Immunohistochemical localization of glucagon-like peptide 1

Summary We report the use of poly-and monoclonal antibodies to study the immunohistochemical distribution of glucagon-like peptide-1 immunoreactivity (GLP-1-IR) in various tissues. The polyclonal antibodies against GLP-1 reacted with pancreatic A cells, enteroglucagon (L) cells in the gut, and some neurons in the central nervous system of all species tested. In pancreas and gut the monoclonal antibodies against GLP-1 exhibited a similar, but species specific distribution, relative to the polyclonal antibodies. The colocalization of GLP-1 and glucagon immunoreactivity in pancreatic, intestinal, and nervous tissues is in agreement with previously reported findings that both peptides are part of a single precursor molecule (preproglucagon).Supported by the DFG, SFB 90     

Teduglutide,a glucagon-like peptide 2 analogue: A novel protective agent with anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant properties in mice with lung injury

Teduglutide is a long-acting synthetic analogue of human glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2). GLP-2 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as normal physiology in the gastrointestinal tract. In the present study, possible cytoprotective and reparative effects of teduglutide were analyzed on a mouse model with lung injury induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and actinomycin D (Act D). BALB/c mice were divided into six groups: control mice (I), mice injected intraperitoneally with 15 μg/kg TNF-α (II), 800 μg/kg Act D (III), Act D 2 min prior to TNF-α administration with the same doses (IV), mice injected subcutaneously with 200 μg/kg teduglutide every 12 h for 10 consecutive days (V), and mice given Act D 2 min prior to TNF-α administration on day 11 after receiving teduglutide for 10 days (VI). The TNF-α/Act D administration made the lung a sensitive organ to damage. Mice lung subjected to TNF-α/Act D were characterized by the disruption of alveolar wall, induced pulmonary endothelial/epithelial cell apoptosis and expression of active caspase-3. These mice exhibited an increase in lipid peroxidation, glutathione levels, and activities of myeloperoxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and xanthine oxidase, as well as reduced tissue factor and sodium–potassium/ATPase activities. Teduglutide pretreatment regressed the structural damage, cell apoptosis and oxidative stress by reducing lipid peroxidation in mice received TNF-α/Act D. GLP-2 receptors were present on the cell membrane of type II pneumocytes and interstitial cells. Thus, teduglutide can be suggested as a novel protective agent, which possesses anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant properties, against lung injury.     

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.     

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.     

Estradiol modulates the anorexic response to central glucagon-like peptide 1

Estrogens suppress feeding in part by enhancing the response to satiation signals. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) acts on receptor populations both peripherally and centrally to affect food intake. We hypothesized that modulation of the central GLP-1 system is one of the mechanisms underlying the effects of estrogens on feeding. We assessed the anorexic effect of 0, 1, and 10 μg doses of GLP-1 administered into the lateral ventricle of bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX) female rats on a cyclic regimen of either 2 μg β-estradiol-3-benzoate (EB) or oil vehicle 30 min prior to dark onset on the day following hormone treatment. Central GLP-1 treatment significantly suppressed food intake in EB-treated rats at both doses compared to vehicle, whereas only the 10 μg GLP-1 dose was effective in oil-treated rats. To follow up, we examined whether physiologic-dose cyclic estradiol treatment influences GLP-1-induced c-Fos in feeding-relevant brain areas of OVX females. GLP-1 significantly increased c-Fos expression in the area postrema (AP) and nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), and the presence of estrogens may be required for this effect in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). Together, these data suggest that modulation of the central GLP-1 system may be one of the mechanisms by which estrogens suppress food intake, and highlight the PVN as a region of interest for future investigation.     

A novel adenoviral vector expressing human Fas/CD95/APO-1 enhances p53-mediated apoptosis.

Recent evidence suggests an intriguing link between p53 and the Fas pathway. To evaluate this association further, we utilized a recombinant adenoviral vector (AdWTp53) to overexpress wild-type p53 in lung cancer (A549, H23, EKVX and HOP92) and breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) cell lines and observed an increase in the Fas/CD95/APO-1 protein levels. Furthermore, this increase correlated with the sensitivity of the cell lines to p53-mediated cytotoxicity. To examine the effects of Fas over-expression in cells resistant to p53 over-expression, we constructed AdFas, an adenoviral vector capable of transferring functional human Fas to cancer cells. Interestingly, infection of p53-resistant MCF-7 cells with AdFas sensitized them to p53-mediated apoptosis. These studies indicate that combined over-expression of Fas and wild-type p53 may be an effective cancer gene therapy approach, especially in cells relatively resistant to p53 over-expression.     

In vivo treatment with glucagon-like peptide 1 promotes the graft function of fetal islet-like cell clusters in transplanted mice

Fetal pancreatic tissue has been suggested as a possible cell source for islet replacement therapy in type 1 diabetes mellitus. This tissue consists of a small amount of beta-cells, but a raft of immature and/or progenitor cells which nonetheless have the potential to proliferate and differentiate into functional insulin-producing cells. Freshly isolated fetal islet-like cell clusters are poorly responsive to glucose challenge, compared with adult islets. Upon exposure to appropriate growth factors and microenvironments, both the expansion and differentiation of fetal islet-like cell clusters can be enhanced. In this study, we investigated the role of exendin-4, a long-acting analogue of glucagon-like peptide 1 in the promotion of functional maturation of transplanted fetal islet-like cell clusters in vivo. Both blood glucose levels and body weights of transplanted diabetic mice treated with exendin-4 improved significantly compared with the transplanted group not subjected to exendin-4 treatment during the 3-month post-transplantation period. In addition, blood glucose levels on formal glucose challenge were also significantly improved by the end of the experiments. In the exendin-4-treated group, there were revascularization and insulin-producing cells as evidenced by positive immunostaining of the Lectins Bandeiraea simplicifolia and insulin, respectively, in the graft bearing kidney. These data indicate that in vivo exendin-4 treatment may enhance the growth and differentiation of fetal mice islet-like cell clusters, thus promoting the functional maturation of the graft after transplantation.     

胰高血糖素样肽-2对小鼠小肠缺血/再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的:观察胰高血糖素样肽-2(GLP-2)对缺血/再灌注损伤小鼠小肠的保护效应.方法:采用肠缺血/再灌注(I/R)模型,将32只小鼠随机分为4组(n=8)假手术(Sham)组、I/R组、I/R GLP-2保护组和I/R 谷氨酰胺(GLN)阳性对照组.光镜观察小肠黏膜形态学改变.检测小肠绒毛高度和隐窝深度;小肠组织二胺氧化酶(DAO)活性;肠系膜淋巴结(MLN)细菌易位率.结果:与假手术组相比,I/R组部分小肠绒毛坏死脱落,绒毛高度下降,隐窝变浅(P＜0 01);小肠组织DAO活性降低(P＜0.01);MLN细菌易位率增加(P＜0.05).与I/R组比,GLP-2组肠绒毛损害明显减轻,DAO活性回升(P＜0.01),细菌易位率回降(P＜0.05).结论:GLP-2对缺血/再灌注损伤小鼠小肠的形态结构及肠屏障功能具有保护作用.     

Acetic acid activates hepatic AMPK and reduces hyperglycemia in diabetic KK-A(y) mice

Acetic acid (AcOH), which is a short-chain fatty acid, is reported to have some beneficial effects on metabolism. To test the hypothesis that feeding of AcOH exerts beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes, we fed either a standard diet or one containing 0.3% AcOH to KK-A(y) mice for 8 weeks. Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels were lower in mice fed AcOH for 8 weeks than in control mice. AcOH also reduced the expression of genes involved in gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis, which is in part regulated by 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the liver. Finally, sodium acetate, in the form of neutralized AcOH, directly activated AMPK and lowered the expression of genes such as for glucose-6-phosphatase and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 in rat hepatocytes. These results indicate that the hypoglycemic effect of AcOH might be due to activation of AMPK in the liver.     

A long-acting selective neuropeptide Y2 receptor PEGylated peptide agonist reduces food intake in mice

Activation of the NPY2 receptor to reduce appetite while avoiding activation of the NPY1 and NPY5 receptors that stimulate feeding provides a pharmaceutical approach to modulate food intake. The naturally occurring peptide and development candidate PYY(3-36) is a non-selective NPY1, NPY2, and NPY5 agonist of limited in vivo duration of action. N-terminal modification with 20 kDa PEG of a selective NPY2 receptor agonist peptide results in a long-acting agent that outperforms PYY(3-36) in reducing food intake in mice. The results suggest that PEGylated, selective NPY2 peptide agonists offer a significantly improved therapeutic benefit over PYY(3-36) for obesity management.     

The novel beta-secretase inhibitor KMI-429 reduces amyloid beta peptide production in amyloid precursor protein transgenic and wild-type mice

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. The major component of the plaques, amyloid beta peptide (Abeta), is generated from amyloid precursor protein (APP) by beta- and gamma-secretase-mediated cleavage. Because beta-secretase/beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) knockout mice produce much less Abeta and grow normally, a beta-secretase inhibitor is thought to be one of the most attractive targets for the development of therapeutic interventions for AD without apparent side-effects. Here, we report the in vivo inhibitory effects of a novel beta-secretase inhibitor, KMI-429, a transition-state mimic, which effectively inhibits beta-secretase activity in cultured cells in a dose-dependent manner. We injected KMI-429 into the hippocampus of APP transgenic mice. KMI-429 significantly reduced Abeta production in vivo in the soluble fraction compared with vehicle, but the level of Abeta in the insoluble fraction was unaffected. In contrast, an intrahippocampal injection of KMI-429 in wild-type mice remarkably reduced Abeta production in both the soluble and insoluble fractions. Our results indicate that the beta-secretase inhibitor KMI-429 is a promising candidate for the treatment of AD.     

A small molecule ligand of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor targets its amino-terminal hormone binding domain

The glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) belongs to a distinct subgroup of G protein-coupled peptide hormone receptors (class B) that has been difficult to target by small molecule drugs. Here, we report that a non-peptide compound, T-0632, binds with micromolar affinity to the human GLP-1R and blocks GLP-1-induced cAMP production. Furthermore, the observation that T-0632 has almost 100-fold selectivity for the human versus the highly homologous rat GLP-1R provided an opportunity to map determinants of non-peptide binding. Radioligand competition experiments utilizing a series of chimeric human/rat GLP-1R constructs revealed that partial substitution of the amino terminus of the rat GLP-1R with the corresponding sequence from the human homolog was sufficient to confer high T-0632 affinity. Follow-up analysis of receptors where individual candidate amino acids had been exchanged between the human and rat GLP-1Rs identified a single residue that explained species selectivity of non-peptide binding. Replacement of tryptophan 33 in the human GLP-1R by serine (the homologous amino acid in the rat GLP-1R) resulted in a 100-fold loss of T-0632 affinity, whereas the converse mutation in the rat GLP-1R led to a reciprocal gain-of-function phenotype. These observations suggest that in a class B receptor, important determinants of non-peptide affinity reside within the extracellular amino-terminal domain. Compound T-0632 may mimic, and thereby interfere with, the putative "pseudo-tethering" mechanism by which the amino terminus of class B receptors initiates the binding of cognate hormones.     

Sensory nerves contribute to insulin secretion by glucagon-like peptide-1 in mice

It has been hypothesized that the potent insulinotropic action of the gut incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is exerted not only through a direct action on the beta cells but may be partially dependent on sensory nerves. We therefore examined the influence of GLP-1 in mice rendered sensory denervated by neonatal administration of capsaicin performed at days 2 and 5 (50 mg/kg). Control mice were given vehicle. Results show that at 10-16 wk of age in control mice, intravenous GLP-1 at 0.1 or 10 nmol/kg augmented the insulin response to intravenous glucose (1 g/kg) in association with improved glucose elimination. In contrast, in capsaicin-pretreated mice, GLP-1 at 0.1 nmol/kg could not augment the insulin response to intravenous glucose and no effect on glucose elimination was observed. Nevertheless, at the high dose of 10 nmol/kg, GLP-1 augmented the insulin response to glucose in capsaicin-pretreated mice as efficiently as in control mice. The insulin response to GLP-1 from isolated islets was not affected by neonatal capsaicin, and, furthermore, the in vivo insulin response to glucose was augmented whereas that to arginine was not affected by capsaicin. It is concluded that GLP-1-induced insulin secretion at a low dose in mice is dependent on intact sensory nerves and therefore indirectly mediated and that this distinguishes GLP-1 from other examined insulin secretagogues.     

Glucose transporter-2 (GLUT2) promoter mediated transgenic insulin production reduces hyperglycemia in diabetic mice

Insulin production afforded by hepatic gene therapy (HGT) retains promise as a potential treatment for type 1 diabetes, but successful approaches have been limited. We employed a novel and previously untested promoter for this purpose, glucose transporter-2 (GLUT2) to drive insulin production via delivery by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV). In vitro, the GLUT2 promoter was capable of robust glucose-responsive expression in transduced HepG2 human hepatoma cells. Therefore, rAAV constructs were designed to express the furin-cleavable human preproinsulin B10 gene, under the control of the murine GLUT2 promoter and packaged for delivery with rAAV expressing the type 5 capsid. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were subjected to hepatic portal vein injection immediately followed by implantation of a sustained-release insulin pellet to allow time for transgenic expression. All mice injected with the rAAV5-GLUT2-fHPIB10 virus remained euglycemic for up to 35 days post-injection, with 50% euglycemic after 77 days post-injection. In contrast, mock-injected mice became hyperglycemic within 15 days post-injection following dissolution of the insulin pellet. Serum levels of both human insulin and C-peptide further confirmed successful transgenic delivery by the rAAV5-GLUT2-fHPIB10 virus. These findings indicate that the GLUT2 promoter may be a potential candidate for regulating transgenic insulin production for hepatic insulin gene therapy in the treatment of type I diabetes.     

Generation of mice expressing the human glucagon receptor with a direct replacement vector

The process of evaluating the in vivo efficacy of non–peptidyl receptor antagonists in animal models is frequently complicated by failure of compounds displaying high affinity against the human receptors to show measurable affinity at the corresponding rodent receptors. In order to generate a suitable animal model in which to evaluate the in vivo activity of non–peptidyl glucagon receptor antagonists, we have utilized a direct targeting approach to replace the murine glucagon receptor with the human glucagon receptor gene by homologous recombination. Specific expression of the human glucagon receptor (GR) in the livers of transgenic mice was confirmed with an RNase protection assay, and the pharmacology of the human GRs expressed in the livers of these mice parallels that of human GR in a recombinant CHO cell line with respect to both binding of ¹²⁵I–glucagon and the ability of glucagon to stimulate cAMP production. L–168,049, a non–peptidyl GR antagonist selective for the human GR shows a 3.5 fold higher affinity for liver membrane preparations of human GR expressing mice (IC₅₀=172±98nM) in the presence of MgCl₂ in marked contrast to the measured affinity of the murine receptor (IC₅₀=611±97nM) for this non–peptidyl antagonist. The human receptors expressed are functional as measured by the ability of glucagon to stimulate cAMP production and the selectivity of this antagonist for the human receptor is further verified by its ability to block glucagon–stimulated cyclase activity with 5 fold higher potency (IC₅₀=97.2±13.9nM) than for the murine receptor (IC₅₀=504±247nM). Thus we have developed a novel animal model for evaluating GR antagonists in vivo. These mice offer the advantage that the regulatory sequences which direct tissue specific and temporal expression of the GR have been unaltered and thus expression of the human gene in these mice remains in the normal chromosomal context.     

Immunohistochemical localization of glucagon-like peptide 1. Use of poly- and monoclonal antibodies

We report the use of poly- and monoclonal antibodies to study the immunohistochemical distribution of glucagon-like peptide-1 immunoreactivity (GLP-1-IR) in various tissues. The polyclonal antibodies against GLP-1 reacted with pancreatic A cells, enteroglucagon (L) cells in the gut, and some neurons in the central nervous system of all species tested. In pancreas and gut the monoclonal antibodies against GLP-1 exhibited a similar, but species specific distribution, relative to the polyclonal antibodies. The colocalization of GLP-1 and glucagon immunoreactivity in pancreatic, intestinal, and nervous tissues is in agreement with previously reported findings that both peptides are part of a single precursor molecule (preproglucagon).