OBJECTIVE-In obesity and diabetes, myocardial fatty acid utilization and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO 2 ) are increased, and cardiac efficiency is reduced. Mitochondrial uncoupling has been proposed to contribute to these metabolic abnormalities but has not been directly demonstrated. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-Oxygen consumptionand cardiac function were determined in db/db hearts perfused with glucose or glucose and palmitate. Mitochondrial function was determined in saponin-permeabilized fibers and proton leak kinetics and H 2 O 2 generation determined in isolated mitochondria.RESULTS-db/db hearts exhibited reduced cardiac function and increased MVO 2 . Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lipid and protein peroxidation products were increased. Mitochondrial proliferation was increased in db/db hearts, oxidative phosphorylation capacity was impaired, but H 2 O 2 production was increased. Mitochondria from db/db mice exhibited fatty acid-induced mitochondrial uncoupling that is inhibitable by GDP, suggesting that these changes are mediated by uncoupling proteins (UCPs). Mitochondrial uncoupling was not associated with an increase in UCP content, but fatty acid oxidation genes and expression of electron transfer flavoproteins were increased, whereas the content of the F1 ␣-subunit of ATP synthase was reduced.CONCLUSIONS-These data demonstrate that mitochondrial uncoupling in the heart in obesity and diabetes is mediated by activation of UCPs independently of changes in expression levels. This likely occurs on the basis of increased delivery of reducing equivalents from ␤-oxidation to the electron transport chain, which coupled with decreased oxidative phosphorylation capacity increases ROS production and lipid peroxidation.

Moxibustion is the main alternative medicine treatment that has been beneficial to diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), a common complication secondary to diabetic microvascular injury. However, the underlying protective mechanism of moxibustion against neuroinflammation remains unclear. We hypothesized that moxibustion treats DPN by regulating the balance of nuclear factor-2 erythroid-related factor-2 (Nrf2)-nuclear factor-kappa light chain enhancer of B cells (NF-кB). In vivo, diabetes was induced in rats by injecting streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg; i.p.). Moxibustion was then applied to “Zusanli” (ST 36), “Guanyuan” (BL 26), and “Yishu” (EX-B 3) acupuncture points. Nerve conduction was detected. Serum interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NF-κB and Nrf2 proteins were examined through immunoblot analysis. The mRNA of NF-κB and Nrf2 was evaluated through RT-PCR. We found that the conduction velocity and amplitude of the action potentials of sciatic nerve conduction were reduced in the DPN model group but were rescued by moxibustion treatment. Moxibustion also improved the effect of DPN on other parameters, including ultrastructural changes, NF-κB and Nrf2 expression in the sciatic nerve, and serum IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels. Our data suggested that moxibustion may alleviate neuroinflammation by inhibiting NF-κB and by activating Nrf2. Moxibustion may also provide therapeutic effects for patients with DPN by simultaneously targeting Nrf2 and NF-κB.

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