Research Article Details
Article ID: | A45278 |
PMID: | 25422106 |
Source: | Diabetes |
Title: | Hepatic cyclooxygenase-2 expression protects against diet-induced steatosis, obesity, and insulin resistance. |
Abstract: | Accumulation evidence links obesity-induced inflammation as an important contributor to the development of insulin resistance, which plays a key role in the pathophysiology of obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 catalyze the first step in prostanoid biosynthesis. Because adult hepatocytes fail to induce COX-2 expression regardless of the proinflammatory stimuli used, we have evaluated whether this lack of expression under mild proinflammatory conditions might constitute a permissive condition for the onset of insulin resistance. Our results show that constitutive expression of human COX-2 (hCOX-2) in hepatocytes protects against adiposity, inflammation, and, hence, insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet, as demonstrated by decreased hepatic steatosis, adiposity, plasmatic and hepatic triglycerides and free fatty acids, increased adiponectin-to-leptin ratio, and decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, together with an enhancement of insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. Furthermore, hCOX-2 transgenic mice exhibited increased whole-body energy expenditure due in part by induction of thermogenesis and fatty acid oxidation. The analysis of hepatic insulin signaling revealed an increase in insulin receptor-mediated Akt phosphorylation in hCOX-2 transgenic mice. In conclusion, our results point to COX-2 as a potential therapeutic target against obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction. |
DOI: | 10.2337/db14-0979 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S05 | Anti-inflammatory | inflammatory | Bile acid; TNF-a inhibitor; Dual PPAR-α and -δ agonists; Toll-Like Receptor; (TLR)-4 antagonist; Caspase inhibitor; ASK-1 inhibitor | Ursodeoxycholic Acid; Pentoxifylline; Elafibranor; JKB-121; Emricasan; Selonsertib; | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |