利拉鲁肽联合二甲双胍对肥胖合并2型糖尿病患者糖脂代谢、胰岛β细胞功能及体脂的影响探究

目的探讨利拉鲁肽联合二甲双胍对肥胖合并2型糖尿病患者糖脂代谢、胰岛β细胞功能及体脂的影响。 方法选择成都市郫都区第二人民医院2017年1月至2018年12月收治的肥胖合并2型糖尿病患者141例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法分为利拉鲁肽组47例、二甲双胍组47例与联合组47例。利拉鲁肽组采用利拉鲁肽治疗,二甲双胍组采用二甲双胍治疗,联合组采用利拉鲁肽联合二甲双胍治疗。三组疗程均为3个月。比较三组治疗前后糖代谢、脂代谢、胰岛β细胞功能和体重指数（BMI）变化,及不良反应,治疗前后比较采用配对t检验,三组间比较采用F检验,两组间比较采用LSD-t检验。 结果三组治疗后FPG、HbA1c和2hPG水平较治疗前降低,差异具有统计学意义（P均< 0.05）;联合组治疗后FPG（6.57±0.39）?mmol/L、HbA1c（7.03±0.42）%和2hPG（8.78±0.45）mmol/L低于利拉鲁肽组（7.03±0.32）mmol/ L、（7.68±0.35）%、（9.56±0.65）mmol/L（t = 6.251、8.151、6.764,P均?< 0.05）和二甲双胍组（7.06±0.39）mmol/L、（7.76±0.46）%、（9.70±0.81）?mmol/L,差异具有统计学意义（t = 6.091、8.034、6.807,P均< 0.05）。三组治疗后HDL-C水平较治疗前升高,而TC、LDL-C和TG水平较治疗前降低,差异具有统计学意义（P均< 0.05）;联合组治疗后HDL-C （1.56±0.13） mmol/ L高于利拉鲁肽组（1.29±0.14） mmol/ L（t = 9.689,P < 0.05）和二甲双胍组（1.32±0.15） mmol/ L,差异具有统计学意义（t = 8.289,P < 0.05）;而联合组TC（4.35±0.38） mmol/L、LDL-C（2.79±0.21）mmol/L和TG（2.15±0.26） mmol/ L低于利拉鲁肽组（5.18±0.43）mmol/L、（3.19±0.15）mmol/L、（2.65±0.17） mmol/L（t = 9.916、10.626、11.035,P < 0.05）和二甲双胍组（5.15±0.34）mmol/L、（3.23±0.25）mmol/ L、（2.68±0.23） mmol/ L,差异具有统计学意义（t = 10.756、9.239、10.467,P均< 0.05）。三组治疗后HOMA-β较治疗前升高,差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;联合组治疗后HOMA-β（4.87±0.28）高于利拉鲁肽组（4.15±0.36）和二甲双胍组（4.08±0.41）,差异具有统计学意义（t = 10.823,10.909,P均< 0.05）。三组治疗后BMI较治疗前降低,差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.05）;联合组治疗后BMI （28.08±0.37）kg/m²低于利拉鲁肽组（29.73±0.49）kg/m²和二甲双胍组（29.61±0.43）kg/m²,差异具有统计学意义（t = 18.423,18.490,P均< 0.05）。 结论利拉鲁肽联合二甲双胍对肥胖合并2型糖尿病患者效果良好,可改善患者糖脂代谢和胰岛β细胞功能,降低体质指数,值得临床借鉴。     

The role of mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase-1 in regulating lipid and glucose homeostasis in high-fat diet fed mice

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) is involved in triacylglycerol (TAG) and phospholipid synthesis, catalyzing the first committed step. In order to further investigate the in vivo importance of the dominating mitochondrial variant, GPAT1, a novel GPAT1^−/− mouse model was generated and studied. Female GPAT1^−/− mice had reduced body weight-gain and adiposity when fed chow diet compared with littermate wild-type controls. Furthermore, GPAT1^−/− females on chow diet showed decreased liver TAG content, plasma cholesterol and TAG levels and increased ex vivo liver fatty acid oxidation and plasma ketone bodies. However, these beneficial effects were abolished and the glucose tolerance tended to be impaired when GPAT1^−/− females were fed a long-term high-fat diet (HFD). GPAT1-deficiency was not associated with altered whole body energy expenditure or respiratory exchange ratio. In addition, there were no changes in male GPAT1^−/− mice fed either diet except for increased plasma ketone bodies on chow diet, indicating a gender-specific phenotype. Thus, GPAT1-deficiency does not protect against HFD-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis or whole body glucose intolerance.     

利拉鲁肽联合二甲双胍对2型糖尿病合并肥胖患者胰岛β细胞功能以及内脏脂肪水平的影响

目的分析利拉鲁肽联合二甲双胍对2型糖尿病（T2DM）合并肥胖患者胰岛β细胞功能以及内脏脂肪水平的影响。 方法选取重庆两江新区第一人民医院2016年3月至2018年3月收治的194例T2DM合并肥胖患者,将其随机分为研究组、对照组,各97例,均给予为期16周的二甲双胍治疗,研究组加用利拉鲁肽皮下注射。比较两组患者治疗前后血糖、胰岛β细胞功能指数（HOMA-β）、内脏脂肪水平（VFL）等指标变化,总结利拉鲁肽在T2DM合并肥胖治疗中的临床价值。计数资料采用卡方检验,计量资料采用t检验。 结果研究组不良反应发生率为29.90﹪,对照组为23.71﹪,组间比较差异无统计学意义（χ²= 0.946,P > 0.05）。两组患者治疗后FPG、2 hPG、BMI均较治疗前下降,研究组治疗后FPG、2 hPG、BMI分别为（7.12±1.35）?mmol/?L、（9.03±2.66）?mmol/L、（26.32±1.60）kg/m²,均低于对照组的（7.83± 1.19）?mmol/L、（10.57±2.39）?mmol/?L、（27.74±1.66）kg/m²,差异有统计学意义（t = 3.886、4.241、6.066,P均?< 0.05）。两组患者治疗后HOMA-β较治疗前升高,HOMA-IR较治疗前下降,研究组治疗后HOMA-β为155.69±24.55,高于对照组的117.49±21.98,其HOMA-IR为2.30±0.71,低于后者的3.20±0.64,差异有统计学意义（t = 11.407、9.273,P均< 0.05）。两组患者治疗后VFL、脂肪率均较治疗前下降,研究组治疗后VFL、脂肪率低于对照组,且其治疗后肌肉含量较治疗前下降,差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。 结论在二甲双胍的基础上联合利拉鲁肽能够通过改善胰岛β细胞功能、减少内脏脂肪,达到改善T2DM合并肥胖患者的胰岛素抵抗的目的,是一种安全、有效的治疗方案。     

Low resistin levels in adipose tissues and serum in high-fat fed mice and genetically obese mice: development of an ELISA system for quantification of resistin

Obesity is a major risk factor for insulin resistance. Resistin, an adipocyte-derived hormone-like molecule, is considered to serve as an important link between obesity and insulin resistance. However, the physiological role of resistin and the mechanism by which it neutralizes insulin action are still unclear. There are also conflicting reports that cast doubt on the cause of insulin resistance. In this study, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for quantification of mouse resistin levels, analyzed in relation to insulin resistance. C57BL/6J mice fed high-fat diet compared with normal diet had low resistin levels (by 70%, P<0.01) in epididymal adipose tissues. Genetically obese mice, db/db and KK-A(y), had hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia but low resistin levels (decreases by 83 and 90%, both P<0.01) compared with C57/BL6J mice in epididymal adipose tissues. Serum resistin levels determined by Western blotting showed a similar pattern to those in adipose tissues. Resistin levels in adipose tissues correlated with serum adiponectin concentrations positively (r=0.49). Our results indicate that the novel ELISA system is suitable for measurement of resistin levels in adipose tissues. The results do not support a role for resistin in insulin resistance.     

MicroRNAs and type 2 diabetes/obesity

MicroRNAs belong to a newly identified class of small non-coding RNAs that have been widely implicated in the fine-tuning of many physiological processes such as the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes(T2D) and obesity.Microarray studies have highlighted an altered profile of miRNA expression in insulin target tissues in diabetic and obese models.Emerging evidences suggest that miRNAs play significant roles in insulin production,secretion and actions,as well as in diverse aspects of glucose homeostasis and adipocyte differentiation. The identification of tissue-specific miRNAs implicated in T2D and obesity might be useful for the future development of effective strategies for early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention of obesity-related medical complications.     

Deletion of pancreatic β‐cell adenosine kinase improves glucose homeostasis in young mice and ameliorates streptozotocin‐induced hyperglycaemia

Severe reduction in the β‐cell number (collectively known as the β‐cell mass) contributes to the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Recent pharmacological studies have suggested that increased pancreatic β‐cell proliferation could be due to specific inhibition of adenosine kinase (ADK). However, genetic evidence for the function of pancreatic β‐cell ADK under physiological conditions or in a pathological context is still lacking. In this study, we crossed mice carrying LoxP‐flanked Adk gene with Ins2‐Cre mice to acquire pancreatic β ‐cell ADK deficiency (Ins2‐Cre^±Adk^fl/fl) mice. Our results revealed that Ins2‐Cre^+/‐Adk^fl/fl mice showed improved glucose metabolism and β‐cell mass in younger mice, but showed normal activity in adult mice. Moreover, Ins2‐Cre^±Adk^fl/fl mice were more resistant to streptozotocin (STZ) induced hyperglycaemia and pancreatic β‐cell damage in adult mice. In conclusion, we found that ADK negatively regulates β‐cell replication in young mice as well as under pathological conditions, such as STZ induced pancreatic β‐cell damage. Our study provided genetic evidence that specific inhibition of pancreatic β‐cell ADK has potential for anti‐diabetic therapy.     

组方食品对2型糖尿病小鼠血糖及 肠道菌群的影响

目的研究含有浒苔等植物的功能性食品对糖尿病小鼠血糖浓度的影响,并应用PCR-DGGE技术评价其对昆明小鼠肠道菌群稳态的影响。方法采用高脂饲料喂养昆明小鼠加腹腔注射链脲佐菌素(STZ)的方法建立糖尿病小鼠模型;将实验动物随机分为正常对照组、自然恢复组和功能性食品喂养组,连续给药4周,尾静脉采血测量血糖水平。收集小鼠新鲜粪便,提取粪便细菌基因组DNA,通过PCR-DGGE获得细菌群落指纹图谱,并进行相关软件分析,同时切离差异显著条带进行序列分析。结果本实验采用的功能性食品对糖尿病小鼠有降糖作用,并使血糖值稳定地维持在较低水平。4周后,功能性食品喂养的糖尿病小鼠血糖水平相对普通饲料喂养的糖尿病小鼠血糖发生显著性下降(t=4.19,P0.01);给2型糖尿病小鼠提供普通饲料时,其肠道菌群种类和数目相对较少;而提供功能性食品时,肠道菌群种类和数目相对增多,特别是双歧杆菌、Prevotella oryzae、Barnesiella intestinihominis、Culturomica和Parabacteroides distasonis明显增多,但是Muribaculum较少。结论高脂饲料结合STZ诱导的2型糖尿病小鼠肠道菌群发生显著改变,组方食品通过扶持肠道菌群,降低血糖水平。     

Petalonia improves glucose homeostasis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

The anti-diabetic potential of Petalonia binghamiae extract (PBE) was evaluated in vivo. Dietary administration of PBE to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice significantly lowered blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance. The mode of action by which PBE attenuated diabetes was investigated in vitro using 3T3-L1 cells. PBE treatment stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation as evidenced by increased triglyceride accumulation. At the molecular level, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and terminal marker protein aP2, as well as the mRNA of GLUT4 were up-regulated by PBE. In mature adipocytes, PBE significantly stimulated the uptake of glucose and the expression of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1). Furthermore, PBE increased PPARγ luciferase reporter gene activity in COS-1 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the in vivo anti-diabetic effect of PBE is mediated by both insulin-like and insulin-sensitizing actions in adipocytes.     

Oxyntomodulin ameliorates glucose intolerance in mice fed a high-fat diet

We evaluated the acute effects of OXM on glucose metabolism in diet-induced insulin-resistant male C57Bl/6 mice. To determine the effects on glucose tolerance, mice were intraperitoneally injected with OXM (0.75, 2.5, or 7.5 nmol) or vehicle prior to an ip glucose tolerance test. OXM (0.75 nmol/h) or vehicle was infused during a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp to quantify insulin action on glucose production and disposal. OXM dose-dependently improved glucose tolerance as estimated by AUC for glucose (OXM: 7.5 nmol, 1,564 +/- 460, P < 0.01; 2.5 nmol, 1,828 +/- 684, P < 0.01; 0.75 nmol, 2,322 +/- 303, P < 0.05; control: 2,790 +/- 222 mmol.l(-1).120 min). Insulin levels in response to glucose administration were higher in 7.5 nmol OXM-treated animals compared with controls. In basal clamp conditions, OXM increased EGP (82.2 +/- 14.7 vs. 39.9 +/- 5.7 micromol.min(-1).kg(-1), P < 0.001). During insulin infusion, insulin levels were twice as high in OXM-treated mice compared with controls (10.6 +/- 2.8 vs. 4.4 +/- 2.2 ng/ml, P < 0.01). Consequently, glucose infusion rate (118.6 +/- 30.8 vs. 38.8 +/- 26.4 microl/h, P < 0.001) and glucose disposal (88.1 +/- 13.0 vs. 45.2 +/- 6.9 micromol.min(-1).kg(-1), P < 0.001) were enhanced in mice that received OXM. In addition, glucose production was more suppressed during OXM infusion (35.7 +/- 15.5 vs. 15.8 +/- 11.4% inhibition, P < 0.05). However, if these data were expressed per unit concentration of circulating insulin, OXM did not affect insulin action on glucose disposal and production. These results indicate that OXM beneficially affects glucose metabolism in diet-induced insulin-resistant C57Bl/6 mice. It ameliorates glucose intolerance, most likely because it elevates glucose-induced plasma insulin concentrations. OXM does not appear to impact on insulin action.     

Single-bulb garlic oil regulates toll-like receptors and Nrf2 cross-talk and IL-17 production in mice fed with high-fat diet

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of single-bulb garlic oil (SGO) on toll-like receptors 3 and 4 (TLR3 and TLR 4) and nuclear erythroid factor-like 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway resulted from a high-fat diet and its underlying mechanism. Twenty-four Balb/c mice allocated into six groups: 1) N: mice fed with standard chow; 2) HFD: mice fed a high-fat diet for 45 days without any treatment; 3) HFD + Simv: mice fed a high-fat diet for 45 days and treated with simvastatin; 4–6) HFD + SGO 100, 200, 400 (mice fed a high-fat diet for 45 days and treated with single-bulb garlic oil at dose: 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight for 30 days), respectively. At the end of treatment, spleen and hepar were isolated. The flow cytometry analysis was performed to analyze the relative number of nrf2, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), TLR3, TLR4 and interleukin (IL-17). The results showed that HFD induction significantly reduced Nrf-2 and antioxidant enzyme levels. Furthermore, HFD induction increased TLR3 and TLR4 signaling and IL-17 production. Interestingly, 200 mg/kg BW of SGO increased the relative number Nrf-2 followed by SOD and HO-1 elevation at a dose of 100 mg/kg BW. SGO100 notably decrease the relative number of TLR3 (CD11b⁺TLR3⁺) and TLR4 (CD11b⁺TLR4⁺). The production of IL-17 by CD4 and CD8 were also reduced after receiving SGO at 200 mg/kg BW. This study suggests that the protective effect of SGO treatment on HFD mice was achieved by modulating TLR-Nrf2 cross-talks and decreasing IL-17 production. Our findings support a potential beneficial role of SGO for treating metabolic disease caused by a high-fat diet.     

A newly synthetic chromium complex--chromium(phenylalanine)3 improves insulin responsiveness and reduces whole body glucose tolerance

Low-molecular-weight organic chromium complexes such as chromium picolinate are often used as dietary supplements to improve insulin sensitivity and to correct dyslipidemia. However, toxicity associated with such chromium compounds has compromised their therapeutic value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a newly synthesized complex of chromium with phenylalanine, Cr(pa)3 on insulin-signaling and glucose tolerance. Cr(pa)3 was synthesized by chelating chromium(III) with D-phenylalanine ligand in aqueous solution. In mouse 3T3-adipocytes, Cr(pa)3 augmented insulin-stimulated glucose-uptake as assessed by a radioactive-glucose uptake assay. At the molecular level, Cr(pa)3 enhanced insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt in a time- and concentration-dependent manner without altering the phosphorylation of insulin receptor. Oral treatment with Cr(pa)3 (150 microg/kg/d, for six weeks) in ob/ob+/+ obese mice significantly alleviated glucose tolerance compared with untreated obese mice. Unlike chromium picolinate, Cr(pa)3 does not cleave DNA under physiological reducing conditions. Collectively, these data suggest that Cr(pa)3 may represent a novel, less-toxic chromium supplement with potential therapeutic value to improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control in type II diabetes.     

Multivitamin restriction increases adiposity and disrupts glucose homeostasis in mice

A strong association between obesity and low plasma concentrations of vitamins has been widely reported; however, the causality of this relationship is still not established. Our goal was to evaluate the impact of a multivitamin restriction diet (MRD) on body weight, adiposity and glucose homeostasis in mice. The mice were given a standard diet or a diet containing 50 % of the recommended vitamin intake (MRD) for 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, total body weight was 6 % higher in MRD animals than in the control group, and the adiposity of the MRD animals more than doubled. The HOMA-IR index of the MRD animals was significantly increased. The adipose tissue of MRD animals had lower expression of mRNA encoding adiponectin and Pnpla2 (47 and 32 %, respectively) and 43 % higher leptin mRNA levels. In the liver, the mRNA levels of Pparα and Pgc1α were reduced (29 and 69 %, respectively) in MRD mice. Finally, the level of β-hydroxybutyrate, a ketonic body reflecting fatty acid oxidation, was decreased by 45 % in MRD mice. Our results suggest that MRD promotes adiposity, possibly by decreasing adipose tissue lipolysis and hepatic β-oxidation. These results could highlight a possible role of vitamin deficiency in the etiology of obesity and associated disorders.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12263-014-0410-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Reduced response to adiponectin and lower abundance of adiponectin receptor proteins in type 2 diabetic monocytes

The abundance of the adiponectin receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2, and the effects of the antidiabetic adipokine adiponectin in monocytes of normal-weight and overweight controls and type 2 diabetic patients (T2D) were analyzed. AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 mRNAs were increased in monocytes of obese controls and T2D patients when compared to normal-weight controls, and AdipoR1 mRNA positively correlated to AdipoR2 mRNA, the waist to hip ratio and systemic adiponectin. However, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 proteins were lower in monocytes of T2D compared to normal-weight donors. Induction of IL-6 and IL-8 by adiponectin, an effect involving p38 MAPK, was also reduced in T2D monocytes.     

Plasma marker proteins associated with the progression of lung cancer in obese mice fed a high-fat diet

Recent studies have indicated that obesity increases the risk of developing several types of cancers including lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In the present study, we attempted to discover marker proteins associated with lung cancer progression mediated by treatment of a high-fat diet (HFD) using 2DE combined with MALDI-TOF-MS. Image analysis and further statistical analysis allowed for the detection and identification of 14 proteins, which consequently were classified into two groups based on their regulation patterns in response to diet and tumor. Interestingly, the protein abundances of ten proteins exhibited a synergistic effect when treated with HFD in tumor-bearing mice (Group I). Proteins that had a higher abundance in the plasma of tumor-bearing mice included FGB, Tf, Hpx, Cp, and Hp and the proteins that had a lower abundance included A1AT precursor, PON1, TTRt, and α2-M. These proteins can be used as molecular markers that contribute simultaneously to both obesity and cancer. Four other proteins showed an increase (complement C3 and FGA) or decrease (Apo H and AT III precursor) in the only tumor-bearing mice independently of diet (Group II). The marker proteins identified here may lead to the development of new therapeutics for obesity-causative treatment of lung cancer.     

Oleanolic acid,a natural triterpenoid improves blood glucose tolerance in normal mice and ameliorates visceral obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet

Excess visceral adiposity may predispose to chronic diseases like hypertension and type 2 diabetes with a high risk for coronary artery disease. Adipose tissue secreted cytokines and oxidative stress play an important role in chronic disease progression. To combat adiposity, plant-derived triterpenes are currently receiving much attention as they possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. In the search for potential antiobese compounds from natural sources, this study evaluated the effects of oleanolic acid (OA), a pentacyclic triterpene commonly present in fruits and vegetables, in glucose tolerance test and on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice. Adult male Swiss mice treated or not with OA (10 mg/kg) were fed a HFD during 15 weeks. Sibutramine (SIB) treated group (10 mg/kg) was included for comparison. Weekly body weights, food and water consumption were measured, and at the end of study period, the levels of blood glucose and lipids, plasma hormone levels of insulin, ghrelin and leptin, and the visceral abdominal fat content were analysed. Mice treated with OA and fed a HFD showed significantly (p < 0.05) improved glucose tolerance, decreased body weights, visceral adiposity, blood glucose, plasma lipids relative to their respective controls fed no OA. Additionally, OA treatment, while significantly elevating the plasma hormone level of leptin, decreased the level of ghrelin. However, it caused a greater decrease in plasma amylase activity than lipase. Sibutramine-treated group also manifested similar effects like OA except for blood glucose level that was not different from HFD control. These findings suggest that OA ameliorates visceral adiposity and improves glucose tolerance in mice and thus has an antiobese potential through modulation of carbohydrate and fat metabolism.     

Ghrelin and glucose homeostasis

Ghrelin plays an important physiological role in modulating GH secretion, insulin secretion and glucose metabolism. Ghrelin has direct effects on pancreatic islet function. Also, ghrelin is part of a mechanism that integrates the physiological response to fasting. However, pharmacologic studies indicate the important obesogenic/diabetogenic properties of ghrelin. This is very likely of physiological relevance, deriving from a requirement to protect against seasonal periods of food scarcity by building energy reserves, predominantly in the form of fat. Available data indicate the potential of ghrelin blockade as a means to prevent its diabetogenic effects. Several studies indicate a negative correlation between ghrelin levels and the incidence of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. However, it is unclear if low ghrelin levels are a risk factor or a compensatory response. Direct antagonism of the receptor does not always have the desired effects, however, since it can cause increased body weight gain. Pharmacological suppression of the ghrelin/des-acyl ghrelin ratio by treatment with des-acyl ghrelin may also be a viable alternative approach which appears to improve insulin sensitivity. A promising recently developed approach appears to be through the blockade of GOAT activity, although the longer term effects of this treatment remain to be investigated.     

Long-term melatonin administration improves glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance state in high-fat-diet fed rats

Emerging evidence support an important role of reactive oxygen species in various forms of insulin resistance. It is identified that melatonin has antioxidant properties and prevents toxic effects of reactive oxygen species. In this study, we sought to assess the involvement of melatonin in the progression of insulin resistance in response to a high-fat diet (HFD) and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Male rats were fed with a control diet, a high-fat diet, or a high-fat diet supplemented with melatonin (5 mg kg^?1, i.p.) for 10 weeks. Glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, antioxidative potency, and metabolic profiles in the rats were evaluated. Our results showed that a HFD led to increasing body mass, adipose tissue weight, plasma insulin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), and decreased HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) in rats. There was also a significant increase in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, oxidative stress markers both in the plasma and liver. An enhanced hepatic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy-kinase (PEPCK) activity and RNA expression were observed. Impaired insulin signaling was evidenced by reducing insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) tyrosine phosphorylation and protein kinase B (PKB) serine phosphorylation in response to insulin. Overactivation of stress-activated protein kinases JNK was also observed in the liver of HFD rats. However, simultaneous administration of melatonin to HFD rats significantly reduced oxidative stress in the system and liver, markedly improved impaired glucose homeostasis, insulin sensitivity, antioxidative potency, metabolic profiles and all the aforesaid adverse changes in HFD rats. Our results demonstrated that anti-oxidative property of melatonin is sufficient to ameliorate the insulin resistance condition, leading to the improvement of glucose homeostasis and the restoration of hepatic insulin signaling in a rat model of HFD-induced insulin resistance.     

Adenoviral vector-mediated glucagon-like peptide 1 gene therapy improves glucose homeostasis in Zucker diabetic fatty rats

BACKGROUND: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a gut-derived incretin hormone that plays an important role in glucose homeostasis. Its functions include glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, suppression of glucagon secretion, deceleration of gastric emptying, and reduction in appetite and food intake. Despite the numerous antidiabetic properties of GLP-1, its therapeutic potential is limited by its short biological half-life due to rapid enzymatic degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase IV. The present study aimed to demonstrate the therapeutic effects of constitutively expressed GLP-1 in an overt type 2 diabetic animal model using an adenoviral vector system. METHODS: A novel plasmid (pAAV-ILGLP-1) and recombinant adenoviral vector (Ad-ILGLP-1) were constructed with the cytomegalovirus promoter and insulin leader sequence followed by GLP-1(7-37) cDNA. RESULTS: The results of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed significantly elevated levels of GLP-1(7-37) secreted by human embryonic kidney cells transfected with the construct containing the leader sequence. A single intravenous administration of Ad-ILGLP-1 into 12-week-old Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, which have overt type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), achieved near normoglycemia for 3 weeks and improved utilization of blood glucose in glucose tolerance tests. Circulating plasma levels of GLP-1 increased in GLP-1-treated ZDF rats, but diminished 21 days after treatment. When compared with controls, Ad-ILGLP-1-treated ZDF rats had a lower homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance score indicating amelioration in insulin resistance. Immunohistochemical staining showed that cells expressing GLP-1 were found in the livers of GLP-1-treated ZDF rats. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that GLP-1 gene therapy can improve glucose homeostasis in fully developed diabetic animal models and may be a promising treatment modality for T2DM in humans.     

LXRbeta is required for adipocyte growth, glucose homeostasis, and beta cell function

Liver X receptors (LXR) alpha and beta are nuclear oxysterol receptors with established roles in cholesterol, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism. Although LXRs have been extensively studied in liver and macrophages, the importance for development and metabolism of other tissues and cell types is not as well characterized. We demonstrate here that although LXRalpha and LXRbeta are not required for adipocyte development per se, LXRbeta is required for the increase in adipocyte size that normally occurs with aging and diet-induced obesity. Similar food intake and oxygen consumption in LXRbeta-/- mice suggests that reduced storage of lipid in adipose tissue is not due to altered energy balance. Despite reduced amounts of adipose tissue, LXRbeta-/- mice on a chow diet have insulin sensitivity and levels of adipocyte hormones similar to wild type mice. However, these mice are glucose-intolerant due to impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion. Lipid droplets in pancreatic islets may result from accumulation of cholesterol esters as analysis of islet gene expression reveals that LXRbeta is required for expression of the cholesterol transporters, ABCA1 and ABCG1. Our data establish novel roles for LXRbeta in adipocyte growth, glucose homeostasis, and beta cell function.     

Ablation of Elovl6 protects pancreatic islets from high-fat diet-induced impairment of insulin secretion

ELOVL family member 6, elongation of very long-chain fatty acids (Elovl6) is a microsomal enzyme that regulates the elongation of C12–16 saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids and is related to the development of obesity-induced insulin resistance via the modification of the fatty acid composition. In this study, we investigated the role of systemic Elovl6 in the pancreatic islet and β-cell function. Elovl6 is expressed in both islets and β-cell lines. In mice fed with chow, islets of the Elovl6^−/− mice displayed normal architecture and β-cell mass compared with those of the wild-type mice. However, when fed a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) diet, the islet hypertrophy in response to insulin resistance observed in normal mice was attenuated and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) increased in the islets of Elovl6^−/− mice compared with those of the wild-type mice. Enhanced GSIS in the HFHS Elovl6^−/− islets was associated with an increased ATP/ADP ratio and the suppression of ATF-3 expression. Our findings suggest that Elovl6 could be involved in insulin secretory capacity per β-cell and diabetes.