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Endogenous steroid dehydroepiandrosterone and its role in modulation of local metabolism of glucocorticoids
Imrichová, Terezie ; Pácha, Jiří (advisor) ; Kůs, Vladimír (referee)
The anti-glucocorticoid effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) have been known for many years. However, its molecular basis have not been elucidated yet. The results of certain experiments suggest that not DHEA but its 7-oxygenated metabolites 7-OH-DHEA, 7-OH-DHEA a 7-oxo-DHEA are the antiglucocorticoid molecules. Various hypothesis about how these steroids exert their antiglucocorticoid action have been tested during the last several years. Some of them were reliably disproved (e.g. the competitive inhibition of glucocorticoid receptors), others were validated (e.g. the DHEA-mediated change in expression of certain enzymes participating in glucocorticoid metabolism), and yet others are still being considered. Nevertheless, clarifying the nature of the anti-glucocorticoid effect of DHEA or its metabolites is crucial for its possible use as a therapeutic drug.
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Analysis of the involvement of α2 - AMPK in the beneficial effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on obesity - associated metabolic derangements
Jeleník, Tomáš ; Rossmeisl, Martin (advisor) ; Cahová, Monika (referee) ; Pácha, Jiří (referee)
It is well established that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with long chain (n-3 LC-PUFA) have beneficial effects on the obesity-induced metabolic disorders in mice. However, in obese humans, the potency of these fatty acids to positively affect obesity and insulin resistance has been shown to be lower. The aim of the studies described in this thesis was to verify various approaches aimed at increasing efficiency of n-3 LC-PUFA and to study the involvement of 2 subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (2-AMPK) in the mechanisms of action of these compounds. Firstly, various chemical derivatives of DHA were tested in mice. Substance-2, the -ethyl ester of DHA, completely prevented and even partially reversed the development of obesity, fat accumulation, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia and white adipose tissue inflammation, even though the dose was only 10 % of that normally used in mice for the treatment with n-3 LC-PUFA. Secondly, the combination of n-3 LC-PUFA and a low-dose of anti-diabetic rosiglitazone prevented, in additive manner, development of dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, reduced the accumulation of body fat and adipocyte hypertrophy, while inducing adiponectin in mice fed a high-fat diet. This treatment also reversed impaired glucose tolerance in obese mice. The major part...
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Local metabolism of glucocorticoids in female Prague hereditary hypertriglyceridemic rats
Klusoňová, Petra ; Pácha, Jiří (advisor) ; Kopecký, Jan (referee) ; Haluzík, Martin (referee)
11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11HSD1) is an oxidoreductase which catalyzes conversion of inactive 11-oxo steroid derivatives into active 11-hydroxy forms. 11HSD1 elevates intracellular level of active glucocorticoid (GC) hormones: cortisol in human tissues and corticosterone in rodents, therefore local level of active GCs can be set independently from systemic secretion driven by hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). Chronic systemic excess of GCs results in development of Cushing's syndrome which is characterised by central obesity and other metabolic disturbances. Despite normal serum levels of GCs, the patients with idiopathic obesity also develop metabolic syndrome. It was suggested that GCs could be elevated locally in target tissues due to enhanced 11HSD1 activity. This hypothesis was confirmed in transgenic rodent models. Prague hereditary hypertriglyceridemic (HHTg) rats represent a non-obese model of metabolic syndrome without genetic manipulations or specific mutations. The strain was bred by cross-mating of Wistar rat individuals with elevated serum levels of triglycerides (TGs). The strain exhibit hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension. When kept on high carbohydrate diet HHTg rats exhibit alterations in glucose homeostasis. Since there are no data that would describe...
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The role of transport systems for potassium cations in the physiology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast
Marešová, Lydie ; Sychrová, Hana (advisor) ; Pácha, Jiří (referee) ; Janderová, Blanka (referee)
[n this work, we present the characteristics of kha 1 6,. strains in the background of various multiple mutations in genes encoding alkali-metal-cation transporters. Two main phenotype manifestations of the khal deletion were growth defect on high externa\ pH and hygromycin sensitivity. The correlation between these phenotypes and the kha 1 deletion was confirmed by plasmid complementation. Fluorescence microscopy of GFP-tagged Kha 1 p showed that this antiporter is localized preferentially intracellu\arly (in contrast to the plasma-membrane Na+/H+ antiporter Nha 1 p). Based on these findings, Kha 1 p is probably not localized in plasma membrane and do es not mediate efflux of alkali metal cations from cells (as published before in RammÍrez el aJ., 1998), but is important for the regulation of intracelular cation homeostasis and optima\ pH contro l, similarly as the Nhx l p. The khal deletion phenotypes were complemented by heterologous expression of a plant antiporter AtChx 17, showing that the proteins AfChx 17 and SeKhal could have similar ťunction and that S cerevisiae khal deletion mutants could serve for heterologous expression and characterization of some plant transporters in yeast, especially those localized intracellularly. We also showed that the presence of the Tokl channel strongly infl uences...
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