OBJECTIVEThe global epidemic of metabolic syndrome and its complications demands rapid evaluation of new and accessible interventions. Insulin resistance is the central biochemical disturbance in the metabolic syndrome. The citrus-derived flavonoid, naringenin, has lipid-lowering properties and inhibits VLDL secretion from cultured hepatocytes in a manner resembling insulin. We evaluated whether naringenin regulates lipoprotein production and insulin sensitivity in the context of insulin resistance in vivo.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSLDL receptor–null (Ldlr−/−) mice fed a high-fat (Western) diet (42% calories from fat and 0.05% cholesterol) become dyslipidemic, insulin and glucose intolerant, and obese. Four groups of mice (standard diet, Western, and Western plus 1% or 3% wt/wt naringenin) were fed ad libitum for 4 weeks. VLDL production and parameters of insulin and glucose tolerance were determined.RESULTSWe report that naringenin treatment of Ldlr−/− mice fed a Western diet corrected VLDL overproduction, ameliorated hepatic steatosis, and attenuated dyslipidemia without affecting caloric intake or fat absorption. Naringenin 1) increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation through a peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR) γ coactivator 1α/PPARα-mediated transcription program; 2) prevented sterol regulatory element–binding protein 1c–mediated lipogenesis in both liver and muscle by reducing fasting hyperinsulinemia; 3) decreased hepatic cholesterol and cholesterol ester synthesis; 4) reduced both VLDL-derived and endogenously synthesized fatty acids, preventing muscle triglyceride accumulation; and 5) improved overall insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance.CONCLUSIONSThus, naringenin, through its correction of many of the metabolic disturbances linked to insulin resistance, represents a promising therapeutic approach for metabolic syndrome.

Gestational diabetes (GDM) results from failure of the β cells to adapt to increased metabolic demands; however, the cause of GDM and the extremely high rate of progression to type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains unknown. Using metabolomics, we show that the furan fatty acid metabolite 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropanoic acid (CMPF) is elevated in the plasma of humans with GDM, as well as impaired glucose-tolerant and T2D patients. In mice, diabetic levels of plasma CMPF induced glucose intolerance, impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and decreased glucose utilization. Mechanistically, we show that CMPF acts directly on the β cell, causing impaired mitochondrial function, decreasing glucose-induced ATP accumulation, and inducing oxidative stress, resulting in dysregulation of key transcription factors and ultimately reduced insulin biosynthesis. Importantly, specifically blocking its transport through OAT3 or antioxidant treatment could prevent CMPF-induced β cell dysfunction. Thus, CMPF provides a link between β cell dysfunction and GDM/T2D that could be targeted therapeutically.

OBJECTIVEThe inability of pancreatic β-cells to appropriately respond to glucose and secrete insulin are primary defects associated with β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated as a key factor in the development of type 2 diabetes; however, a link between mitochondrial dysfunction and defective insulin secretion is unclear.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe investigated the changes in islet mitochondrial function and morphology during progression from insulin resistance (3 weeks old), immediately before hyperglycemia (5 weeks old), and after diabetes onset (10 weeks old) in transgenic MKR mice compared with controls. The molecular and protein changes at 10 weeks were determined using microarray and iTRAQ proteomic screens.RESULTSAt 3 weeks, MKR mice were hyperinsulinemic but normoglycemic and β-cells showed negligible mitochondrial or morphological changes. At 5 weeks, MKR islets displayed abrogated hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), reduced mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, slightly enlarged mitochondria, and reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. By 10 weeks, MKR mice were hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic and β-cells contained swollen mitochondria with disordered cristae. β-Cells displayed impaired stimulus-secretion coupling including reduced hyperpolarization of ΔΨm, impaired Ca2+-signaling, and reduced glucose-stimulated ATP/ADP and insulin release. Furthermore, decreased cytochrome c oxidase–dependent oxygen consumption and signs of oxidative stress were observed in diabetic islets. Protein profiling of diabetic islets revealed that 36 mitochondrial proteins were differentially expressed, including inner membrane proteins of the electron transport chain.CONCLUSIONSWe provide novel evidence for a critical role of defective mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and morphology in the pathology of insulin resistance–induced β-cell failure.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) arises when pancreatic ␤-cells fail to compensate for systemic insulin resistance with appropriate insulin secretion. However, the link between insulin resistance and ␤-cell failure in T2D is not fully understood. To explore this association, we studied transgenic MKR mice that initially develop insulin resistance in skeletal muscle but by 8 weeks of age have T2D. In the present study, global islet protein and gene expression changes were characterized in diabetic MKR versus non-diabetic control mice at 10 weeks of age. Using a quantitative proteomics approach (isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ)), 159 proteins were differentially expressed in MKR compared with control islets. Marked up-regulation of protein biosynthesis and endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways and parallel down-regulation in insulin processing/secretion, energy utilization, and metabolism were observed. A fraction of the differentially expressed proteins identified (including GLUT2, DNAJC3, VAMP2, RAB3A, and PC1/3) were linked previously to insulin-secretory defects and T2D. However, many proteins for the first time were associated with islet dysfunction, including the unfolded protein response proteins (ERP72, ERP44, ERP29, PPIB, FKBP2, FKBP11, and DNAJB11), endoplasmic reticulumassociated degradation proteins (VCP and UFM1), and multiple proteins associated with mitochondrial energy metabolism (NDUFA9, UQCRH, COX2, COX4I1, COX5A, ATP6V1B2, ATP6V1H, ANT1, ANT2, ETFA, and ETFB). The mRNA expression level corresponding to these proteins was examined by microarray, and then a small subset was validated using quantitative real time PCR and Western blot analyses. Importantly ϳ54% of differentially expressed proteins in MKR islets (including proteins involved in proinsulin processing, protein biosynthesis, and mitochondrial oxidation) showed changes in the proteome but not transcriptome, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation. These results underscore the importance of integrated mRNA and protein expression measurements and validate the use of the iTRAQ method combined with microarray to assess global protein and gene changes involved in the development of T2D.

OBJECTIVE-An important mechanism in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes in obese individuals is elevation of plasma free fatty acids (FFAs), which induce insulin resistance and chronically decrease ␤-cell function and mass. Our objective was to investigate the role of oxidative stress in FFA-induced decrease in ␤-cell function. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-We used an in vivo model of 48-h intravenous oleate infusion in Wistar rats followed by hyperglycemic clamps or islet secretion studies ex vivo and in vitro models of 48-h exposure to oleate in islets and MIN6 cells.RESULTS-Forty-eight-hour infusion of oleate decreased the insulin and C-peptide responses to a hyperglycemic clamp (P Ͻ 0.01), an effect prevented by coinfusion of the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and taurine. Similar to the findings in vivo, 48-h infusion of oleate decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion ex vivo (P Ͻ 0.01) and induced oxidative stress (P Ͻ 0.001) in isolated islets, effects prevented by coinfusion of the antioxidants NAC, taurine, or tempol (4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine-1-oxyl). Forty-eight-hour infusion of olive oil induced oxidative stress (P Ͻ 0.001) and decreased the insulin response of isolated islets similar to oleate (P Ͻ 0.01). Islets exposed to oleate or palmitate and MIN6 cells exposed to oleate showed a decreased insulin response to high glucose and increased levels of oxidative stress (both P Ͻ 0.001), effects prevented by taurine. Real-time RT-PCR showed increased mRNA levels of antioxidant genes in MIN6 cells after oleate exposure, an effect partially prevented by taurine. T ype 2 diabetes is characterized by both insulin resistance and defective insulin secretion (1). Obesity is the major predisposing factor for type 2 diabetes and is associated with excessive release of fatty acids from the expanded adipose tissue mass, leading to elevated plasma free fatty acids (FFAs), which are known to induce insulin resistance (2,3). Acute FFA exposure stimulates insulin secretion (4), but studies in vitro and in situ have shown that prolonged FFA exposure decreases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) (5). The effect of prolonged FFA elevation on ␤-cell function in vivo has been more controversial, as absolute GSIS was found to be increased (6 -8), unchanged (9,10), or decreased (11-13) by FFA. However, in most of these studies ␤-cell function was inadequate to compensate for FFA-induced insulin resistance (9 -13), at least in predisposed individuals (14). Although the mechanisms behind FFA-induced decrease in ␤-cell function are unclear, one possibility points toward oxidative stress. Pancreatic ␤-cells have low antioxidant defenses (15) and are thus susceptible to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced decrease in function and viability (16,17). Oxidative stress has been implicated in the decrease in GSIS induced by prolonged exposure to glucose (18,19), which is in many respects similar to that induced by prolonged exposure to FFA (4,20). However, whether oxidative stress plays a role in FFA-...