The prototypic second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) is essential for controlling cellular metabolism, including glucose and lipid homeostasis. In mammals, the majority of cAMP functions are mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epacs). To explore the physiological functions of Epac1, we generated Epac1 knockout mice. Here we report that Epac1 null mutants have reduced white adipose tissue and reduced plasma leptin levels but display heightened leptin sensitivity. Epac1-deficient mice are more resistant to high-fat diet-induced obesity, hyperleptinemia, and glucose intolerance. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of Epac by use of an Epac-specific inhibitor reduces plasma leptin levels in vivo and enhances leptin signaling in organotypic hypothalamic slices. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Epac1 plays an important role in regulating adiposity and energy balance. Obesity is a grave health problem, as it is closely related to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, depression, and cancer (1). Over the last 2 decades, obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States: more than 35% of adults in the United States are obese, and more than two-thirds are overweight (2). Furthermore, 500 million people worldwide are obese, representing approximately 12% of the adult population on earth (3). Chronic excessive food/energy intake, mediated by leptin resistance, is a major factor contributing to obesity. To date, few effective treatment options are available for obesity (4). Therefore, a better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of obesity development and effective, safe therapeutic interventions are urgently needed. Cyclic AMP (cAMP)-mediated signaling pathways are important for maintaining metabolic homeostasis and have been implicated in regulating leptin production and secretion (5-7). In mammals, the majority of cAMP functions are mediated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epacs) (8-10). A recent study revealed that activation of Epacs by an Epac-selective cAMP analog, 8-CPT-2=-O-Me-cAMP (11), interferes with leptin signaling in the hypothalamus, suggesting that Epacs may contribute to the pathophysiology of leptin resistance and represent a novel pharmacological target for treatment of obesity (12). To investigate the functional significance of Epac1 in leptin-mediated energy balance in vivo, we generated global loss-of-function mutants for Epac1. Analysis of these animals indicated resistance to high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, heightened leptin signaling in the arcuate nucleus (AN), and improved glucose tolerance. These findings reveal an important role of Epac1 in metabolism and suggest that Epac1 may represent a novel therapeutic target for obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mice.To construct an Epac1 targeting vector, two loxP sites were inserted into introns 2 and 5. A 3.8-kb upstream ...

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques were used to determine the effect of preexisting hyperglycemia on the extent of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and the level of cerebral perfusion. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced by a suture insertion technique. Forty one rats were divided into hyperglycemic and normoglycemic groups with either 4 hours of continuous MCAO or 2 hours of MCAO followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was performed at 4 hours after MCAO to quantify the degree of injury in 6 brain regions. Relative cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) were estimated using gradient echo (GE) bolus tracking and steady-state spin echo (SE) imaging techniques, respectively. Brain injury correlated with the perfusion level measured in both SE CBV and dynamic GE CBF images. In the temporary MCAO model, mean lesion size in DWI was 118% larger and hemispheric CBV was reduced by 37% in hyperglycemic compared with normoglycemic rats. Hyperglycemia did not significantly exacerbate brain injury or CBV deficit in permanent MCAO models. We conclude that preexisting hyperglycemia increases acute postischemic MRI-measurable brain cellular injury in proportion to an associated increased microvascular ischemia.

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J. Wimalawansa. Reversal of weightlessness-induced musculoskeletal losses with androgens: quantification by MRI. J. Appl. Physiol. 86(6): 1841-1846, 1999.-Microgravity causes rapid decrement in musculoskeletal mass is associated with a marked decrease in circulatory testosterone levels, as we reported in hindlimb-suspended (HLS) rats. In this model which simulates microgravity, we hypothesized that testosterone supplementation should prevent these losses, and we tested this in two studies. Muscle volumes and bone masses were quantitated by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on day 12. In the first study, 12-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats that were HLS for 12 days lost 28.5% of muscle volume (53.3 Ϯ 4.8 vs. 74.5 Ϯ 3.6 cm 3 in the ground control rats; P Ͻ 0.001) and had a 5% decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) (P Ͻ 0.05). In the second study, 30 male 12-wk-old Wistar rats were HLS and were administered either a vehicle (control), testosterone, or nandrolone decanoate (ND). An additional 20 rats were used as ground controls, one-half of which received testosterone. HLS rats had a significant reduction in muscle volume (42.9 Ϯ 3.0 vs. 56 Ϯ 1.8 cm 3 in ground control rats; P Ͻ 0.01). Both testosterone and ND treatments prevented this muscle loss (51.5 Ϯ 2 and 51.6 Ϯ 1.2 cm 3 , respectively; a 63% improvement; P Ͻ 0.05). There were no statistical differences between the two active treatment groups nor with the ground controls. Similarly, there was an 85% improvement in BMD in the testosterone group (1.15 Ϯ 0.04 vs. 1.04 Ϯ 0.04 density units in vehicle controls; P Ͻ 0.05) and a 76% improvement in the ND group (1.13 Ϯ 0.07 density units), whereas ground control rats had a BMD of 1.17 Ϯ 0.03 density units. Because serum testosterone levels are markedly reduced in this model of simulated microgravity, androgen replacement seems to be a rational countermeasure to prevent microgravity-induced musculoskeletal losses. osteoporosis; microgravity; bone turnover; bone mineral density; anabolic steriod; disuse atrophy DECREMENTS IN BONE AND MUSCLE mass are major concerns in extended space missions (1,8,9,38,49). Immobilization (e.g., bed rest or restricted movements of limbs) can also cause rapid losses in muscle or bone mass (6,9,25,26). Immobilization, prolonged bed rest, and spaceflight conditions inducing microgravity conditions can lead to the general or selective loss of muscle volume and mass. In addition, these conditions lead to negative calcium balance and loss of bone mineral density (BMD) (11,13,32,33). A similar reduction in musculoskeletal mass has been reported due to the immobilization of extremities seen in external bandaging, casting, or neural resectioning (13,25,27,(39)(40)(41)(42)(43). Both mineralization and collagen metabolism seem to be impaired in animals during the first few days of spaceflight (34). Urine analysis in Skylab astronauts has shown a significant loss of minerals, including calcium (10, 37). Reduction of muscle forces leads to a decrease in bone formation and BMD in the os calcis and an i...

We have examined the role of a novel cytokine, interleukin-27 (IL-27), in mediating interactions between prostate cancer and bone. IL-27 is the most recently characterized member of the family of heterodimeric IL-12-related cytokines and has shown promise in halting tumor growth and mediating tumor regression in several cancer models, including prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is frequently associated with metastases to the bone, where the tumor induces a vicious cycle of communication with osteoblasts and osteoclasts to induce bone lesions, which are a significant cause of pain and skeletal-related events for patients, including a high fracture risk. We describe our findings in the effects of IL-27 gene delivery on prostate cancer cells, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts at different stages of differentiation. We applied the IL-27 gene delivery protocol in vivo utilizing sonoporation (sonodelivery) with the goal of treating and reducing the growth of prostate cancer at a bone metastatic site in vivo. We used a new model of immune-competent prostate adenocarcinoma and characterized the tumor growth reduction, gene expression, and effector cellular profiles. Our results suggest that IL-27 can be effective in reducing tumor growth, can help normalize bone structure, and can promote enhanced accumulation of effector cells in prostate tumors. These results are promising, because they are relevant to developing a novel IL-27-based strategy that can treat both the tumor and the bone, by using this simple and effective sonodelivery method for treating prostate tumor bone metastases.

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Objective Colposcopy has been used to detect epithelial damage with vaginal microbicides. In animal models, optical coherence tomography (OCT) provided increased sensitivity over colposcopy in detecting epithelial injury. This randomized double-blinded clinical study compared OCT to colposcopy for the evaluation of epithelial injury in women using placebo or nonoxynol-9. Methods Thirty women aged 18–45 were randomized to use hydroxyethyl cellulose placebo or nonoxynol-9 vaginal gel twice daily for 5.5 days. Imaging with colposcopy and OCT was performed prior to product use, after the last dose, and 1 week later. Colposcopy was graded using standard criteria. OCT images were scored for epithelial integrity based on a published scoring system and measured for epithelial thickness. Results Colposcopy findings and OCT scores and epithelial thicknesses were similar between treatment groups at baseline. After treatment, there were significant differences between the nonoxynol-9 (1.37) and control group (1.15) OCT scores (p<0.001, indicating epithelial injury, and there was epithelial thinning in the nonoxynol-9 group (237μm) compared to the control group (292μm) (p=0.008). There were no significant posttreatment colposcopic differences in epithelial disruption between treatment groups, with only increased erythema noted after nonoxynol-9 use (p=0.02). Conclusion OCT detected epithelial disruption and thinning not identified by colposcopy. Vaginal epithelial thickness, a measure previously available only through biopsy, decreased after nonoxynol-9 use, a finding that may contribute to increased susceptibility to HIV after frequent use. OCT shows promise for the noninvasive clinical assessment of vaginal epithelial damage. Clinical Trial Registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm, R000006186.