title: Exendin-4, a glucagon-like protein-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, reverses hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice.
abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a burgeoning problem in hepatology, and is associated with insulin resistance. Exendin-4 is a peptide agonist of the glucagon-like peptide (GLP) receptor that promotes insulin secretion. The aim of this study was to determine whether administration of Exendin-4 would reverse hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice. Ob/ob mice, or their lean littermates, were treated with Exendin-4 [10 microg/kg or 20 microg/kg] for 60 days. Serum was collected for measurement of insulin, adiponectin, fasting glucose, lipids, and aminotransferase concentrations. Liver tissue was procured for histological examination, real-time RT-PCR analysis and assay for oxidative stress. Rat hepatocytes were isolated and treated with GLP-1. Ob/ob mice sustained a reduction in the net weight gained during Exendin-4 treatment. Serum glucose and hepatic steatosis was significantly reduced in Exendin-4 treated ob/ob mice. Exendin-4 improved insulin sensitivity in ob/ob mice, as calculated by the homeostasis model assessment. The measurement of thiobarbituric reactive substances as a marker of oxidative stress was significantly reduced in ob/ob-treated mice with Exendin-4. Finally, GLP-1-treated hepatocytes resulted in a significant increase in cAMP production as well as reduction in mRNA expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 and genes associated with fatty acid synthesis; the converse was true for genes associated with fatty acid oxidation. In conclusion, Exendin-4 appears to effectively reverse hepatic steatosis in ob/ob mice by improving insulin sensitivity. Our data suggest that GLP-1 proteins in liver have a novel direct effect on hepatocyte fat metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaokun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Neeraj K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: Songbai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Nitika Arora
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Narita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Anania
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000077270:Exenatide; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy*; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000235:genetics; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000819:agonists* / Q000032:analysis; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase / Q000235:genetics; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics; D014688:Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C000593834:Glp1r protein, mouse; C000593835:Glp1r protein, rat; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D047493:PPAR alpha; D010455:Peptides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon; D051780:Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1; D014688:Venoms; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D000077270:Exenatide; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D013230:Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase