scholarly journals Sexual dimorphism in glucose metabolism is shaped by androgen-driven gut microbiome

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aibo Gao ◽  
Junlei Su ◽  
Ruixin Liu ◽  
Shaoqian Zhao ◽  
Wen Li ◽  
...  

AbstractMales are generally more susceptible to impaired glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes (T2D) than females. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be determined. Here, we revealed that gut microbiome depletion abolished sexual dimorphism in glucose metabolism. The transfer of male donor microbiota into antibiotics-treated female mice led the recipients to be more insulin resistant. Depleting androgen via castration changed the gut microbiome of male mice to be more similar to that of females and improved glucose metabolism, while reintroducing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) reversed these alterations. More importantly, the effects of androgen on glucose metabolism were largely abolished when the gut microbiome was depleted. Next, we demonstrated that androgen modulated circulating glutamine and glutamine/glutamate (Gln/Glu) ratio partially depending on the gut microbiome, and glutamine supplementation increases insulin sensitivity in vitro. Our study identifies the effects of androgen in deteriorating glucose homeostasis partially by modulating the gut microbiome and circulating glutamine and Gln/Glu ratio, thereby contributing to the difference in glucose metabolism between the two sexes.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3566
Author(s):  
Chae Bin Lee ◽  
Soon Uk Chae ◽  
Seong Jun Jo ◽  
Ui Min Jerng ◽  
Soo Kyung Bae

Metformin is the first-line pharmacotherapy for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, its mechanism of modulating glucose metabolism is elusive. Recent advances have identified the gut as a potential target of metformin. As patients with metabolic disorders exhibit dysbiosis, the gut microbiome has garnered interest as a potential target for metabolic disease. Henceforth, studies have focused on unraveling the relationship of metabolic disorders with the human gut microbiome. According to various metagenome studies, gut dysbiosis is evident in T2DM patients. Besides this, alterations in the gut microbiome were also observed in the metformin-treated T2DM patients compared to the non-treated T2DM patients. Thus, several studies on rodents have suggested potential mechanisms interacting with the gut microbiome, including regulation of glucose metabolism, an increase in short-chain fatty acids, strengthening intestinal permeability against lipopolysaccharides, modulating the immune response, and interaction with bile acids. Furthermore, human studies have demonstrated evidence substantiating the hypotheses based on rodent studies. This review discusses the current knowledge of how metformin modulates T2DM with respect to the gut microbiome and discusses the prospect of harnessing this mechanism in treating T2DM.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2545
Author(s):  
Ya-Hui Chen ◽  
Po-Hui Wang ◽  
Pei-Ni Chen ◽  
Shun-Fa Yang ◽  
Yi-Hsuan Hsiao

Cervical cancer is one of the major gynecologic malignancies worldwide. Treatment options include chemotherapy, surgical resection, radiotherapy, or a combination of these treatments; however, relapse and recurrence may occur, and the outcome may not be favorable. Metformin is an established, safe, well-tolerated drug used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes; it can be safely combined with other antidiabetic agents. Diabetes, possibly associated with an increased site-specific cancer risk, may relate to the progression or initiation of specific types of cancer. The potential effects of metformin in terms of cancer prevention and therapy have been widely studied, and a number of studies have indicated its potential role in cancer treatment. The most frequently proposed mechanism underlying the diabetes–cancer association is insulin resistance, which leads to secondary hyperinsulinemia; furthermore, insulin may exert mitogenic effects through the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptor, and hyperglycemia may worsen carcinogenesis through the induction of oxidative stress. Evidence has suggested clinical benefits of metformin in the treatment of gynecologic cancers. Combining current anticancer drugs with metformin may increase their efficacy and diminish adverse drug reactions. Accumulating evidence is indicating that metformin exerts anticancer effects alone or in combination with other agents in cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo. Metformin might thus serve as an adjunct therapeutic agent for cervical cancer. Here, we reviewed the potential anticancer effects of metformin against cervical cancer and discussed possible underlying mechanisms.


2007 ◽  
Vol 193 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J Weinhaus ◽  
Laurence E Stout ◽  
Nicholas V Bhagroo ◽  
T Clark Brelje ◽  
Robert L Sorenson

Glucokinase activity is increased in pancreatic islets during pregnancy and in vitro by prolactin (PRL). The underlying mechanisms that lead to increased glucokinase have not been resolved. Since glucose itself regulates glucokinase activity in β-cells, it was unclear whether the lactogen effects are direct or occur through changes in glucose metabolism. To clarify the roles of glucose metabolism in this process, we examined the interactions between glucose and PRL on glucose metabolism, insulin secretion, and glucokinase expression in insulin 1 (INS-1) cells and rat islets. Although the PRL-induced changes were more pronounced after culture at higher glucose concentrations, an increase in glucose metabolism, insulin secretion, and glucokinase expression occurred even in the absence of glucose. The presence of comparable levels of insulin secretion at similar rates of glucose metabolism from both control and PRL-treated INS-1 cells suggests the PRL-induced increase in glucose metabolism is responsible for the increase in insulin secretion. Similarly, increases in other known PRL responsive genes (e.g. the PRL receptor, glucose transporter-2, and insulin) were also detected after culture without glucose. We show that the upstream glucokinase promoter contains multiple STAT5 binding sequences with increased binding in response to PRL. Corresponding increases in glucokinase mRNA and protein synthesis were also detected. This suggests the PRL-induced increase in glucokinase mRNA and its translation are sufficient to account for the elevated glucokinase activity in β-cells with lactogens. Importantly, the increase in islet glucokinase observed with PRL is in line with that observed in islets during pregnancy.


2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (6) ◽  
pp. E1360-E1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thongchai Pratipanawatr ◽  
Wilailak Pratipanawatr ◽  
Clifford Rosen ◽  
Rachele Berria ◽  
Mandeep Bajaj ◽  
...  

The effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin on free fatty acid (FFA) and glucose metabolism were compared in eight control and eight type 2 diabetic subjects, who received a two-step euglycemic hyperinsulinemic (0.25 and 0.5 mU · kg−1 · min−1) clamp and a two-step euglycemic IGF-I (26 and 52 pmol · kg−1 · min−1) clamp with [3-3H]glucose, [1-14C]palmitate, and indirect calorimetry. The insulin and IGF-I infusion rates were chosen to augment glucose disposal (Rd) to a similar extent in control subjects. In type 2 diabetic subjects, stimulation of Rd (second clamp step) in response to both insulin and IGF-I was reduced by ∼40–50% compared with control subjects. In control subjects, insulin was more effective than IGF-I in suppressing endogenous glucose production (EGP) during both clamp steps. In type 2 diabetic subjects, insulin-mediated suppression of EGP was impaired, whereas EGP suppression by IGF-I was similar to that of controls. In both control and diabetic subjects, IGF-I-mediated suppression of plasma FFA concentration and inhibition of FFA turnover were markedly impaired compared with insulin ( P < 0.01–0.001). During the second IGF-I clamp step, suppression of plasma FFA concentration and FFA turnover was impaired in diabetic vs. control subjects ( P < 0.05–0.01). Conclusions: 1) IGF-I is less effective than insulin in suppressing EGP and FFA turnover; 2) insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic subjects also exhibit IGF-I resistance in skeletal muscle. However, suppression of EGP by IGF-I is not impaired in diabetic individuals, indicating normal hepatic sensitivity to IGF-I.


2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (16) ◽  
pp. 2371-2391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saynaz A. Choudhary ◽  
Nikita Bora ◽  
Dipanjan Banerjee ◽  
Leena Arora ◽  
Anindhya Sundar Das ◽  
...  

Abstract Saturated free fatty acid-induced adipocyte inflammation plays a pivotal role in implementing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Recent reports suggest A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) could be an attractive choice to counteract adipocyte inflammation and insulin resistance. Thus, an effective A2AAR agonist devoid of any toxicity is highly appealing. Here, we report that indirubin-3′-monoxime (I3M), a derivative of the bisindole alkaloid indirubin, efficiently binds and activates A2AAR which leads to the attenuation of lipid-induced adipocyte inflammation and insulin resistance. Using a combination of in silico virtual screening of potential anti-diabetic candidates and in vitro study on insulin-resistant model of 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we determined I3M through A2AAR activation markedly prevents lipid-induced impairment of the insulin signaling pathway in adipocytes without any toxic effects. While I3M restrains lipid-induced adipocyte inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB dependent pro-inflammatory cytokines expression, it also augments cAMP-mediated CREB activation and anti-inflammatory state in adipocytes. However, these attributes were compromised when cells were pretreated with the A2AAR antagonist, SCH 58261 or siRNA mediated knockdown of A2AAR. I3M, therefore, could be a valuable option to intervene adipocyte inflammation and thus showing promise for the management of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Ok Lee ◽  
Hye Jeong Lee ◽  
Yong Woo Lee ◽  
Jeong Ah Han ◽  
Min Ju Kang ◽  
...  

AbstractMeteorin-like (metrnl) is a recently identified adipomyokine that has beneficial effects on glucose metabolism. However, its underlying mechanism of action is not completely understood. In this study, we have shown that a level of metrnl increase in vitro under electrical-pulse-stimulation (EPS) and in vivo in exercise mice, suggesting that metrnl is an exercise-induced myokine. In addition, metrnl increases glucose uptake through the calcium-dependent AMPK pathway. Metrnl also increases the phosphorylation of HDAC5, a transcriptional repressor of GLUT4, in an AMPK-dependent manner. Phosphorylated HDAC5 interacts with 14-3-3 proteins and sequesters them in the cytoplasm, resulting in the activation of GLUT4 transcription. The intraperitoneal injection of recombinant metrnl improves glucose tolerance in mice with high fat-induced obesity or type 2 diabetes (db/db), but this is not seen in AMPK β1β2 muscle-specific null mice (AMPK β1β2 MKO). In conclusion, we have demonstrated that metrnl induces beneficial effects on glucose metabolism via AMPK and is a promising therapeutic candidate for glucose-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Liu ◽  
Shuainan Liu ◽  
Hui Cao ◽  
Wenming Ji ◽  
Caina Li ◽  
...  

The novel Traditional Chinese Medicine Ramulus Mori (Sangzhi) alkaloid tablets (SZ-A) are approved by The China National Medical Products Administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the extensive pharmacological characteristics and the underlying mechanism are unknown. This study investigated the mechanisms by which SZ-A ameliorates glucose metabolism in KKAy mice, an animal model of T2DM. Diabetic KKAy mice were treated intragastrically with SZ-A once daily for 8 weeks, after which glucose levels, lipid metabolism, gut microbiome, systemic inflammatory factors, luminal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (fecal samples), and ileal proteomic changes were evaluated. The ileum tissues were collected, and the effects of SZ-A on pathological inflammatory damage were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of various inflammatory markers, including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa B p65, were detected in the ileum tissues. SZ-A improved glucose metabolism with enhanced insulin response and elevated glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) nearly 2.7-fold during the glucose tolerance test in diabetic KKAy mice. Gut microbiota analysis demonstrated that SZ-A administration elevated the abundance of Bacteroidaceae and Verrucomicrobia, reduced the levels of Rikenellaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae; and increased the concentrations of fecal acetic and propionic acids compared to the diabetic model group. Additionally, SZ-A markedly improved ileal inflammatory injury and pro-inflammatory macrophage infiltration and improved intestinal mucosal barrier function in diabetic KKAy mice. SZ-A also attenuated the levels of circulating endotoxin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines in the mice sera. Collectively, SZ-A ameliorated the overall metabolic profile including glucose and lipid metabolism in KKAy mice, which may be associated with an improvement in GLP-1 and insulin secretion, at least in part by modulating the gut microbiome and relieving the degree of ileal and systemic inflammation.


2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (6) ◽  
pp. E1264-E1270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kieren Mather ◽  
Markku Laakso ◽  
Steven Edelman ◽  
Ginger Hook ◽  
Alain Baron

We hypothesized that the vasodilation observed during insulin stimulation is closely coupled to the rate of glucose metabolism. Lean (L, n = 13), obese nondiabetic (OB, n = 13), and obese type 2 diabetic subjects (Type 2 DM, n = 16) were studied. Leg blood flow (LBF) was examined under conditions of euglycemic hyperinsulinemia (EH) and hyperglycemic hyperinsulinemia (HH), which produced a steady-state whole body glucose disposal rate (GDR) of ∼2,000 μmol · m−2 · min−1. At this GDR, under both conditions, subjects across the range of insulin sensitivity exhibited equivalent LBF (l/min EH: L, 0.42 ± 0.03; OB, 0.43 ± 0.03; Type 2 DM, 0.38 ± 0.07; P= 0.72 by ANOVA. HH: L, 0.44 ± 0.04; OB, 0.39 ± 0.05; Type 2 DM, 0.41 ± 0.04; P = 0.71). The continuous relationship between LBF and GDR did not differ across subject groups [slope × 10−5l/(μmol · m−2 · min−1) by ANOVA. EH: L, 8.6; OB, 9.2; Type 2 DM, 7.9; P = 0.91. HH: L, 4.2; OB, 2.5; Type 2 DM, 4.1; P = 0.77], although this relationship did differ between the EH and HH conditions ( P = 0.001). These findings support a physiological coupling of LBF and insulin-mediated glucose metabolism. The mechanism(s) linking substrate delivery and metabolism appears to be intact in insulin-resistant states.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miao Liu ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
Chun Qu ◽  
Yilin Gao ◽  
Lijie Wu ◽  
...  

AbstractHyperamylinemia induces amylin aggregation and toxicity in the pancreas and contributes to the development of type-2 diabetes (T2D). Cardiac amylin deposition in patients with obesity and T2D was found to accelerate heart dysfunction. Non-human primates (NHPs) have similar genetic, metabolic, and cardiovascular processes as humans. However, the underlying mechanisms of cardiac amylin in NHPs, particularly related to the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)1α and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) signaling pathways, are unknown. Here, we demonstrate that in NHPs, amylin deposition in heart failure (HF) contributes to cardiac dysfunction via activation of HIF1α and PFKFB3 signaling. This was confirmed in two in vitro cardiomyocyte models. Furthermore, alterations of intracellular Ca2+, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial function, and lactate levels were observed in amylin-treated cells. Our study demonstrates a pathological role for amylin in the activation of HIF1α and PFKFB3 signaling in NHPs with HF, establishing amylin as a promising target for heart disease patients.


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