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Organisms reprogram metabolic pathways to adapt to changes in nutrient availability. This requires that nutrient-based stimuli are sensed, signals are transmitted, and highly specific responses are engaged. We propose that in the liver, the mitogen-activated protein kinase, c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), links excessive nutrient metabolism with impaired insulin regulation of glucose production. The liver, by virtue of its anatomic position and selective regulatory features, buffers and is highly responsive to changes in nutrient delivery. In particular, sugars such as sucrose and fructose uniquely regulate and are selectively metabolized by the liver. We propose that when hepatic fructose uptake exceeds requirements for glycogen and energy (hepatic sugar excess), the JNK-signaling pathway is engaged as part of the adaptive response.

The liver is an important site of postprandial glucose disposal, accounting for the removal of up to 30% of an oral glucose load. The liver is also centrally involved in dietary lipid and amino acid uptake, and the presence of either or both of these nutrients can influence hepatic glucose uptake. The composition of ingested carbohydrate also influences hepatic glucose metabolism. For example, fructose can increase hepatic glucose uptake. In addition, fructose extraction by the liver is exceedingly high, approaching 50% to 70% of fructose delivery. The selective hepatic metabolism of fructose, and the ability of fructose to increase hepatic glucose uptake can, under appropriate conditions (eg, diets enriched in sucrose or fructose, high fructose concentrations), provoke major adaptations in hepatic metabolism. Potential adaptations that can arise in response to these conditions and putative mechanisms driving these adaptations are the subject of this review.

Fructose is a unique nutrient, due in part to its selective metabolism in the liver. Diets enriched in fructose or sucrose induce a hepatic stress response characterized by activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase. The aim of this study was to examine the regulation of c-jun N-terminal kinase by fructose in rat primary hepatocytes. Fructose was provided to rat primary hepatocytes using a fructose regenerating system, consisting of inulin and inulinase. This system provides a more physiologic delivery of fructose and avoids large disturbances in hepatocyte ATP concentrations. Fructose delivery increased c-jun N-terminal kinase activity and serine 307 phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1. Activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase was maximal at a fructose concentration of 0.6 mmol/L. Fructose delivery did not increase the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal regulated kinase, c-jun, or activating transcription factor-2, the latter 2 downstream nuclear targets of c-jun N-terminal kinase. However, fructose delivery increased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-7 (MKK7), an upstream activator of c-jun N-terminal kinase, and the association of c-jun N-terminal kinase with c-jun N-terminal kinase-interacting protein-1, a scaffold protein that can sequester protein signaling complexes in the cytosol. These data suggest that fructose may selectively activate c-jun N-terminal kinase via regulation of MKK7 and scaffold proteins.

Sucrose- and fructose-enriched diets produce hepatic insulin resistance in rats independently of obesity. In humans, fructose infusion results in impaired insulin regulation of glucose production. The aim of the present study was to identify intrahepatic mediators of sucrose- and fructose-induced hepatic insulin resistance. In study 1, male rats were fed a control diet (STD, 68% of energy from corn starch, 12% from corn oil) or a sucrose-enriched diet (HSD, 68% sucrose, 12% corn oil) for 1, 2, or 5 wk. HSD produced hepatic insulin resistance at all time points. Hepatic protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B protein levels and activity were increased at 5 wk only, whereas c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) activity was increased at all time points. Normalization of JNK activity in hepatocytes isolated from HSD rats improved insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins and insulin suppression of glucose release. In study 2, male rats were provided STD for 1 wk and then were either fasted or fasted and refed either STD or HSD for 3 or 6 h. Rats refed HSD were characterized by increased hepatic JNK activity and phosphorylation of IRS1 on Ser(307) after 6 h only. In study 3, hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic pancreatic clamps were performed for 3 or 6 h in the presence or absence of low or high intraportal fructose infusions. High intraportal fructose infusions, which increased portal vein fructose concentration to approximately 1 mM, increased hepatic JNK activity and phosphorylation of IRS1 on Ser(307) at 6 h only. These data suggest that sucrose- and fructose-induced hepatic insulin resistance are mediated, in part, via activation of JNK activity. Thus high rates of fructose metabolism in the liver appear to acutely activate stress pathways.

It appears that low amounts of fructose improve, whereas increased concentrations impair glucose tolerance and hepatic glucose metabolism. In this study, we compared directly the effects of low vs. high portal vein fructose concentrations on hepatic glucose metabolism in rats, using glucose-6-phosphatase gene expression as an endpoint. In the control group (C; n = 7), pancreatic clamps were performed using somatostatin and replacement of insulin such that basal glucose levels were maintained. In the experimental groups (n = 8/group), hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic pancreatic clamps were performed in which glucose (G) or glucose + fructose was infused into a jejunal vein. Fructose was infused to achieve either low (F1; <0.3 mmol/L) or high (F2; >1.0 mmol/L) portal vein concentrations. Total sugar load to the liver was equalized among the 3 experimental groups. Compared with C, liver glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit mRNA was reduced by approximately 55% in G and F1, whereas it was increased approximately 180% in F2. F2 did not differentially affect glucose-6-phosphate translocase or phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA levels in liver, nor kidney glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit mRNA. Livers from the F2 group were characterized by an accumulation of pentose phosphate intermediates and reduced phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (active form). However, in separate studies (n = 5/group), the infusion of a glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibitor did not prevent the effects of F2 on glucose-6-phosphatase gene expression. We hypothesize that elevated fructose concentrations, similar to levels achieved after ingestion of sucrose- or fructose-enriched meals, initiate signals within the liver that elicit selective changes in hepatic gene expression.

Fructose is a unique nutrient, due in part to its selective metabolism in the liver. Diets enriched in fructose or sucrose induce a hepatic stress response characterized by activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase. The aim of this study was to examine the regulation of c-jun N-terminal kinase by fructose in rat primary hepatocytes. Fructose was provided to rat primary hepatocytes using a fructose regenerating system, consisting of inulin and inulinase. This system provides a more physiologic delivery of fructose and avoids large disturbances in hepatocyte ATP concentrations. Fructose delivery increased c-jun N-terminal kinase activity and serine 307 phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1. Activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase was maximal at a fructose concentration of 0.6 mmol/L. Fructose delivery did not increase the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal regulated kinase, c-jun, or activating transcription factor-2, the latter 2 downstream nuclear targets of c-jun N-terminal kinase. However, fructose delivery increased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-7 (MKK7), an upstream activator of c-jun N-terminal kinase, and the association of c-jun N-terminal kinase with c-jun N-terminal kinase- interacting protein-1, a scaffold protein that can sequester protein signaling complexes in the cytosol. These data suggest that fructose may selectively activate c-jun N-terminal kinase via regulation of MKK7 and scaffold proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sucrose- and fructose-enriched diets produce hepatic insulin resistance in rats independently of obesity. In humans, fructose infusion results in impaired insulin regulation of glucose production. The aim of the present study was to identify intrahepatic mediators of sucroseand fructose-induced hepatic insulin resistance. In study 1, male rats were fed a control diet (STD, 68% of energy from corn starch, 12% from corn oil) or a sucrose-enriched diet (HSD, 68% sucrose, 12% corn oil) for 1, 2, or 5 wk. HSD produced hepatic insulin resistance at all time points. Hepatic protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B protein levels and activity were increased at 5 wk only, whereas c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activity was increased at all time points. Normalization of JNK activity in hepatocytes isolated from HSD rats improved insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins and insulin suppression of glucose release. In study 2, male rats were provided STD for 1 wk and then were either fasted or fasted and refed either STD or HSD for 3 or 6 h. Rats refed HSD were characterized by increased hepatic JNK activity and phosphorylation of IRS1 on Ser307 after 6 h only. In study 3, hyperglycemic, hyperinsulinemic pancreatic clamps were performed for 3 or 6 h in the presence or absence of low or high intraportal fructose infusions. High intraportal fructose infusions, which increased portal vein fructose concentration to ∼1 mM, increased hepatic JNK activity and phosphorylation of IRS1 on Ser307 at 6 h only. These data suggest that sucrose- and fructose-induced hepatic insulin resistance are mediated, in part, via activation of JNK activity. Thus high rates of fructose metabolism in the liver appear to acutely activate stress pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) mRNA is repressed by insulin and stimulated by cAMP and dexamethasone, with the insulin effect dominant. Both lipids and glucose increase the expression of G6Pase mRNA under conditions in which insulin is either absent or at basal levels. The aim of the present study was to investigate dietary nutrient regulation of G6Pase mRNA and protein under postprandial conditions. Male rats (n = 6-8/group) were deprived of food for 48 h and then either remained food deprived (FD) or were refed diets containing 68% cornstarch and 12% corn oil (ST; % energy), 68% sucrose and 12% corn oil (SU) or 35% cornstarch and 45% corn oil (HF) for 3 h. Rats were anesthetized, blood was drawn from the portal vein, and the liver was removed and immediately processed for subsequent analyses. Energy intake over the 3-h refeeding period did not differ among groups (209 +/- 25 kJ). Portal vein glucose and insulin were 5.0 +/- 0.2 mmol/L and 90 +/- 18 pmol/L, respectively, in FD rats and were not significantly different among the refed groups (14.5 +/- 1.2 mmol/L and 1302 +/- 154 pmol/L, respectively). Compared with the FD rats, G6Pase mRNA was approximately 50% lower in ST and HF groups, whereas it was approximately 1.6 fold higher in SU-refed rats (P < 0.05). G6Pase activity in whole liver homogenates was lower in ST and HF rats than in FD and SU rats. Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) phosphorylation, IRS-association with phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase and activation of protein kinase B (PKB) were not significantly different among the refed groups. However, glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha phosphorylation was lower and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation was higher in SU rats than in ST and HF refed groups. Thus, the postprandial environment after ingestion of sucrose appears to overcome the dominant effects of insulin on G6Pase mRNA, perhaps via cellular changes that reduce phosphorylation of, and therefore activate, glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which determined whether sucrose feeding altered fructose uptake, gluconeogenesis from fructose, or glucokinase activity in periportal and perivenous hepatic cells. Mechanism of gluconeogenesis in hepatic cells; Materials and methodology used; Results and discussion.