Overexpression of visfatin/PBEF/Nampt alters whole-body insulin sensitivity and lipid profile in rats

Background. Visfatin/PBEF/Nampt is an adipose-derived hormone proposed to exert insulin-mimicking effects and play a positive role in attenuating insulin resistance. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of visfatin/PBEF/Nampt on insulin sensitivity remain unknown. Method. Euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps were used in the same groups of rats to study the in vivo effect of visfatin/PBEF/Nampt on insulin sensitivity and glucose/lipid metabolism before and after the overexpression of visfatin/PBEF/Nampt protein, which was carried out by injection of pcDNA3.1-visfatin plasmid. Results. On day 4 after plasmid injection, plasma visfatin/PBEF/Nampt protein levels were significantly increased and displayed a hypocholesterolemic effect in both normal-chow (NC) and high-fat diet (HT) animals with pcDNA3.1-visfatin treatment. A second glucose clamp also demonstrated increased insulin sensitivity in pcDNA3.1-visfatin animals. Consistent with the clamp data, the extent of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 tyrosine phosphorylation in response to insulin was significantly enhanced in the liver and adipose tissues. In addition, the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor- (PPAR) and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins 2 (SREBP-2) in the liver and adipose tissues was also significantly upregulated in these animals. Conclusion. These results demonstrate that visfatin/PBEF/Nampt improves insulin sensitivity and exerts its hypocholesterolemic effects at least partially through upregulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 protein and the mRNA levels of PPAR and SREBP-2.