Expression and purification of exendin-4, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, in Escherichia coli

Exendin-4 is a 39 amino acid peptide isolated from salivary secretions of Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum). It shows 53% sequence similarity to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which is evaluated for the regulation of plasma glucose in type 2 diabetes. Exendin-4 is a potent and long-acting agonist of GLP-1 receptor. In the present study, the exendin-4 gene obtained by PCR with an enterokinase site at N-terminus and a termination codon at C-terminus was expressed in Escherichia coli strain BL21 (DE3) harboring pET32a(+). The fusion protein was purified by chromatography on Ni-NTA-agarose column. Recombinant exendin-4 was obtained by enterokinase cleavage of the fusion protein and subsequent purification. The yield of recombinant exendin-4 was 3.15mg/10g bacteria. The obtained recombinant exendin-4 shows glucose-lowering action in vivo.     

Glucagon-like peptide-1 and islet lipolysis.

A role for glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) has been suggested in stimulating beta-cell lipolysis via elevation of cAMP and activation of protein kinase A, which in turn may activate hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), thereby contributing to fatty acid generation (FFA) from intracellular triglyceride stores. FFAs may then be metabolized to a lipid signal, which is required for optimal glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Since HSL is expressed in islet beta-cells, this effect could contribute to the stimulation of insulin secretion by GLP-1, provided that a lipid signal of importance for insulin secretion is generated. To examine this hypothesis, we have studied the acute effect of GLP-1 on isolated mouse islets from normal mice and from mice with high-fat diet induced insulin resistance. We found, however, that although GLP-1 (100 nM) markedly potentiated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from islets of both feeding groups, the peptide was not able to stimulate islet palmitate oxidation or increase lipolysis measured as glycerol release. This indicates that a lipid signal does not contribute to the acute stimulation of insulin secretion by GLP-1. To test whether lipolysis might be involved in the islet effects of long-term GLP-1 action, mice from the two feeding groups were chronically treated with exendin-4, a peptide that lowers blood glucose by interacting with GLP-1 receptors, in order to stimulate insulin secretion, for 16 days before isolation of the islets. The insulinotropic effects of GLP-1 and forskolin were exaggerated in isolated islets from exendin-4 treated mice given a high-fat diet, with a augmented palmitate oxidation as well as islet lipolysis at high glucose levels in these islets. Exendin-4 treatment had less impact on mice fed a normal diet. From these results we conclude that while GLP-1 does not seem to induce beta-cell lipolysis acutely in mouse islets, the peptide affects beta-cell fat metabolism after long-term adaptation to GLP-1 receptor stimulation.     

Design of a long acting peptide functioning as both a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist and a glucagon receptor antagonist

The closely related peptides glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) and glucagon have opposing effects on blood glucose. GLP-1 induces glucose-dependent insulin secretion in the pancreas, whereas glucagon stimulates gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in the liver. The identification of a hybrid peptide acting as both a GLP-1 agonist and a glucagon antagonist would provide a novel approach for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Toward this end a series of hybrid peptides made up of glucagon and either GLP-1 or exendin-4, a GLP-1 agonist, was engineered. Several peptides that bind to both the GLP-1 and glucagon receptors were identified. The presence of glucagon sequence at the N terminus removed the dipeptidylpeptidase IV cleavage site and increased plasma stability compared with GLP-1. Targeted mutations were incorporated into the optimal dual-receptor binding peptide to identify a peptide with the highly novel property of functioning as both a GLP-1 receptor agonist and a glucagon receptor antagonist. To overcome the short half-life of this mutant peptide in vivo, while retaining dual GLP-1 agonist and glucagon antagonist activities, site-specific attachment of long chained polyethylene glycol (PEGylation) was pursued. PEGylation at the C terminus retained the in vitro activities of the peptide while dramatically prolonging the duration of action in vivo. Thus, we have generated a novel dual-acting peptide with potential for development as a therapeutic for type 2 diabetes.     

Expression, purification, and characterization of recombinant human serum albumin fusion protein with two human glucagon-like peptide-1 mutants in Pichia pastoris

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a 30-residue peptide hormone secreted by intestinal L-cells in response to nutrient ingestion. In the present study, overlapping PCR technology was employed to construct two GLP-1 mutants (GLP-1(A2G))2 and human albumin (HSA) genes in vitro without linker. The spliced gene, (GLP-1(A2G))2-HSA, was over expressed under the control of promoter AOX1 and Mat alpha signal peptide in Pichia pastoris. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were applied to assay the recombinant fusion protein in the culture broth. The results demonstrated that the recombinant (GLP-1(A2G))2-HSA concentration in the broth could reach a level of 245.0 mg/L and the expressed fusion protein was capable of cross-reacting with anti-human GLP-1 and anti-human albumin antibody. The recombinant (GLP-1(A2G))2-HSA protein was purified by ultrafiltration, columns of Q-sepharose fast flow and Superdex 75 size-exclusion. The recombinant (GLP-1(A2G))2-HSA protein obtained could lower in vivo glucose concentration in blood and stimulate in vitro islet cell proliferation. In mouse model, the fusion protein was detectable in plasma even 308 h after a single subcutaneous dose of 1.25 mg/kg. The result showed that the terminal biological half-time of the protein was about 54.2 h which is 650-fold longer than that of GLP-1. The pharmacokinetic analysis of the protein suggests its promising application in clinical medicine.     

Rapid Analysis of Protein Structure and Dynamics by Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange Mass Spectrometry

An automated approach for the rapid analysis of protein structure has been developed and used to study acid-induced conformational changes in human growth hormone. The labeling approach involves hydrogen/deuterium exchange (H/D-Ex) of protein backbone amide hydrogens with rapid and sensitive detection by mass spectrometry (MS). Briefly, the protein is incubated for defined intervals in a deuterated environment. After rapid quenching of the exchange reaction, the partially deuterated protein is enzymatically digested and the resulting peptide fragments are analyzed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The deuterium buildup curve measured for each fragment yields an average amide exchange rate that reflects the environment of the peptide in the intact protein. Additional analyses allow mapping of the free energy of folding on localized segments along the protein sequence affording unique dynamic and structural information. While amide H/D-Ex coupled with MS is recognized as a powerful technique for studying protein structure and protein–ligand interactions, it has remained a labor-intensive task. The improvements in the amide H/D-Ex methodology described here include solid phase proteolysis, automated liquid handling and sample preparation, and integrated data reduction software that together improve sequence coverage and resolution, while achieving a sample throughput nearly 10-fold higher than the commonly used manual methods.     

Protective effects of GLP-1 analogues exendin-4 and GLP-1(9-36) amide against ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat heart

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin peptide secreted from intestinal L-cells, whose potent plasma glucose-lowering action has prompted intense efforts to develop GLP-1 receptor-targeting drugs for treatment of diabetic hyperglycemia. More recently, GLP-1 and its analogues have been shown to exert cardiovascular effects in a number of experimental models. Here we tested exendin-4 (Exe-4), a peptide agonist at GLP-1 receptors, and GLP-1(9-36) amide, the primary endogenous metabolite of GLP-1 (both in the concentration range 0.03-3.0 nM), for their protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in an isolated rat heart preparation. When administered, the agents were only present for the first 15 min of a 120 min reperfusion period (postconditioning protocol). Exe-4, but not GLP-1(9-36) amide, showed a strong infarct-limiting action (from 33.2% +/-2.7% to 14.5% +/-2.2% of the ischemic area, p<0.05). This infarct size-limiting effect of Exe-4 was abolished by exendin(9-39) (Exe(9-39)), a GLP-1 receptor antagonist. In contrast, both Exe-4 and GLP-1(9-36) amide were able to augment left ventricular performance (left ventricular developed pressure and rate-pressure product) during the last 60 min of reperfusion. These effects were only partially antagonized by Exe(9-39). We suggest that Exe-4, in addition to being currently exploited in treatment of diabetes, may present a suitable candidate for postconditioning trials in clinical settings of IRI. The divergent agonist effects of Exe-4 and GLP-1(9-36), along with correspondingly divergent antagonistic efficacy of Exe(9-39), seem consistent with the presence of more than one type of GLP-1 receptor in this system.     

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Ligand Interactions: Structural Cross Talk between Ligands and the Extracellular Domain

Activation of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in pancreatic β-cells potentiates insulin production and is a current therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Like other class B G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the GLP-1R contains an N-terminal extracellular ligand binding domain. N-terminal truncations on the peptide agonist generate antagonists capable of binding to the extracellular domain, but not capable of activating full length receptor. The main objective of this study was to use Hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) to identify how the amide hydrogen bonding network of peptide ligands and the extracellular domain of GLP-1R (nGLP-1R) were altered by binding interactions and to then use this platform to validate direct binding events for putative GLP-1R small molecule ligands. The HDX studies presented here for two glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) peptide ligands indicates that the antagonist exendin-4_[9-39] is significantly destabilized in the presence of nonionic detergents as compared to the agonist exendin-4. Furthermore, HDX can detect stabilization of exendin-4 and exendin-4_[9-39] hydrogen bonding networks at the N-terminal helix [Val19 to Lys27] upon binding to the N-terminal extracellular domain of GLP-1R (nGLP-1R). In addition we show hydrogen bonding network stabilization on nGLP-1R in response to ligand binding, and validate direct binding events with the extracellular domain of the receptor for putative GLP-1R small molecule ligands.     

Identifying glucagon-like peptide-1 mimetics using a novel functional reporter gene high-throughput screening assay

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) stimulates insulin and inhibits glucagon secretion and therefore could potentially be used to treat diabetes type II. However, its therapeutic use is limited by its short half-life in vivo, due mainly to enzymatic degradation by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV). Developing GLP-1 analogs with greater bioactivity is therefore an important step toward using them therapeutically. Accordingly, we aimed to identify GLP-1 mimetic peptides by creating a high-throughput screening (HTS) assay of a phage displayed (PhD) peptide library. This assay was functionally based using the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) gene. Rat GLP-1R cDNA was transfected into CHO/enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) cells by lipofection. The resulting stable, recombinant cell line functionally expressed the GLP-1R and a cAMP-responsive EGFP reporter gene, to monitor receptor activation, and was used to screen a PhD dodecapeptide library. After four rounds of selection, 10 positive clones were selected based on functional evaluation and sequenced. Three sequences were obtained, corresponding to three different domains of GLP-1 (Group 1: 22-34; Group 2: 18-29; and Group 3: 6-17). The Group 3 peptide had the highest bioactivity, was synthesized, and designated KS-12. Importantly, KS-12 activated GLP-1R in vitro and reduced blood glucose levels in a dose-dependent manner when administered to Chinese Kunming mice. Although KS-12 was not as effective as GLP-1, it was significantly resistant to DPP-IV both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this study provides a novel way to screen DPP-IV resistant agonist peptides of GLP-1 from a PhD peptide library using the functional reporter gene HTS assay.     

The contribution of serotonin 5-HT2C and melanocortin-4 receptors to the satiety signaling of glucagon-like peptide 1 and liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, in mice

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), an insulinotropic gastrointestinal peptide produced mainly from intestinal endocrine L-cells, and liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, induce satiety. The serotonin 5-HT2C receptor (5-HT2CR) and melanoroctin-4 receptor (MC4R) are involved in the regulation of food intake. Here we show that systemic administration of GLP-1 (50 and 200μg/kg)-induced anorexia was blunted in mice with a 5HT2CR null mutation, and was attenuated in mice with a heterozygous MC4R mutation. On the other hand, systemic administration of liraglutide (50 and 100μg/kg) suppressed food intake in mice lacking 5-HT2CR, mice with a heterozygous mutation of MC4R and wild-type mice matched for age. Moreover, once-daily consecutive intraperitoneal administration of liraglutide (100μg/kg) over 3days significantly suppressed daily food intake and body weight in mice with a heterozygous mutation of MC4R as well as wild-type mice. These findings suggest that GLP-1 and liraglutide induce anorexia via different central pathways.     

Two small molecule agonists of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor modulate the receptor activation response differently

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) is a target for type 2 diabetes treatment. Due to the inconvenience of peptide therapeutics, small-molecule GLP-1R agonists have been studied. Compound 2 (6,7-dichloro-2-methylsulfonyl-2-N-tert-butylaminoquinoxaline) and compound B (4-(3-(benzyloxy)phenyl)-2-(ethylsulfinyl)-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine) have been described as small molecule, ago-allosteric modulators of GLP-1R. However, their modes of action at the GLP-1R have not been elucidated. Thus, in this study, we compared the mechanisms of action between these two compounds. When compound 2 was treated with endogenous or exogenous peptide agonists (GLP-1 and exenatide) or fragments of peptide agonists (GLP-1(9-36), Ex3, Ex4, and Ex5), the response curve of these peptide agonists shifted left without a change in maximum efficacy. In contrast, compound B potentiated the response and increased maximum efficacy. However, N-terminal truncated orthosteric antagonists including Ex7, Ex9, and Ex10, augmented the response of compound 2 at the GLP-1R but did not alter compound B activity. Intriguingly, when we co-treated compound 2 with compound B in CHO cells expressing full-length hGLP-1R or N-terminal extracellular domain-truncated GLP-1R, the activation of both types of receptors increased additively, implying that the N-terminus of the receptor is not involved in the modulation by compound agonists. We confirmed that these two compounds increased calcium influx by different patterns in CHO cells expressing GLP-1R. Taken together, our findings suggest that compounds 2 and B have different modes of action to activate GLP-1R. Further study to identify the putative binding sites will help in the discovery of orally available GLP-1R agonists.     

Colocalization of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Receptors, Glucose Transporter GLUT-2, and Glucokinase mRNAs in Rat Hypothalamic Cells: Evidence for a Role of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists as an Inhibitory Signal for Food and Water Intake

Abstract: This study was designed to determine the possible role of brain glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors in feeding behavior. In situ hybridization showed colocalization of the mRNAs for GLP-1 receptors, glucokinase, and GLUT-2 in the third ventricle wall and adjacent arcuate nucleus, median eminence, and supraoptic nucleus. These brain areas are considered to contain glucose-sensitive neurons mediating feeding behavior. Because GLP-1 receptors, GLUT-2, and glucokinase are proteins involved in the multistep process of glucose sensing in pancreatic β cells, the colocalization of specific GLP-1 receptors and glucose sensing-related proteins in hypothalamic neurons supports a role of this peptide in the hypothalamic regulation of macronutrient and water intake. This hypothesis was confirmed by analyzing the effects of both systemic and central administration of GLP-1 receptor ligands. Acute or subchronic intraperitoneal administration of GLP-1 (7–36) amide did not modify food and water intake, although a dose-dependent loss of body weight gain was observed 24 h after acute administration of the higher dose of the peptide. By contrast, the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of GLP-1 (7–36) amide produced a biphasic effect on food intake characterized by an increase in the amount of food intake after acute i.c.v. delivery of 100 ng of the peptide. There was a marked reduction of food ingestion with the 1,000 and 2,000 ng doses of the peptide, which also produced a significant decrease of water intake. These effects seemed to be specific because i.c.v. administration of GLP-1 (1–37), a peptide with lower biological activity than GLP-1 (7–36) amide, did not change feeding behavior in food-deprived animals. Exendin-4, when given by i.c.v. administration in a broad range of doses (0.2, 1, 5, 25, 100, and 500 ng), proved to be a potent agonist of GLP-1 (7–36) amide. It decreased, in a dose-dependent manner, both food and water intake, starting at the dose of 25 ng per injection. Pretreatment with an i.c.v. dose of a GLP-1 receptor antagonist [exendin (9–39); 2,500 ng] reversed the inhibitory effects of GLP-1 (7–36) amide (1,000 ng dose) and exendin-4 (25 ng dose) on food and water ingestion. These findings suggest that GLP-1 (7–36) amide may modulate both food and drink intake in the rat through a central mechanism.     

Crystal structure of the ligand-bound glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor extracellular domain

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) belongs to Family B1 of the seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors, and its natural agonist ligand is the peptide hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 is involved in glucose homeostasis, and activation of GLP-1R in the plasma membrane of pancreatic beta-cells potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The N-terminal extracellular domain (nGLP-1R) is an important ligand binding domain that binds GLP-1 and the homologous peptide Exendin-4 with differential affinity. Exendin-4 has a C-terminal extension of nine amino acid residues known as the "Trp cage", which is absent in GLP-1. The Trp cage was believed to interact with nGLP-1R and thereby explain the superior affinity of Exendin-4. However, the molecular details that govern ligand binding and specificity of nGLP-1R remain undefined. Here we report the crystal structure of human nGLP-1R in complex with the antagonist Exendin-4(9-39) solved by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method to 2.2A resolution. The structure reveals that Exendin-4(9-39) is an amphipathic alpha-helix forming both hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions with nGLP-1R. The Trp cage of Exendin-4 is not involved in binding to nGLP-1R. The hydrophobic binding site of nGLP-1R is defined by discontinuous segments including primarily a well defined alpha-helix in the N terminus of nGLP-1R and a loop between two antiparallel beta-strands. The structure provides for the first time detailed molecular insight into ligand binding of the human GLP-1 receptor, an established target for treatment of type 2 diabetes.     

Localization of glucagon-like peptide (GLP) immunoreactants in human gut and pancreas using light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry

The distribution of peptide immunoreactivities predicted from the sequence of the human preproglucagon gene in enteroglucagon (EG; glicentin-like immunoreactant-containing) cells of the human gut and A cells of the pancreas has been determined by light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. At light microscopy the application of peroxidase-antiperoxidase and immunogold-silver staining methods has revealed that glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1 and GLP-2) immunoreactivities coexist with a glicentin-related immunodeterminant in human colorectal EG cells and pancreatic A cells. Using single and double colloidal gold probe electron immunocytochemistry, we have been able to show the coexistence of glicentin, GLP-1, and GLP-2 immunoreactivities within single EG cell secretory granules. No morphologic segregation of the proglucagon immunoreactants was observed in EG cells of the colonic mucosa. In pancreatic A cells we have localized GLP-1, GLP-2, and glucagon-[16-29] immunoreactivities solely to the electron-dense core of the secretory granules, whereas glicentin-related immunoreactivity was restricted to the electron-lucent halo. The results obtained in the present study have shown that the peptide immunoreactivities predicted from cDNA sequencing of the human preproglucagon gene are indeed expressed in colorectal EG and pancreatic A cells. The topographical segregation of immunoreactivities in the A cell secretory granule shows that antigenic determinants derived from the C-terminal portion of proglucagon are stored with glucagon in the core of the secretory granule.     

Engineered beta-cells secreting dipeptidyl peptidase IV-resistant glucagon-like peptide-1 show enhanced glucose-responsiveness

Type 2 diabetes is a polygenic disorder characterized by increased insulin resistance, and impaired insulin secretion leading to abnormalities of glucose and lipid metabolism. Reduced responsiveness of the beta-cells to glucose is a critical feature of this syndrome. Glucagon-like peptide 1, a product of the pro-glucagon gene makes beta-cells competent and has many other anti-diabetic properties. We speculated whether GLP-1-based gene therapy could be an approach for treatment of type 2 diabetes. We started with a clone of rat insulinoma cells (S4 cells), which showed reduced responsiveness to glucose in terms of insulin secretion. We transfected these cells with a plasmid encoding a mutated form of GLP-1 (GLP-1-Gly8), which is resistant to the degrading enzyme dipeptidyl-peptidase IV. Activity of secreted GLP-1-Gly8 was assayed using Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (CHL) cells that expressed cloned GLP-1 receptor and that were transfected with CRE-Luc. Stable cell lines (Glipsulin cells) obtained by this means produced and stored immunoreactive GLP-1-Gly8. In addition to insulin, the Glipsulin cells secreted the GLP-1-Gly8. The secreted GLP-1-Gly8 was active as evidenced by the ability of the conditioned media to elevate cAMP levels in CHL cells expressing GLP-1 receptors. Glipsulin cells responded to glucose with a 6.8 fold increase in insulin secretion compared to a 2.2 fold increase in the control cells. Our results demonstrate that prolonged exposure to GLP-1-Gly8 secreted by increases glucose-responsiveness of these cells. We speculate that engineering GLP-1-Gly8 secretion by beta-cells is a potential gene therapeutic strategy to treat diabetes.     

Novel signal transduction and peptide specificity of glucagon-like peptide receptor in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (7–36) amide (GLP-1), in addition to its well known effect of enhancing glucose-mediated insulin release, has been shown to have insulinomimetic effects and to enhance insulin-mediated glucose uptake and lipid synthesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. To elucidate the mechanisms of GLP-1 action in these cells, we studied the signal transduction and peptide specificity of the GLP-1 response. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, GLP-1 caused a decrease in intracellular cAMP levels which is the opposite to the response observed in pancreatic beta cells in response to the same peptide. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, free intracellular calcium was not modified by GLP-1. Peptide specificity was examined to help determine if a different GLP receptor isoform was expressed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes vs. beta cells. Peptides with partial homology to GLP-1 such as GLP-2, GLP-1 (1–36), and glucagon all lowered cAMP levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, an antagonist of pancreatic GLP-1 receptor, exendin-4 (9–39), acted as an agonist to decrease cAMP levels in 3T3-L1 adipocytes as did exendin-4 (1–39), a known agonist for the pancreatic GLP-1 receptor. Binding studies using ¹²⁵I-GLP-1 also suggest that pancreatic GLP-1 receptor isoform is not responsible for the effect of GLP-1 and related peptides in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Based on these results, we propose that the major form of the GLP receptor in 3T3-L1 adipocytes is functionally different from the pancreatic GLP-1 receptor. J. Cell. Physiol. 172:275–283, 1997. Published 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article was prepared by a group of United States government employees and non-United States government employees, and as such is subject to 17 U.S.C. Sec. 105.

     

Truncated glucagon-like peptide-1 interacts with exendin receptors on dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Identification of a mammalian analogue of the reptilian peptide exendin-4.

To find mammalian analogues of exendin-4, a peptide from Helodermatidae venoms that interacts with newly discovered exendin receptors on dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas, we examined the actions of recent additions to the vasoactive intestinal peptide/secretin/glucagon family of regulatory peptides. In every respect tested, the truncated form of glucagon-like peptide-1, GLP-1(7-36)NH2, mimicked the actions of exendin-4. Like exendin-4, GLP-1(7-36)NH2 caused an increase in acinar cAMP without stimulating amylase release. GLP-1(7-36)NH2-induced increases in cAMP were inhibited progressively by increasing concentrations of the specific exendin-receptor antagonist, exendin(9-39)NH2. In dispersed acini from guinea pig and rat pancreas, concentrations of GLP-1(7-36)NH2 that stimulated increases in cAMP caused potentiation of cholecystokinin-induced amylase release. Binding of 125I-[Y39]exendin-4 or 125I-GLP-1(7-36)NH2 to dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas was inhibited by adding increasing concentrations of unlabeled exendin-4 or GLP-1(7-36)NH2. We conclude that the mammalian peptide GLP-1(7-36)NH2 interacts with exendin receptors on dispersed acini from guinea pig pancreas. Exendin(9-39)NH2, a competitive antagonist of the actions of GLP-1(7-36)NH2 in pancreatic acini, may be a useful tool for examining the physiological actions of this peptide.     

The contribution of serotonin 5-HT2C and melanocortin-4 receptors to the satiety signaling of glucagon-like peptide 1 and liragultide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, in mice

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), an insulinotropic gastrointestinal peptide produced mainly from intestinal endocrine L-cells, and liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, induce satiety. The serotonin 5-HT2C receptor (5-HT2CR) and melanoroctin-4 receptor (MC4R) are involved in the regulation of food intake. Here we show that systemic administration of GLP-1 (50 and 200 μg/kg)-induced anorexia was blunted in mice with a 5HT2CR null mutation, and was attenuated in mice with a heterozygous MC4R mutation. On the other hand, systemic administration of liraglutide (50 and 100 μg/kg) suppressed food intake in mice lacking 5-HT2CR, mice with a heterozygous mutation of MC4R and wild-type mice matched for age. Moreover, once-daily consecutive intraperitoneal administration of liraglutide (100 μg/kg) over 3 days significantly suppressed daily food intake and body weight in mice with a heterozygous mutation of MC4R as well as wild-type mice. These findings suggest that GLP-1 and liraglutide induce anorexia via different central pathways.     

Potential targets for glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) in the rat: distribution and binding of i.v. injected (125)I-GLP-2

Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) is a 33-amino acid (1-33) intestinotrophic peptide. In this study, the distribution and binding of i.v. injected radiolabeled GLP-2 (1-33) were investigated in rats using autoradiography in order to target possible binding sites. The major part of (125)I-GLP-2 (1-33) was distributed to kidneys, liver, and the gastrointestinal tract. In the small intestine, a high density of grains was localized in the epithelium with a predominance in the luminal part of the villus. The saturability of (125)I-GLP-2 (1-33) was investigated by administration of excess amounts of non-radioactive GLP-2 (1-33) or the primary metabolite of GLP-2 degradation, GLP-2 (3-33). In the small intestine, (125)I-GLP-2 was displaced both by non-radioactive GLP-2 (1-33) and (3-33), suggesting that the uptake of GLP-2 (1-33) in the small intestine is receptor-specific and that the metabolite GLP-2 (3-33) may interact with the GLP-2 receptor.     

The Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Analogue Exendin-4 Attenuates the Nicotine-Induced Locomotor Stimulation,Accumbal Dopamine Release,Conditioned Place Preference as well as the Expression of Locomotor Sensitization in Mice

The gastrointestinal peptide glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is known to regulate consummatory behavior and is released in response to nutrient ingestion. Analogues of this peptide recently emerged as novel pharmacotherapies for treatment of type II diabetes since they reduce gastric emptying, glucagon secretion as well as enhance glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The findings that GLP-1 targets reward related areas including mesolimbic dopamine areas indicate that the physiological role of GLP-1 extends beyond food intake and glucose homeostasis control to include reward regulation. The present series of experiments was therefore designed to investigate the effects of the GLP-1 receptor agonist, Exendin-4 (Ex4), on established nicotine-induced effects on the mesolimbic dopamine system in mice. Specifically, we show that treatment with Ex4, at a dose with no effect per se, attenuate nicotine-induced locomotor stimulation, accumbal dopamine release as well as the expression of conditioned place preference in mice. In accordance, Ex4 also blocks nicotine-induced expression of locomotor sensitization in mice. Given that development of nicotine addiction largely depends on the effects of nicotine on the mesolimbic dopamine system these findings indicate that the GLP-1 receptor may be a potential target for the development of novel treatment strategies for nicotine cessations in humans.     

Activation of the GLP-1 Receptors in the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract Reduces Food Reward Behavior and Targets the Mesolimbic System

The gut/brain peptide, glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1), suppresses food intake by acting on receptors located in key energy balance regulating CNS areas, the hypothalamus or the hindbrain. Moreover, GLP-1 can reduce reward derived from food and motivation to obtain food by acting on its mesolimbic receptors. Together these data suggest a neuroanatomical segregation between homeostatic and reward effects of GLP-1. Here we aim to challenge this view and hypothesize that GLP-1 can regulate food reward behavior by acting directly on the hindbrain, the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1R). Using two models of food reward, sucrose progressive ratio operant conditioning and conditioned place preference for food in rats, we show that intra-NTS microinjections of GLP-1 or Exendin-4, a stable analogue of GLP-1, inhibit food reward behavior. When the rats were given a choice between palatable food and chow, intra-NTS Exendin-4 treatment preferentially reduced intake of palatable food but not chow. However, chow intake and body weight were reduced by the NTS GLP-1R activation if chow was offered alone. The NTS GLP-1 activation did not alter general locomotor activity and did not induce nausea, measured by PICA. We further show that GLP-1 fibers are in close apposition to the NTS noradrenergic neurons, which were previously shown to provide a monosynaptic connection between the NTS and the mesolimbic system. Central GLP-1R activation also increased NTS expression of dopamine-β-hydroxylase, a key enzyme in noradrenaline synthesis, indicating a biological link between these two systems. Moreover, NTS GLP-1R activation altered the expression of dopamine-related genes in the ventral tegmental area. These data reveal a food reward-suppressing role of the NTS GLP-1R and indicate that the neurobiological targets underlying food reward control are not limited to the mesolimbic system, instead they are distributed throughout the CNS.