Endotoxin disrupts the leucine-signaling pathway involving phosphorylation of mTOR, 4E-BP1, and S6K1 in skeletal muscle.

Endotoxin (i.e., lipopolysaccharide, LPS) impairs skeletal muscle protein synthesis. Although this impairment is not acutely associated with a decreased plasma concentration of total amino acids, LPS may blunt the anabolic response to amino acids. To examine this hypothesis, rats were injected intraperitoneally with LPS or saline (Sal) and 4 h thereafter were orally administered either leucine (Leu) or Sal. The gastrocnemius was removed 20 min later to assess signaling components important in the translational control of protein synthesis. In the Sal-Leu group phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 in muscle was markedly increased, compared to values from time-matched saline-treated control rats. This change was associated with a redistribution of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E from the inactive eIF4E x 4E-BP1 complex to the active eIF4E x eIF4G complex. In LPS-treated rats, the Leu-induced phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and changes in eIF4E distribution were partially or completely abrogated. LPS also antagonized the Leu-induced increase in phosphorylation of S6K1, ribosomal protein S6 and mTOR. Neither LPS nor leu altered the total amount or phosphorylation of TSC2 in muscle. The ability of LPS to blunt the anabolic effects of Leu could not be attributed to differences in the plasma concentrations of insulin or Leu between groups. Furthermore, the replacement of plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I in LPS-treated rats to basal levels also did not ameliorate the defect in leucine-induced phosphorylation of S6K1 or S6, although it did reverse the LPS-induced decrease in the constitutive phosphorylation of mTOR, S6 and 4E-BP1. Pretreatment with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486 was unable to prevent the LPS-induced leucine resistance. In contrast, to the abovementioned results with leucine, LPS did not prevent the ability of pharmacological levels of IGF-I to phosphorylate 4E-BP1, S6K1, mTOR or alter the availability of eIF4E. Hence, LPS working via a glucocorticoid-independent mechanism produces a leucine resistance in skeletal muscle that might be expected to impair the ability of this amino acid to stimulate translation initiation and protein synthesis.

Lang CH ，Frost RA 《JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY》

Alcohol impairs leucine-mediated phosphorylation of 4E-BP1, S6K1, eIF4G, and mTOR in skeletal muscle.

Lang CH ，Frost RA ，Deshpande N ，Kumar V ，Vary TC ，Jefferson LS ，Kimball SR ... -  《AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM》

Differential effect of sepsis on ability of leucine and IGF-I to stimulate muscle translation initiation.

Lang CH ，Frost RA 《AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM》

Alcohol impairs insulin and IGF-I stimulation of S6K1 but not 4E-BP1 in skeletal muscle.

Kumar V ，Frost RA ，Lang CH 《AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM》

Elevated plasma free fatty acids decrease basal protein synthesis, but not the anabolic effect of leucine, in skeletal muscle.

Lang CH 《AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM》