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Enhanced angiotensin converting enzyme 2 regulates the insulin/Akt signalling pathway by blockade of macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is now known to be a pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with insulin resistance. Our aim was to investigate whether angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) could modulate the expression of MIF and the insulin/Akt-endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) signalling in a human endothelial cell line (EAhy926). EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: A recombinant plasmid encompassing human ACE2 gene was constructed and transfected into the EAhy926 cells. The mRNA, phosphorylation and protein levels of p22phox, MIF, Akt and eNOS in endothelial cells were determined by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. KEY RESULTS: Gene transfer of ACE2 suppressed the expression of p22phox and MIF induced by angiotensin (Ang) II and Ang IV, accompanied by a decreased level of malondialdehyde in cells. In addition, Ang II diminished insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt (at Ser(473)) and eNOS (at Ser(1177)) and NO generation, effects which were reversed by ACE2 gene transfer and anti-MIF treatment in endothelial cells. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:The results reveal that gene transfer of ACE2 regulated Ang II-mediated impairment of insulin signalling and involved the Akt-eNOS phosphorylation pathway. These beneficial effects of ACE2 overexpression appear to result mainly from blocking MIF expression in endothelial cells, suggesting that the ACE2 gene may be a novel therapeutic target for diseases related to inflammation and insulin resistance.

SUBMITTER: Zhong JC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2199394 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Enhanced angiotensin converting enzyme 2 regulates the insulin/Akt signalling pathway by blockade of macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression.

Zhong J-C JC Yu X-Y XY Lin Q-X QX Li X-H XH Huang X-Z XZ Xiao D-Z DZ Lin S-G SG

British journal of pharmacology 20071001 1

<h4>Background and purpose</h4>Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is now known to be a pro-inflammatory cytokine associated with insulin resistance. Our aim was to investigate whether angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) could modulate the expression of MIF and the insulin/Akt-endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) signalling in a human endothelial cell line (EAhy926).<h4>Experimental approach</h4>A recombinant plasmid encompassing human ACE2 gene was constructed and transfect ...[more]

PMID: 17906677

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Project description:BACKGROUND: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a widely expressed cytokine involved in a variety of cellular processes including cell cycle regulation and the control of proliferation. Overexpression of MIF has been reported in a number of cancer types and it has previously been shown that MIF is upregulated in melanocytic tumours with the highest expression levels occurring in malignant melanoma. However, the clinical significance of high MIF expression in melanoma has not been reported. METHODS: MIF expression was depleted in human melanoma cell lines using siRNA-mediated gene knockdown and effects monitored using in vitro assays of proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, clonogenicity and Akt signalling. In silico analyses of expression microarray data were used to correlate MIF expression levels in melanoma tumours with overall patient survival using a univariate Cox regression model. RESULTS: Knockdown of MIF significantly decreased proliferation, increased apoptosis and decreased anchorage-independent growth. Effects were associated with reduced numbers of cells entering S phase concomitant with decreased cyclin D1 and CDK4 expression, increased p27 expression and decreased Akt phosphorylation. Analysis of clinical outcome data showed that MIF expression levels in primary melanoma were not associated with outcome (HR = 1.091, p = 0.892) whereas higher levels of MIF in metastatic lesions were significantly associated with faster disease progression (HR = 2.946, p = 0.003 and HR = 4.600, p = 0.004, respectively in two independent studies). CONCLUSIONS: Our in vitro analyses show that MIF functions upstream of the PI3K/Akt pathway in human melanoma cell lines. Moreover, depletion of MIF inhibited melanoma proliferation, viability and clonogenic capacity. Clinically, high MIF levels in metastatic melanoma were found to be associated with faster disease recurrence. These findings support the clinical significance of MIF signalling in melanoma and provide a strong rationale for both targeting and monitoring MIF expression in clinical melanoma.

Dataset Information

Enhanced angiotensin converting enzyme 2 regulates the insulin/Akt signalling pathway by blockade of macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression.

Publications

Enhanced angiotensin converting enzyme 2 regulates the insulin/Akt signalling pathway by blockade of macrophage migration inhibitory factor expression.

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