Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein: regulation of gene expression in vivo and in vitro by an insulin-sensitizing agent.

Pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione, is a novel antidiabetic compound that can lower blood glucose in diabetic rodents by increasing insulin sensitivity in target tissues. We have previously demonstrated that pioglitazone can enhance the insulin- or insulin-like growth factor-1-regulated differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, a cell line that undergoes morphological and biochemical differentiation to mature adipocytes [Mol. Pharmacol. 41:393-398 (1992)]. In this study, we have examined the effect of pioglitazone on the expression of the adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aFABP) in ob/ob mice and 3T3-L1 cells. Administration of the drug to mice was observed to cause a dose-dependent increase in aFABP mRNA expression in epididymal fat, which was correlated with a decrease in blood glucose and insulin levels. Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with pioglitazone enhanced aFABP expression in a time-dependent fashion. To explore a possible direct effect of pioglitazone on aFABP expression, a chimeric gene was constructed containing the aFABP promoter fused upstream of the bacterial reporter gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. After transfection into 3T3-L1 cells and selection of stable transformants, regulation of the chimeric gene was studied. Pioglitazone, in combination with insulin or insulin-like growth factor-1, was observed to elicit a dose-dependent increase in expression, indicating a role for pioglitazone in regulating transcription of the aFABP gene. Several thiazolidinedione analogs were tested for their ability to induce the expression of the chimeric gene, and it was found that activity in this assay paralleled the structure-activity relationships observed for enhancement of 3T3-L1 cell differentiation. These observations on control of aFABP gene expression by pioglitazone suggest possible mechanisms by which cellular sensitivity to insulin may be regulated.