title: Central role of suppressors of cytokine signaling proteins in hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and the metabolic syndrome in the mouse.
abstract: Insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver are components of the metabolic syndrome, a disease complex that is increasing at epidemic rates in westernized countries. Although proinflammatory cytokines have been suggested to contribute to the development of these disorders, the molecular mechanism is poorly understood. Here we show that overexpression of suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1 and SOCS-3 in liver causes insulin resistance and an increase in the key regulator of fatty acid synthesis in liver, sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c. Conversely, inhibition of SOCS-1 and -3 in obese diabetic mice improves insulin sensitivity, normalizes the increased expression of SREBP-1c, and dramatically ameliorates hepatic steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia. In obese animals, increased SOCS proteins enhance SREBP-1c expression by antagonizing STAT3-mediated inhibition of SREBP-1c promoter activity. Thus, SOCS proteins play an important role in pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome by concordantly modulating insulin signaling and cytokine signaling.
authors.affiliation: Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors.forename: Kohjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Yu-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: C Ronald
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009765:Obesity; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C491590:Socs1 protein, mouse; C491411:Socs3 protein, mouse; C497388:Srebf1 protein, mouse; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D000071222:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 1 Protein; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014280:Triglycerides