalyzes the conversion of stearic (C18:0) to oleic acid (C18:1 ω9) and palmitic (C16:0) to palmitoleic acid (C16:1 ω7). It was shown by mRNA differential display method that both troglitazone and pioglitazone downregulate SCD1 gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner (30). SCD1 enzyme–catalyzed Δ9-cis desaturation was subsequently inhibited as shown by the significantly lower content of C16:1 and C18:1 fatty acids (weight percentage) in the treated adipocytes.

Troglitazone and other thiazolidinediones (TZDs) mediate their effects by binding to and activating the transcription factor PPARγ (31–33). Most studies on PPARγ and TZDs have been performed in adipose tissue or tissue cultures. Improvements in skeletal muscle action and glucose metabolism may then be indirect, by lowering of lipid levels through the glucose–fatty acid cycle (34); however, with PPARγ being present in skeletal muscle (4,35), there could also be direct effects. This might especially be true in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic obese subjects, where PPARγ mRNA expression in human skeletal muscle is increased (35). Troglitazone treatment of human skeletal muscle culture (4 days, 11.5 μmol/l) led to a 1.43 ± 0.25-fold increase of PPARγ1 mRNA (90% of total PPARγ) and a 2.5 ± 0.7-fold increase of PPARγ2 mRNA (10% of total PPARγ) compared with untreated controls (5). Next to the regulation of Δ-6 desaturase gene expression, we were therefore interested in the effects of troglitazone on the regulation of PPARγ2 mRNA in the same human muscle cell cultures obtained from muscle biopsies. Increasing the level of troglitazone up to 11.5 μmol/l caused a dose-dependent increase in PPARγ2 mRNA levels in the human skeletal muscle cell cultures. In cells treated with 11.5 μmol troglitazone for 4 days, PPARγ2 mRNA levels were significantly increased to 301.0 ± 51.5% of the untreated controls (P < 0.05, paired t test). There was a strong correlation (P = 0.0012, multiple regression) between the increase in PPARγ2 mRNA and the decrease in Δ-6 desaturase mRNA, suggesting that the regulation of Δ-6 desaturase gene expression is mediated by PPARγ. In this regard, it will be of interest to see if a functional PPRE (PPAR response element) is found in the promotor region of the Δ-6 desaturase gene.

Regulation of desaturase gene expression will eventually lead to altered fatty acid composition of lipids. In the case of serum lipids, it has been shown that the serum cholesterol ester proportion of palmitic (C16:0), palmitoleic (C16:1 ω7), and di-homo-γ-linolenic (C20:3 ω6) acids correlated negatively, and that of linoleic acid (C18:2 ω6) positively, to insulin sensitivity (12). Analysis of skeletal muscle phospholipids from healthy subjects revealed decreased insulin sensitivity to be associated with decreased concentrations of PUFAs (14). Although it is not statistically significant, there seems to be a noteworthy difference between Δ-6 and Δ-5 desaturase activity with regard to insulin sensitivity. The ratio of ω6-C20:4/C20:3 as Δ-5 desaturase activity index correlated positively (r = 0.84, P < 0.001), whereas the ratio of ω6-C18:3/C18:2 as Δ-6 desaturase activity index showed a negative coefficient (r = −0.28, P > 0.05) (14). These studies (12,14) suggest that PUFAs do not in general correlate with insulin sensitivity, but there seem to be differences between the individual PUFAs. To further elucidate the effect of troglitazone on muscle fatty acid composition and, in particular, on PUFAs, it would be important to investigate its effect on all the desaturases involved (Δ-9, Δ-6, and Δ-5) as well as the complete fatty acid profiles.

Δ-6 Desaturase enzymatic activity varies with hormonal and nutritional manipulation (16,36,37). In addition to being affected by insulin, fasting, and feeding, the activity is highly dependent on the composition of dietary fat (36–38). Fats rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) cause a lower activity than than those low in EFAs (37). In mice, a triolein-rich (EFA-deficient) diet caused a significantly higher Δ-6 desaturase enzymatic activity compared with a corn oil–rich (EFA-rich) diet (16). Both Δ-6 desaturase and Δ-5 desaturase in human Hep G2 cells are rate limiting to fatty acid interconversion and are upregulated under essential fatty acid–deficient conditions (39). Certain mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites (7), as well as TZDs and fibrates, have been shown to interact directly with PPARα and/or PPARγ. Because PPARs appear to play a central role in the catabolism and storage of fatty acids, this could be the underlying molecular mechanism whereby dietary lipids affect such metabolic diseases as obesity, atherosclerosis, and type 2 diabetes.

In summary, we showed that increasing levels of troglitazone caused a dose-dependent increase in PPARγ2 mRNA levels and a decrease in Δ-6 desaturase mRNA in human skeletal muscle cell cultures. In cells treated with 11.5 μmol/l troglitazone, PPARγ2 mRNA levels were significantly increased and Δ-6 desaturase mRNA levels significantly decreased, with a corresponding decrease in Δ-6 desaturase enzyme activity. The decrease in Δ-6 desaturase mRNA levels led to a change in the muscle cells’ unsaturated fatty acid composition; these results add new aspects to the known TZD effects on lipid metabolism in muscle.