The pathogenesis of fatty liver is not understood in detail, but lipid overflow as well as de novo lipogenesis (DNL) seem to be the key points of hepatocyte accumulation of lipids. One key transcription factor in DNL is sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c. We generated mice with liver-specific over-expression of mature human SREBP-1c under control of the albumin promoter and a liver-specific enhancer (alb-SREBP-1c) to analyze systemic perturbations caused by this distinct alteration. SREBP-1c targets specific genes and causes key enzymes in DNL and lipid metabolism to be up-regulated. The alb-SREBP-1c mice developed hepatic lipid accumulation featuring a fatty liver by the age of 24 weeks under normocaloric nutrition. On a molecular level, clinical parameters and lipid-profiles varied according to the fatty liver phenotype. The desaturation index was increased compared to wild type mice. In liver, fatty acids (FA) were increased by 50% (p<0.01) and lipid composition was shifted to mono unsaturated FA, whereas lipid profile in adipose tissue or serum was not altered. Serum analyses revealed a ∼2-fold (p<0.01) increase in triglycerides and free fatty acids, and a ∼3-fold (p<0.01) increase in insulin levels, indicating insulin resistance; however, no significant cytokine profile alterations have been determined. Interestingly and unexpectedly, mice also developed adipositas with considerably increased visceral adipose tissue, although calorie intake was not different compared to control mice. In conclusion, the alb-SREBP-1c mouse model allowed the elucidation of the systemic impact of SREBP-1c as a central regulator of lipid metabolism in vivo and also demonstrated that the liver is a more active player in metabolic diseases such as visceral obesity and insulin resistance.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with hepatic insulin resistance and may result primarily from increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis (PRIM) or secondarily from adipose tissue lipolysis (SEC). We studied mice with hepatocyte- or adipocyte-specific SREBP-1c overexpression as models of PRIM and SEC. PRIM mice featured increased lipogenic gene expression in the liver and adipose tissue. Their selective, liver-specific insulin resistance was associated with increased C18:1-diacylglycerol content and protein kinase Cε translocation. SEC mice had decreased lipogenesis mediated by hepatic cholesterol responsive element–binding protein and featured portal/lobular inflammation along with total, whole-body insulin resistance. Hepatic mitochondrial respiration transiently increased and declined with aging along with higher muscle reactive oxygen species production. In conclusion, hepatic insulin resistance originates from lipotoxicity but not from lower mitochondrial capacity, which can even transiently adapt to increased peripheral lipolysis. Peripheral insulin resistance is prevented during increased hepatic lipogenesis only if adipose tissue lipid storage capacity is preserved.

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1a is a transcription factor sensing cellular cholesterol levels and integrating gene regulatory signals mediated by MAP kinase cascades. Here we report the identification of serine 117 in SREBP-1a as the major phosphorylation site of the MAP kinases Erk1/2. This site was identified by nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry and peptide sequencing of recombinant fusion proteins phosphorylated by Erk1/2 in vitro. Serine 117 was verified as the major phosphorylation site by in vitro mutagenesis. Mutation of serine 117 to alanine abolished Erk2-mediated phosphorylation in vitro and the MAP kinase-related transcriptional activation of SREBP-1a by insulin and platelet-derived growth factor in vivo. Our data indicate that the MAP kinase-mediated effects on SREBP-1a-regulated target genes are linked to this phosphorylation site.

Transcription of the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene is regulated by intracellular cholesterol concentration, hormones, and growth factors. We studied the mechanisms by which insulin and estradiol stimulate promoter activity of the LDL receptor gene. Hormonal effects were analyzed in HepG2 cells after transient transfection with promotor reporter gene constructs. Successive 5′ deletions of the LDL receptor promoter fragment from −537 to +88 revealed the sterol regulatory element 1 (SRE-1) between −65 and −56 as an insulin- and estradiol-sensitive cis-element. If the SRE-1 is point mutated at position −59 (C to G), which abolishes the binding of the SRE binding proteins (SREBP-1 and SREBP-2), no insulin or estradiol stimulatory effect on reporter gene expression was observed, indicating a role of SRE binding proteins in this regulatory mechanism. The concentration of the 125-kDa membrane-integrated SREBP-1 precursor protein in LDL repressed HepG2 cells is not altered by hormone treatment. Concentrations of SREBP-1 mRNA and precursor protein are reduced significantly by high and stable expression of an SREBP-1 antisense cDNA fragment in HepG2 cells (SREBP1(-) cells). Transfection of SREBP1(-) cells with promoter construct phLDL4 (−105 to +88) reduces induction of reporter gene activity by insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I to 35 and 17%, respectively, compared with HepG2 cells. The stimulatory effect of estradiol remains unchanged, and the inductions by pravastatin are enlarged. We conclude that different regulatory effects converge at SRE-1, but that SREBP-1 is selectively involved in the signal transduction pathway of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I leading to LDL receptor gene activation.