title: Sensitization of diabetic and obese mice to insulin by retinoid X receptor agonists.
abstract: Retinoic acid receptors (RAR), thyroid hormone receptors (TR), peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) and the orphan receptor, LXR, bind preferentially to DNA as heterodimers with a common partner, retinoid X receptor (RXR), to regulate transcription. We investigated whether RXR-selective agonists replicate the activity of ligands for several of these receptors? We demonstrate here that RXR-selective ligands (referred to as rexinoids) function as RXR heterodimer-selective agonists, activating RXR: PPARgamma and RXR:LXR dimers but not RXR:RAR or RXR:TR heterodimers. Because PPARgamma is a target for antidiabetic agents, we investigated whether RXR ligands could alter insulin and glucose signalling. In mouse models of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and obesity, RXR agonists function as insulin sensitizers and can decrease hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and hyperinsulinaemia. This antidiabetic activity can be further enhanced by combination treatment with PPARgamma agonists, such as thiazolidinediones. These data suggest that the RXR:PPARgamma heterodimer is a single-function complex serving as a molecular target for treatment of insulin resistance. Activation of the RXR:PPARgamma dimer with rexinoids may provide a new and effective treatment for NIDDM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Research, Ligand Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, California 92121, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Crombie
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cesario
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jow
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Hamann
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mondon
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Nadzan
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Paterniti
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Heyman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000077610:Bexarotene; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008024:Ligands; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D013764:Tetrahydronaphthalenes; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000077154:Rosiglitazone; D000077610:Bexarotene; C095104:LG 100268