The novel GLP-1-gastrin dual agonist, ZP3022, increases β-cell mass and prevents diabetes in db/db mice

AIM

Diabetes is characterized by β-cell deficiency, and therefore restoration of β-cell function has been suggested as a potential therapy. We hypothesized that a novel glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-gastrin dual agonist, ZP3022, improves glycaemic control via improvement of β-cell status in db/db mice.

METHODS

Diabetic mice were studied following short- or long-term treatment with either the GLP-1-gastrin dual agonist or the commercially available GLP-1 agonists (exendin-4 and liraglutide). The effects on glycaemic control were addressed by repeated glucose tolerance tests and/or measurements of HbA1c levels, and pancreatic islet and β-cell masses were determined by stereology.

RESULTS

ZP3022 and the pure GLP-1 agonists improved glycaemic control after both short- and long-term treatment compared with vehicle. Interestingly, the effect was sustainable only in mice treated with ZP3022. Stereology data displayed a dose-dependent increase of β-cell mass (p < 0.05) following treatment with ZP3022, whereas no significant effect of liraglutide was observed (β-cell mass: vehicle 3.7 ± 0.2 mg; liraglutide (30 nmol/kg) 3.4 ± 0.5 mg; ZP3022 (30 nmol/kg) 4.3 ± 0.4 mg and ZP3022 (100 nmol/kg) 5.2 ± 0.4 mg).

CONCLUSION

The novel GLP-1-gastrin dual agonist, ZP3022, improved glycaemic control in db/db mice, and pancreatic islet and β-cell mass increased significantly following treatment with ZP3022 compared with vehicle.

Supported metal sulphide nanoclusters studied by HAADF-STEM

The morphology of MoS(2) and WS(2) nanoclusters supported on high-surface area graphitic carbon was investigated using high angular annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Most of the MoS(2) (WS(2)) nanoclusters contain only a single S-Mo-S (S-W-S) layer and the most commonly encountered morphology is truncated triangular. This is in contrast to the hexagonal morphology of macroscopic MoS(2) (WS(2)) crystals. When in addition to molybdenum (tungsten), nickel is also present, the regular nanoclusters are truncated to a larger extent, indicating that Ni has influenced the morphology by the formation of so-called Ni-Mo-S (Ni-W-S) structures. For these structures, the additional truncations are observed to lead to dodecahedral-like shapes.

Expression of SMAD signal transduction molecules in the pancreas

Members of the TGF-beta superfamily of cytokines have been implicated in pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis and in regulation and differentiation of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cells. Different TGF-beta members signal through phosphorylation of different signal transduction proteins, which eventually form oligomers with SMAD 4 and translocate to the nucleus. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction showed that SMADs 1, 2 and 4 are expressed in pancreatic islets. Immunostaining revealed that SMAD 1 and 4 predominantly were expressed by islet insulin and glucagon cells. Since SMAD 1 is known to transduce signals from receptors binding bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) these results indicate a previously unknown role of BMP-like ligands in islet function.

Heterobimetallic, cubane-like Mo(3)S(4)M' cluster cores containing the noble metals M' = Ru, Os, Rh, Ir. Unprecedented tri(mu-carbonyl) bridge between ruthenium atoms in [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)Ru)2(mu-CO)3]2+

Reaction of the methylcyclopentadienyl (Cp') cluster compound [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)][pts] (pts = p-toluenesulfonate) with noble metal alkene complexes resulted in the formation of four new heterobimetallic cubane-like Mo(3)S(4)M' cluster cores (M' = Ru, Os, Rh, Ir). Thus, reaction with [(1,5-cod)Ru(CO)(3)] or [(1,3-cod)Os(CO)(3)] (cod = cyclooctadiene) afforded [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)M'(CO)(2)][pts] (M' = Ru: [1][pts]; M' = Os: [2][pts]). When [1][pts] was kept in CH(2)Cl(2)/pentane solution, partial loss of carbonyl ligands occurred and the carbonyl-bridged dicubane cluster [((eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)Ru)(2)(mu-CO)(3)][pts](2) was isolated. An X-ray crystal structure revealed the presence of the hitherto unobserved Ru(mu-CO)(3)Ru structural element. The formation of cluster compounds containing Mo(3)S(4)Rh and Mo(3)S(4)Ir cores was achieved in boiling methanol by reacting [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)][pts] with [M'Cl(cyclooctene)(2)](2) (M' = Rh, Ir) in the presence of PPh(3). In this way [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)M'Cl(PPh(3))][pts] (M' = Rh, Ir) could be isolated. An alternative route to the Mo(3)S(4)Rh cluster core was found in the reaction of [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)][pts] with [RhCl(1,5-cod)](2), which yielded [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)Rh(cod)][pts](2) ([7][pts](2)). Substitution of the cod ligand in [7][pts](2) by 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphanyl)propane (dppp) gave [(eta(5)-Cp')(3)Mo(3)S(4)Rh(dppp)][pts](2).

Methylcyclopentadienyl-substituted tungsten(IV) sulfido cluster [(eta5-Cp')3W3S4]+ and its heterobimetallic derivative [(eta5-Cp')3W3S4Ni(PPh3)]+

The aqueous cluster salt [(H2O)9W3S4][pts]4.9H2O (pts = p-toluenesulfonate) was converted to the methylcyclopentadienyl (Cp') substituted cluster [(eta5-Cp')3W3S4][pts] ([1][pts]) from which the cubane-like cluster [(eta5-Cp')3W3S4Ni(PPh3)][pts] ([2][pts]) was obtained by reaction with Ni(cod)2 and PPh3. [2][pts] was characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis.

Characterization of a new hexasodium diphosphopentamolybdate hydrate, Na6[P2Mo5O23]x7H2O, by 23Na MQMAS NMR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction

A novel hexasodium disphosphopentamolybdate hydrate, Na6[P2Mo5O23]x7H2O, has been identified using X-ray powder diffraction, 1H, 23Na, and 31P magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR, and 23Na multiple-quantum (MQ) MAS NMR. Powder XRD reveals that the hydrate belongs to the triclinic spacegroup P1 with cell dimensions a = 10.090(3) A, b = 15.448(5) A, c = 8.460(4) A, alpha = 101.45(6) degrees, beta = 104.09(2) degrees, gamma = 90.71(5) degrees, and Z = 2. The number of water molecules of crystallization has been determined on the basis of a quantitative evaluation of the 1H MAS NMR spectrum, the crystallographic unit cell volume, and a hydrogen content analysis. The 23Na MQMAS NMR spectra of Na6[P2Mo5O23]x7H2O, obtained at three different magnetic fields, clearly resolve resonances from six different sodium sites and allow a determination of the second-order quadrupolar effect parameters and isotropic chemical shifts for the individual resonances. These data are used to determine the quadrupole coupling parameters (CQ and eta Q) from simulations of the complex line shapes of the central transitions, observed in 23Na MAS NMR spectra at the three magnetic fields. This analysis illustrates the advantages of combining MQMAS and MAS NMR at moderate and high magnetic fields for a precise determination of quadrupole coupling parameters and isotropic chemical shifts for multiple sodium sites in inorganic systems. 31P MAS NMR demonstrates the presence of two distinct P sites in the asymmetric unit of Na6[P2Mo5O23].7H2O while the 31P chemical shielding anisotropy parameters, determined for this hydrate and for Na6[P2Mo5O23]x13H2O, show that these two hydrates can easily be distinguished using 31P MAS NMR.

Preparation and crystal structures of formato complexes of the [MIV3O4]4+ and [MIV3S4]4+ (M = Mo, W) clusters. Convenient precursors to the corresponding aqua complexes

In the aqueous chemistry of molybdenum(IV) and tungsten(IV), trinuclear, incomplete cubane-like, oxo and sulfido clusters of the type [M3E4]4+ (M = Mo, W; E = O, S) play a central role. We here describe how formato complexes of all these cluster cores can be prepared in high yields by crystallization from methanol-water or ethanol-water mixtures. Since potassium and ammonium formate are very soluble in these alcohol-water mixtures, high formate concentrations could be accomplished in the solutions from which the corresponding salts of cluster formato complexes crystallized. The [Mo3O4]4+ compounds could be synthesized without requiring the use of noncomplexing acids in the process. Some [M3E4]4+ compounds were characterized by single-crystal structure determinations. [NH4]3.20[K]0.80[H3O][Mo3O4(HCO2)8][HCO2].H2O was triclinic, space group P1 (No. 2) with a = 11.011(2) A, b = 13.310(2) A, c = 9.993(1) A, alpha = 106.817(7) degrees, beta = 91.651(9) degrees, gamma = 88.340(9) degrees, and two formula units per cell. [K]6[W3S4(HCO2)9][HCO2].2.27H2O.0.73CH3OH was monoclinic, space group C2/m (No. 12) with a = 19.605(6) A, b = 14.458(7) A, c = 13.627(5) A, beta = 118.94(2) degrees, and four formula units per cell. Generally, the nine coordination sites of [M3E4]4+ were occupied either by a mixture of monodentate and mu 2-bridging formato ligands or by monodentate formato ligands only. By dissolution in noncomplexing strong acid, all the formato complexes immediately hydrolyzed to form [M3E4(H2O)9]4+ aqua complexes. This allows, for example, high concentrations of [Mo3S4(H2O)9]4+ in CF3SO3H to be obtained and these solutions to be used for the synthesis of bimetallic clusters containing the cubane-like motif Mo3M'S4.