Cover Story Current Issue

The gastrointestinal tract is involved in physiological regulation, including regulation of metabolism and feeding behavior, through the secretion of gut hormones and generation of signals via receptors in response to nutrients. Several G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been identified as sensors of lipids, such as fatty acids, monoacylglycerols (MAGs), and their metabolites, the levels of which are increased in the intestine after meals. GPR40 and 120 are well-known receptors for dietary long-chain fatty acids and their metabolites produced by gut microbiota. In addition, GPR119 is a receptor for MAGs [i.e. 2-oleoylglycerol (2-OG)], lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and fatty acid ethanolamides (FAEs) [i.e. oleoylethanolamide (OEA)]. Although enterocytes, enteroendocrine cells, and neural fibers have been postulated to sense lipids via GPCRs in the gut, most studies imply that enteroendocrine cells are the primary cells that sense lipids, which results in the production of hormones like cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) after a meal.

Miki Igarashi, Tetsuhiko Hayakawa, Haruka Tanabe, Keita Watanabe, ... Ikuo Kimura

Full text

 

Current Issue

Intestinal GPR119 activation by microbiota-derived metabolites impacts feeding behavior and energy metabolism

Miki Igarashi, Tetsuhiko Hayakawa, Haruka Tanabe, Keita Watanabe, ... Ikuo Kimura

Objective

The gastrointestinal tract affects physiological activities and behavior by secreting hormones and generating signals through the activation of nutrient sensors. GPR119, a lipid sensor, is indirectly involved in the secretion of incretins, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, by enteroendocrine cells, while it directly stimulates insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. Since GPR119 has the potential to modulate metabolic homeostasis in obesity and diabetes, it has attracted interest as a therapeutic target. However, previous studies have shown that the deletion of Gpr119 in mice does not affect glucose homeostasis and appetite in either basal or high-fat diet-fed conditions. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the role of GPR119 signaling system in energy metabolism and feeding behavior in mice.

Methods

Gpr119 knockout (KO) mice were generated using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, and their feeding behavior and energy metabolism were evaluated and compared with those of wild type (WT) mice.

Results

Upon inducing metabolic stress via food deprivation, Gpr119 KO mice exhibited lower blood glucose levels and a higher body weight reduction compared to WT mice. Although food intake in WT and KO mice were similar under free-feeding conditions, Gpr119 KO mice exhibited increased food intake when they were refed after 24 h of food deprivation. Further, food-deprived Gpr119 KO mice presented shorter post-meal intervals and lower satiety for second and later meals during refeeding, resulting in increased food intake. Associated with this meal pattern, levels of oleoylethanolamide (OEA), an endogenous agonist of GPR119, in the luminal contents of the distal gastrointestinal tract were elevated within 2 h after refeeding. The large-intestinal infusion of OEA prolonged post-meal intervals and increased satiety in the first meal, but not the second meal. On the other hand, infusion of oleic acid increased cecal OEA levels at 2 h from the beginning of infusion, while prolonging post-meal intervals and increasing satiety on the meals that occurred approximately 2 h after the infusion. Cecal OEA levels were low in antibiotic-treated mice, suggesting that the gut microbiota partially synthesizes OEA from oleic acid.

Conclusions

Collectively, our results indicate that the activation of gastrointestinal GPR119 by microbiota-produced OEA derived from oleic acid is associated with satiety control and energy homeostasis under energy shortage conditions.

Articles in Press

Intestinal GPR119 activation by microbiota-derived metabolites impacts feeding behavior and energy metabolism

Miki Igarashi, Tetsuhiko Hayakawa, Haruka Tanabe, Keita Watanabe, ... Ikuo Kimura

Objective

The gastrointestinal tract affects physiological activities and behavior by secreting hormones and generating signals through the activation of nutrient sensors. GPR119, a lipid sensor, is indirectly involved in the secretion of incretins, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, by enteroendocrine cells, while it directly stimulates insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. Since GPR119 has the potential to modulate metabolic homeostasis in obesity and diabetes, it has attracted interest as a therapeutic target. However, previous studies have shown that the deletion of Gpr119 in mice does not affect glucose homeostasis and appetite in either basal or high-fat diet-fed conditions. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the role of GPR119 signaling system in energy metabolism and feeding behavior in mice.

Methods

Gpr119 knockout (KO) mice were generated using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, and their feeding behavior and energy metabolism were evaluated and compared with those of wild type (WT) mice.

Results

Upon inducing metabolic stress via food deprivation, Gpr119 KO mice exhibited lower blood glucose levels and a higher body weight reduction compared to WT mice. Although food intake in WT and KO mice were similar under free-feeding conditions, Gpr119 KO mice exhibited increased food intake when they were refed after 24 h of food deprivation. Further, food-deprived Gpr119 KO mice presented shorter post-meal intervals and lower satiety for second and later meals during refeeding, resulting in increased food intake. Associated with this meal pattern, levels of oleoylethanolamide (OEA), an endogenous agonist of GPR119, in the luminal contents of the distal gastrointestinal tract were elevated within 2 h after refeeding. The large-intestinal infusion of OEA prolonged post-meal intervals and increased satiety in the first meal, but not the second meal. On the other hand, infusion of oleic acid increased cecal OEA levels at 2 h from the beginning of infusion, while prolonging post-meal intervals and increasing satiety on the meals that occurred approximately 2 h after the infusion. Cecal OEA levels were low in antibiotic-treated mice, suggesting that the gut microbiota partially synthesizes OEA from oleic acid.

Conclusions

Collectively, our results indicate that the activation of gastrointestinal GPR119 by microbiota-produced OEA derived from oleic acid is associated with satiety control and energy homeostasis under energy shortage conditions.

2021 impact factor: 8.568

You are what you eat

Here is a video of Vimeo. When the iframes is activated, a connection to Vimeo is established and, if necessary, cookies from Vimeo are also used. For further information on cookies policy click here.