The aim of the present study was to identify the signaling mechanism(s) responsible for the modulation of growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a (GHSR1a)-associated Akt activity. Ghrelin leads to the activation of Akt through the interplay of distinct signaling mechanisms: an early G(i/o) protein-dependent pathway and a late pathway mediated by β-arrestins. We found that the Src homology ...

OBJECTIVE The effect of a novel small molecule plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) inhibitor on adipose tissue physiology was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS In human preadipocyte cultures, PAI-039 inhibited both basal and glucose-stimulated increases in active PAI-1 antigen, yet had no effect on PAI-1 mRNA, suggesting a direct inactivation of PAI-1. Differentiation of human preadipocyt...

Obesity is a public health crisis in the United States. Targeting preadipocyte to adipocyte conversion may be an effective approach to regulate adipose mass. Using differential screening we identified Fstl1, a secreted glycoprotein with roles in immunomodulation, cell growth, cardioprotection, and vascularization, as a "preadipokine". Fstl1 is highly expressed in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and dramat...