Liraglutide and sitagliptin counter beta- to alpha-cell transdifferentiation in diabetes

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Abstract

Transdifferentiation of beta- to alpha-cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes. To investigate the impact of contrasting aetiologies of beta-cell stress, as well as clinically approved incretin therapies on this process, lineage tracing of beta-cells in transgenic Ins1Cre/+/Rosa26-eYFP mice was investigated. Diabetes-like syndromes were induced by streptozotocin (STZ), high fat feeding (HFF) or hydrocortisone (HC), and effects of treatment with liraglutide or sitagliptin were investigated. Mice developed the characteristic metabolic features associated with beta-cell destruction or development of insulin resistance. Liraglutide was effective in preventing weight gain in HFF mice, with both treatments decreasing energy intake in STZ and HC mice. Treatment intervention also significantly reduced blood glucose levels in STZ and HC mice, as well as increasing either plasma or pancreatic insulin while decreasing circulating or pancreatic glucagon in all models. The recognised changes in pancreatic morphology induced by STZ, HFF or HC were partially, or fully, reversed by liraglutide and sitagliptin, and related to advantageous effects on alpha- and beta-cell growth and survival. More interestingly, induction of diabetes-like phenotype, regardless of pathogenesis, led to increased numbers of beta-cells losing their identity, as well as decreased expression of Pdx1 within beta-cells. Both treatment interventions, and especially liraglutide, countered detrimental islet cell transitioning effects in STZ and HFF mice. Only liraglutide imparted benefits on beta- to alpha-cell transdifferentiation in HC mice. These data demonstrate that beta- to alpha-cell transdifferentiation is a common consequence of beta-cell destruction or insulin resistance and that clinically approved incretin-based drugs effectively limit this.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)53-64
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Endrocrinology
Volume245
Issue number1
Early online date1 Apr 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 1 Apr 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
These studies were supported by a Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland, PhD Research Scholarship (NT) and an early career research award

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Society for Endocrinology

Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Beta-cell
  • Diabetes
  • Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4)
  • Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)
  • High fat feeding (HFF)
  • Hydrocortisone (HC)
  • Islets
  • Streptozotocin (STZ)
  • Transdifferentiation

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