title: Effect of R(+)alpha-lipoic acid on pyruvate metabolism and fatty acid oxidation in rat hepatocytes.
abstract: R-(+)-alpha-lipoic acid (R-LA) is the naturally occurring enantiomer of LA. It is a strong antioxidant and cofactor of key metabolic enzyme complexes catalyzing the decarboxylation of alpha-keto acids. Racemic LA (rac-LA) has shown promise in treating diabetic polyneuropathy, and some studies suggest that it improves glucose homeostasis in patients with type 2 diabetes. We examined the effects of R-LA on pyruvate metabolism and free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation in primary cultured hepatocytes isolated from 24-hour fasted rats. After overnight culture in serum-free medium, cells were pre-exposed to R-LA for 3 hours before assays. R-LA (25 to 200 micromol/L) significantly increased pyruvate oxidation ( approximately 2-fold at the highest dose tested) measured as (14)CO(2) production from [1-(14)C]pyruvate by the cells over 1 hour post-treatment. These effects correlated with proportional, significant increases in the activation state of the pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex. R-LA treatment inhibited glucose production from pyruvate by approximately 50% at 50 micromol/L R-LA and approximately 90% at 200 micromol/L. Palmitate oxidation was measured in hepatocytes cultured in the presence of albumin and physiological (0.1 mmol/L) or high (1.5 mmol/L) concentrations of FFA. The latter markedly enhanced FFA oxidation. R-LA treatment significantly inhibited FFA oxidation in both media, but was more effective in high FFA, where it reduced FFA oxidation by 48% to 82% at 25 to 200 micromol/L, respectively. Identical doses of R-LA did not affect FFA oxidation by L6 myotubes (a cell culture model for skeletal muscle) in either high or low FFA medium, but enhanced pyruvate oxidation. In conclusion, 3-hour exposure of primary cultured rat hepatocytes to R-LA at therapeutically relevant concentrations increased pyruvate oxidation, apparently by activation of the PDH complex, and decreased gluconeogenesis and FFA oxidation. These features may prove useful in the control of type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Jennie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Walgren
authors.forename: Zainab
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Amani
authors.forename: JoEllyn M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Locher
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Buse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003653:Decarboxylation; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D019308:Palmitic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D019289:Pyruvic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005227:Fatty Acids; D011768:Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019308:Palmitic Acid; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D019289:Pyruvic Acid; D005947:Glucose