Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B as new activator for hepatic lipogenesis via sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 gene expression

Like hyperglycemia, postprandial (diet-induced) hypertriglyceridemia is thought to play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of insulin resistant/metabolic syndrome. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) is a key transcription factor to induce postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. We found that insulin-resistant rats fed a diet high in fructose showed an increased protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) content with strong expression of SREBP-1 mRNA in the liver. To clarify the association of PTP1B with SREBP-1 gene expression, we overexpressed PTP1B in rat hepatocytes, which led to increased mRNA content and promoter activity of SREBP-1a and -1c, resulting in the increased mRNA expression of fatty-acid synthase, one of the SREBP-1-responsive lipogenic genes. Because PTP1B overexpression increased phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, we inhibited PP2A activity by expression of its selective inhibitor, SV40 small t antigen and found that this normalized the PTP1B-enhanced SREBP-1a and -1c mRNA expressions through activation of the Sp1 site. These results indicate that PTP1B may regulate gene expression of SREBP-1 via enhancement of PP2A activity, thus mediating hepatic lipogenesis and postprandial hypertriglyceridemia. We demonstrate here a unique serial activation of the PTP1B-PP2A axis as a novel mechanism for the regulation of gene expression in the biosynthesis of triglyceride.