Person: Blázquez Fernández, Enrique
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First Name
Enrique
Last Name
Blázquez Fernández
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Medicina
Department
Area
Bioquímica y Biología Molecular
Identifiers
7 results
Search Results
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Item Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Can Reverse AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) and S6 Kinase (P70S6K) Activities Induced by Fluctuations in Glucose Levels in Hypothalamic Areas Involved in Feeding Behaviour(Molecular Neurobiology, 2012) Hurtado Carneiro, Verónica; Sanz Miguel, María Del Carmen; Roncero Rincón, Isabel; Vázquez Pérez, Patricia; Blázquez Fernández, Enrique; Álvarez García, Elvira; Rancán, Lisa; Bazán, Nicolas G.The anorexigenic peptide, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), reduces glucose metabolism in the human hypothalamus and brain stem. The brain activity of metabolic sensors such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) responds to changes in glucose levels. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its downstream target, p70S6 kinase (p70S6K), integrate nutrient and hormonal signals. The hypothalamic mTOR/p70S6K pathway has been implicated in the control of feeding and the regulation of energy balances. Therefore, we investigated the coordinated effects of glucose and GLP-1 on the expression and activity of AMPK and p70S6K in the areas involved in the control of feeding. The effect of GLP-1 on the expression and activities of AMPK and p70S6K was studied in hypothalamic slice explants exposed to low- and high-glucose concentrations by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and by the quantification of active-phosphorylated protein levels by immunoblot. In vivo, the effects of exendin-4 on hypothalamic AMPK and p70S6K activation were analysed in male obese Zucker and lean controls 1 h after exendin-4 injection to rats fasted for 48 h or after re-feeding for 2–4 h. High-glucose levels decreased the expression of Ampk in the lateral hypothalamus and treatment with GLP-1 reversed this effect. GLP-1 treatment inhibited the activities of AMPK and p70S6K when the activation of these protein kinases was maximum in both the ventromedial and lateral hypothalamic areas. Furthermore, in vivo s.c. administration of exendin-4 modulated AMPK and p70S6K activities in those areas, in both fasted and re-fed obese Zucker and lean control rats.Item PAS Kinase Is a Nutrient and Energy Sensor in Hypothalamic Areas Required for the Normal Function of AMPK and mTOR/S6K1(Molecular Neurobiology, 2014) Hurtado Carneiro, Verónica; Roncero Rincón, Isabel; Egger, Sascha S.; Wenger, Roland H.; Blázquez Fernández, Enrique; Sanz Miguel, María Del Carmen; Álvarez García, Elvira; Bazán, Nicolas G.The complications caused by overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes are one of the main problems that increase morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Hypothalamic metabolic sensors play an important role in the control of feeding and energy homeostasis. PAS kinase (PASK) is a nutrient sensor proposed as a regulator of glucose metabolism and cellular energy. The role of PASK might be similar to other known metabolic sensors, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). PASK-deficient mice resist diet-induced obesity. We have recently reported that AMPK and mTOR/S6K1 pathways are regulated in the ventromedial and lateral hypothalamus in response to nutritional states, being modulated by anorexigenic glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/exendin-4 in lean and obese rats. We identified PASK in hypothalamic areas, and its expression was regulated under fasting/re-feeding conditions and modulated by exendin-4. Furthermore, PASK-deficient mice have an impaired activation response of AMPK and mTOR/S6K1 pathways. Thus, hypothalamic AMPK and S6K1 were highly activated under fasted/re-fed conditions. Additionally, in this study, we have observed that the exendin-4 regulatory effect in the activity of metabolic sensors was lost in PASK-deficient mice, and the anorexigenic properties of exendin-4 were significantly reduced, suggesting that PASK could be a mediator in the GLP-1 signalling pathway. Our data indicated that the PASK function could be critical for preserving the nutrient effect on AMPK and mTOR/S6K1 pathways and maintain the regulatory role of exendin-4 in food intake. Some of the antidiabetogenic effects of exendin-4 might be modulated through these processes.Item Glucagon-like peptide-1 and its implications in obesity.(Hot Topics in Endocrine and Endocrine-Related Diseases, 2013) Hurtado Carneiro, Verónica; Roncero Rincón, Isabel; Blázquez Fernández, Enrique; Álvarez García, Elvira; Sanz Miguel, María Del Carmen; Fedele, MonicaItem Insulin-Receptor Substrate-2 (IRS-2) Is Required for Maintaining Glucokinase and Glucokinase Regulatory Protein Expression in Mouse Liver(Plos One, 2013) Roncero Rincón, Isabel; Álvarez García, Elvira; Acosta, Carlos; Sanz Miguel, María Del Carmen; Barrio, Pedro; Hurtado Carneiro, Verónica; Burks, Deborah; Blázquez Fernández, Enrique; Hennige, Anita MagdalenaInsulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins play important roles in hepatic nutrient homeostasis. Since glucokinase (GK) and glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP) function as key glucose sensors, we have investigated the expression of GK and GKRP in liver of Irs-2 deficient mice and Irs2(-/-) mice where Irs2 was reintroduced specifically into pancreatic β-cells [RIP-Irs-2/IRS-2(-/-)]. We observed that liver GK activity was significantly lower (p<0.0001) in IRS-2(-/-) mice. However, in RIP-Irs-2/IRS-2(-/-) mice, GK activity was similar to the values observed in wild-type animals. GK activity in hypothalamus was not altered in IRS-2(-/-) mice. GK and GKRP mRNA levels in liver of IRS-2(-/-) were significantly lower, whereas in RIP-Irs-2/IRS-2(-/-) mice, both GK and GKRP mRNAs levels were comparable to wild-type animals. At the protein level, the liver content of GK was reduced in IRS-2(-/-) mice as compared with controls, although GKRP levels were similar between these experimental models. Both GK and GKRP levels were lower in RIP-Irs-2/IRS-2(-/-) mice. These results suggest that IRS-2 signalling is important for maintaining the activity of liver GK. Moreover, the differences between liver and brain GK may be explained by the fact that expression of hepatic, but not brain, GK is controlled by insulin. GK activity was restored by the β-cell compensation in the RIP-Irs-2/IRS-2 mice. Interestingly, GK and GKRP protein expression remained low in RIP-Irs-2/IRS-2(-/-) mice, perhaps reflecting different mRNA half-lives or alterations in the process of translation and post-translational regulation.Item Glucokinase as a glucose sensor in hypothalamus. Regulation by orexigenic and anorexigenic peptides(Update on Mechanisms of Hormone Action - Focus on Metabolism, Growth and Reproduction, 2011) Sanz Miguel, María Del Carmen; Roncero Rincón, Isabel; Álvarez García, Elvira; Hurtado Carneiro, Verónica; Blázquez Fernández, Enrique; Aimaretti, Gianluca; Marzullo, Paolo; Prodam, FlaviaItem PAS Kinase as a Nutrient Sensor in Neuroblastoma and Hypothalamic Cells Required for the Normal Expression and Activity of Other Cellular Nutrient and Energy Sensors(Molecular Neurobiology, 2013) Hurtado Carneiro, Verónica; Roncero Rincón, Isabel; Blázquez Fernández, Enrique; Álvarez García, Elvira; Sanz Miguel, María Del Carmen; Bazán, Nicolas G.PAS kinase (PASK) is a nutrient sensor that is highly conserved throughout evolution. PASK-deficient mice reveal a metabolic phenotype similar to that described in S6 kinase-1 S6K1-deficient mice that are protected against obesity. Hypothalamic metabolic sensors, such as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), play an important role in feeding behavior, the homeostasis of body weight, and energy balance. These sensors respond to changes in nutrient levels in the hypothalamic areas involved in feeding behavior and in neuroblastoma N2A cells, and we have recently reported that those effects are modulated by the anorexigenic peptide glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Here, we identified PASK in both N2A cells and rat VMH and LH areas and found that its expression is regulated by glucose and GLP-1. High levels of glucose decreased Pask gene expression. Furthermore, PASK-silenced N2A cells record an impaired response by the AMPK and mTOR/S6K1 pathways to changes in glucose levels. Likewise, GLP-1 effect on the activity of AMPK, S6K1, and other intermediaries of both pathways and the regulatory role at the level of gene expression were also blocked in PASK-silenced cells. The absence of response to low glucose concentrations in PASK-silenced cells correlates with increased ATP content, low expression of mRNA coding for AMPK upstream kinase LKB1, and enhanced activation of S6K1. Our findings indicate that, at least in N2A cells, PASK is a key kinase in GLP-1 actions and exerts a coordinated response with the other metabolic sensors, suggesting that PASK might play an important role in feeding behavior.Item Insulin in the brain: its pathophysiological implications for states related with central insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and alzheimer’s disease(Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2024) Blázquez Fernández, Enrique; Velázquez Sánchez, Esther; Ruiz Albusac, Juan Miguel; Hurtado Carneiro, Verónica; Gaudreau, PierretteAlthough the brain has been considered an insulin-insensitive organ, recent reports on the location of insulin and its receptors in the brain have introduced new ways of considering this hormone responsible for several functions. The origin of insulin in the brain has been explained from peripheral or central sources, or both. Regardless of whether insulin is of peripheral origin or produced in the brain, this hormone may act through its own receptors present in the brain. The molecular events through which insulin functions in the brain are the same as those operating in the periphery. However, certain insulin actions are different in the central nervous system, such as hormone-induced glucose uptake due to a low insulin-sensitive GLUT-4 activity, and because of the predominant presence of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3. In addition, insulin in the brain contributes to the control of nutrient homeostasis, reproduction, cognition, and memory, as well as to neurotrophic, neuromodulatory, and neuroprotective effects. Alterations of these functional activities may contribute to the manifestation of several clinical entities, such as central insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A close association between T2DM and AD has been reported, to the extent that AD is twice more frequent in diabetic patients, and some authors have proposed the name “type 3 diabetes” for this association. There are links between AD and T2DM through mitochondrial alterations and oxidative stress, altered energy and glucose metabolism, cholesterol modifications, dysfunctional protein O-GlcNAcylation, formation of amyloid plaques, altered Aβ metabolism, and tau hyperphosphorylation. Advances in the knowledge of preclinical AD and T2DM may be a major stimulus for the development of treatment for preventing the pathogenic events of these disorders, mainly those focused on reducing brain insulin resistance, which is seems to be a common ground for both pathological entities.