Does inhibition of β-cell proliferation by free fatty acid in mice explain the progressive failure of insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes?

Egr-1 transactivates WNT5A gene expression to inhibit glucose-induced β-cell proliferation

Selective β-cell loss is a characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Inhibition of glucose-stimulated β-cell proliferation is one of the in vivo results of the lipotoxicity of saturated fatty acids (SFAs). However, the mechanism by which lipotoxicity inhibits β-cell proliferation is still unclear. In this study, we found palmitate, a saturated fatty acid, inhibited the β-cell proliferation induced by high glucose through the induction of Wnt5a expression in vitro and in vivo. We also found that Wnt5a was both sufficient and necessary for inhibition of β-cell proliferation. Additionally, Egr-1, but not NF-κB, FOXO1, Smad2, Smad3, SP1 or SP3 mediated the expression of Wnt5a. Deletion and site-directed mutagenesis of the WNT5A promoter revealed that activation of WNT5A gene transcription depends primarily on a putative Egr-binding sequence between nucleotides -52 to -44, upstream of the transcription start site. Furthermore, Egr-1 bound directly to this sequence in response to palmitate treatment, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, after mice islets were treated with Egr inhibitors, the expression of Wnt5a decreased significantly and the glucose-induced β-cell proliferation inhibited by palmitate was resumed. These findings establish Wnt5a as an Egr-1 target gene in β-cells, uncovering a novel Egr-1/Wnt5a pathway by which saturated free fatty acids block glucose-induced β-cell proliferation. Our study lends support for the potential of Egr-1 inhibitors or Wnt5a antibodies as therapeutics for the treatment of T2DM.

Influence of New Modified Biliopancreatic Diversion on Blood Glucose and Lipids in GK rats

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the influence of new biliopancreatic diversion (NBPD) and duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) surgery on blood glucose, lipids, gastrointestinal hormones, and insulin in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, an animal model for type 2 diabetes, in order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effect of these types of surgery on this clinical condition.

METHODS

Thirty 30 male GK rats (SPF) aged 12 weeks were randomly assigned into three groups (n = 10 per group): sham group, NBPD group, and DJB group. Body weight, random plasma glucose, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), oral glucose tolerance (OGT), blood lipids, plasma insulin, glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) were measured before and after surgery.

RESULTS

NBPD surgery improved glucose tolerance, decreased fasting free fatty acids, triglycerides, and cholesterol. It also increased fasting and postprandial GIP, but caused no change in GLP-1. DJB surgery produced results similar to NBPD surgery except for causing a decrease in postprandial GLP-1 and insulin, and a larger increase in fasting GIP.

CONCLUSIONS

Moving the biliopancreatic duct outlet to the mid-jejunum (NBPD surgery) improves glucose tolerance and increases GIP, but does not change GLP-1. Adding duodenal bypass (DJB surgery) increases fasting GIP and decreases postprandial GLP-1.

A new biliopancreatic diversion surgery decreases plasma glucose and lipids in Goto-Kakizaki rats

AIM: To observe the effects of a new biliopancreatic diversion (NBPD) surgery and duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) surgery on plasm glucose and lipids in Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats and investigate the possibility of surgical treatment of diabetes.

METHODS: Thirty rats were randomly and equally divided into a sham operation group, a NBPD group or a DJB group. The NBPD group and the DJB group underwent NBPD and DJB, respectively, and the sham operation group underwent a sham operation. Body weight, random plasma glucose, OGTT and blood lipids were measured before and after surgery.

RESULTS: One week after surgery, random plasma glucose levels decreased from 17.088 mmol/L ± 3.708 mmol/L to 9.200 mmol/L ± 1.000 mmol/L in the NBPD group and from 17.180 mmol/L ± 3.383 mmol/L to 9.620 mmol/L ± 0.794 mmol/L in the DJB group, respectively, and both were significantly lower than those in the sham operation group. Four weeks postoperatively, fasting cholesterol decreased from 3.220 mmol/L ± 0.185 mmol/L to 3.100 mmol/L ± 0.424 mmol/L in the DJB group and from 3.100 mmol/L ± 0.424 mmol/L to 2.550 mmol/L ± 0.691 mmol/L in the NBPD group.

CONCLUSION: DJB and NBPD decrease plasma glucose and lipids in GK rats possibly via mechanisms associated with diversion of biliopancreatic juice that results in incomplete food digestion and absorption and improves lipid metabolism and plasma glucose.