Cover Story Current Issue
Excessive lipid accumulation in adipose tissue triggers hypertrophy and stress of adipocytes, leading to infiltration of proinflammatory immune cells, fibrosis and adipocyte cell death, collectively referred to as adipose tissue dysfunction. As consequence, adipocytes capacity to store lipids is impaired and fat is ectopically accumulated in organs such as muscle, liver and pancreas, a condition that promotes organ dysfunction and insulin resistance, contributing to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Although fat accumulation in human pancreas was described decades ago, it has for long remained an underexplored facet of ectopic fat distribution. Pancreatic fat has been associated with improved insulin secretion in normoglycaemic subjects, but with impaired insulin secretion in patients at increased risk of T2D. Furthermore, T2D diabetes remission, i.e. recovery of beta cell function was accompanied by reduction of pancreatic fat. These clinical observations point to the controversial role of pancreatic fat in insulin secretion, and emphasize the need for experimental evidence demonstrating plausible lipolysis derived fatty acids-/secretome-mediated effects of pancreatic adipocytes in islets. To date, detailed studies on the mechanistic interactions between pancreatic adipocytes and insulin secretion remain sparse, as reliable in vitro models replicating the unique properties of these cells have been lacking.
Current Issue
Variable glucagon metabolic actions in diverse mouse models of obesity and type 2 diabetes
Variable glucagon metabolic actions in diverse mouse models of obesity and type 2 diabetes
Objective
The study aimed to investigate the effects of glucagon on metabolic pathways in mouse models of obesity, fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) to determine the extent and variability of hepatic glucagon resistance in these conditions.
Methods
We investigated glucagon's effects in mouse models of fatty liver disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes (T2D), including male BKS-db/db, high-fat diet-fed, and western diet-fed C57Bl/6 mice. Glucagon tolerance tests were performed using the selective glucagon receptor agonist acyl-glucagon (IUB288). Blood glucose, serum and liver metabolites include lipids and amino acids were measured. Additionally, liver protein expression related to glucagon signalling and a comprehensive liver metabolomics were performed.
Results
Western diet-fed mice displayed impaired glucagon response, with reduced blood glucose and PKA activation. In contrast, high-fat diet-fed and db/db mice maintained normal glucagon sensitivity, showing significant elevations in blood glucose and phospho-PKA motif protein expression. Acyl-glucagon treatment also lowered liver alanine and histidine levels in high-fat diet-fed mice, but not in western diet-fed mice. Additionally, some amino acids, such as methionine, were increased by acyl-glucagon only in chow diet control mice. Despite normal glucagon sensitivity in PKA signalling, db/db mice had a distinct metabolomic response, with acyl-glucagon significantly altering 90 metabolites in db/+ mice but only 42 in db/db mice, and classic glucagon-regulated metabolites, such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), being less responsive in db/db mice.
Conclusions
The study reveals that hepatic glucagon resistance in obesity and T2D is complex and not uniform across metabolic pathways, underscoring the complexity of glucagon action in these conditions.
Articles in Press
Variable glucagon metabolic actions in diverse mouse models of obesity and type 2 diabetes
Variable glucagon metabolic actions in diverse mouse models of obesity and type 2 diabetes
Objective
The study aimed to investigate the effects of glucagon on metabolic pathways in mouse models of obesity, fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) to determine the extent and variability of hepatic glucagon resistance in these conditions.
Methods
We investigated glucagon's effects in mouse models of fatty liver disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes (T2D), including male BKS-db/db, high-fat diet-fed, and western diet-fed C57Bl/6 mice. Glucagon tolerance tests were performed using the selective glucagon receptor agonist acyl-glucagon (IUB288). Blood glucose, serum and liver metabolites include lipids and amino acids were measured. Additionally, liver protein expression related to glucagon signalling and a comprehensive liver metabolomics were performed.
Results
Western diet-fed mice displayed impaired glucagon response, with reduced blood glucose and PKA activation. In contrast, high-fat diet-fed and db/db mice maintained normal glucagon sensitivity, showing significant elevations in blood glucose and phospho-PKA motif protein expression. Acyl-glucagon treatment also lowered liver alanine and histidine levels in high-fat diet-fed mice, but not in western diet-fed mice. Additionally, some amino acids, such as methionine, were increased by acyl-glucagon only in chow diet control mice. Despite normal glucagon sensitivity in PKA signalling, db/db mice had a distinct metabolomic response, with acyl-glucagon significantly altering 90 metabolites in db/+ mice but only 42 in db/db mice, and classic glucagon-regulated metabolites, such as cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), being less responsive in db/db mice.
Conclusions
The study reveals that hepatic glucagon resistance in obesity and T2D is complex and not uniform across metabolic pathways, underscoring the complexity of glucagon action in these conditions.
You are what you eat
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