scholarly journals Empagliflozin Improves Insulin Sensitivity of the Hypothalamus in Humans With Prediabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Trial

Author(s):  
Stephanie Kullmann ◽  
Julia Hummel ◽  
Robert Wagner ◽  
Corinna Dannecker ◽  
Andreas Vosseler ◽  
...  

<b>Objective:</b> Insulin action in the human brain reduces food intake, improves whole-body insulin sensitivity, and modulates body fat mass and its’ distribution. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are often associated with brain insulin resistance, resulting in impaired brain-derived modulation of peripheral metabolism. So far, no pharmacological treatment for brain insulin resistance has been established. Since SGLT2 inhibitors lowers glucose levels and modulate energy metabolism, we hypothesized that SGLT2 inhibition may be a pharmacological approach to reverse brain insulin resistance. <p><b>Research Design and Methods:</b> In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 40 patients (mean ± SD; age: 60 ± 9 years; BMI: 31.5 ± 3.8 kg/m²) with prediabetes were randomized to receive 25 mg empagliflozin qd or placebo. Before and after 8 weeks of treatment, brain insulin sensitivity was assessed by functional MRI combined with intranasal administration of insulin to the brain.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> We identified a significant interaction between time and treatment in the hypothalamic response to insulin. Post hoc analyses revealed that only empagliflozin treated patients experienced increased hypothalamic insulin responsiveness. Hypothalamic insulin action significantly mediated empagliflozin-induced decrease in fasting glucose and liver fat.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Our results corroborate insulin resistance of the hypothalamus in humans with prediabetes. Treatment with empagliflozin for 8 weeks was able to restore hypothalamic insulin sensitivity; a favorable response that could contribute to the beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors. Our findings position SGLT2 inhibition as the first pharmacological approach to reverse brain insulin resistance, with potential benefits for adiposity and whole-body metabolism.</p>

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Kullmann ◽  
Julia Hummel ◽  
Robert Wagner ◽  
Corinna Dannecker ◽  
Andreas Vosseler ◽  
...  

<b>Objective:</b> Insulin action in the human brain reduces food intake, improves whole-body insulin sensitivity, and modulates body fat mass and its’ distribution. Obesity and type 2 diabetes are often associated with brain insulin resistance, resulting in impaired brain-derived modulation of peripheral metabolism. So far, no pharmacological treatment for brain insulin resistance has been established. Since SGLT2 inhibitors lowers glucose levels and modulate energy metabolism, we hypothesized that SGLT2 inhibition may be a pharmacological approach to reverse brain insulin resistance. <p><b>Research Design and Methods:</b> In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 40 patients (mean ± SD; age: 60 ± 9 years; BMI: 31.5 ± 3.8 kg/m²) with prediabetes were randomized to receive 25 mg empagliflozin qd or placebo. Before and after 8 weeks of treatment, brain insulin sensitivity was assessed by functional MRI combined with intranasal administration of insulin to the brain.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> We identified a significant interaction between time and treatment in the hypothalamic response to insulin. Post hoc analyses revealed that only empagliflozin treated patients experienced increased hypothalamic insulin responsiveness. Hypothalamic insulin action significantly mediated empagliflozin-induced decrease in fasting glucose and liver fat.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Our results corroborate insulin resistance of the hypothalamus in humans with prediabetes. Treatment with empagliflozin for 8 weeks was able to restore hypothalamic insulin sensitivity; a favorable response that could contribute to the beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors. Our findings position SGLT2 inhibition as the first pharmacological approach to reverse brain insulin resistance, with potential benefits for adiposity and whole-body metabolism.</p>


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Do-Youn Jeong ◽  
Myeong Seon Ryu ◽  
Hee-Jong Yang ◽  
Sunmin Park

Fermented soybean paste is an indigenous food for use in cooking in East and Southeast Asia. Korea developed and used its traditional fermented foods two thousand years ago. Chungkookjang has unique characteristics such as short-term fermentation (24–72 h) without salt, and fermentation mostly with Bacilli. Traditionally fermented chungkookjang (TFC) is whole cooked soybeans that are fermented predominantly by Bacillus species. However, Bacillus species are different in the environment according to the regions and seasons due to the specific bacteria. Bacillus species differently contribute to the bioactive components of chungkookjang, resulting in different functionalities. In this review, we evaluated the production process of poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA)-rich chungkookjang fermented with specific Bacillus species and their effects on memory function through the modulation of brain insulin resistance, neuroinflammation, and the gut–microbiome–brain axis. Bacillus species were isolated from the TFC made in Sunchang, Korea, and they included Bacillus (B.) subtilis, B. licheniformis, and B. amyloliquefaciens. Chungkookjang contains isoflavone aglycans, peptides, dietary fiber, γ-PGA, and Bacillus species. Chungkookjangs made with B. licheniformis and B. amyloliquefaciens have higher contents of γ-PGA, and they are more effective for improving glucose metabolism and memory function. Chungkookjang has better efficacy for reducing inflammation and oxidative stress than other fermented soy foods. Insulin sensitivity is improved, not only in systemic organs such as the liver and adipose tissues, but also in the brain. Chungkookjang intake prevents and alleviates memory impairment induced by Alzheimer’s disease and cerebral ischemia. This review suggests that the intake of chungkookjang (20–30 g/day) rich in γ-PGA acts as a synbiotic in humans and promotes memory function by suppressing brain insulin resistance and neuroinflammation and by modulating the gut–microbiome–brain axis.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esben Thyssen Vestergaard ◽  
Morten B Krag ◽  
Morten M Poulsen ◽  
Steen B Pedersen ◽  
Niels Moller ◽  
...  

ObjectiveSupraphysiological levels of ghrelin and GH induce insulin resistance. Serum levels of retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) correlate inversely with insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to determine whether ghrelin and GH affect RBP4 levels in human subjects.Materials and methodsTo study GH-independent effects of ghrelin, seven hypopituitary men undergoing replacement therapy with GH and hydrocortisone were given ghrelin (5 pmol/kg per min) and saline infusions for 300 min in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Circulating RBP4 levels were measured at baseline and during a hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp on both study days. To study the direct effects of GH, nine healthy men were treated with GH (2 mg at 2200 h) and placebo for 8 days in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Serum RBP4 levels were measured before and after treatment, and insulin sensitivity was measured by the hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp technique.ResultsGhrelin acutely decreased peripheral insulin sensitivity. Serum RBP4 concentrations decreased in response to insulin infusion during the saline experiment (mg/l): 43.2±4.3 (baseline) vs 40.4±4.2 (clamp), P<0.001, but this effect was abrogated during ghrelin infusion (mg/l): 42.4±4.5 (baseline) vs 42.9±4.7 (clamp), P=0.73. In healthy subjects, serum RBP4 levels were not affected by GH administration (mg/l): 41.7±4.1 (GH) vs 43.8±4.6 (saline), P=0.09, although GH induced insulin resistance.Conclusionsi) Serum RBP4 concentrations decrease in response to hyperinsulinemia, ii) ghrelin abrogates the inhibitory effect of insulin on circulating RBP4 concentrations, and iii) ghrelin as well as GH acutely induces insulin resistance in skeletal muscle without significant changes in circulating RBP4 levels.


2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (1) ◽  
pp. R137-R142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Marchionne ◽  
Maggie K. Diamond-Stanic ◽  
Mujalin Prasonnarong ◽  
Erik J. Henriksen

We have demonstrated previously that overactivity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is associated with whole body and skeletal muscle insulin resistance in obese Zucker ( fa/fa) rats. Moreover, this obesity-associated insulin resistance is reduced by treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor (type 1) blockers. However, it is currently unknown whether specific inhibition of renin itself, the rate-limiting step in RAS functionality, improves insulin action in obesity-associated insulin resistance. Therefore, the present study assessed the effect of chronic, selective renin inhibition using aliskiren on glucose tolerance, whole body insulin sensitivity, and insulin action on the glucose transport system in skeletal muscle of obese Zucker rats. Obese Zucker rats were treated for 21 days with either vehicle or aliskiren (50 mg/kg body wt ip). Renin inhibition was associated with a significant lowering (10%, P < 0.05) of resting systolic blood pressure and induced reductions in fasting plasma glucose (11%) and free fatty acids (46%) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (13%). Glucose tolerance (glucose area under the curve) and whole body insulin sensitivity (inverse of the glucose-insulin index) during an oral glucose tolerance test were improved by 15% and 16%, respectively, following chronic renin inhibition. Moreover, insulin-stimulated glucose transport activity in isolated soleus muscle of renin inhibitor-treated animals was increased by 36% and was associated with a 2.2-fold greater Akt Ser473 phosphorylation. These data provide evidence that chronic selective inhibition of renin activity leads to improvements in glucose tolerance and whole body insulin sensitivity in the insulin-resistant obese Zucker rat. Importantly, chronic renin inhibition is associated with upregulation of insulin action on skeletal muscle glucose transport, and it may involve improved Akt signaling. These data support the strategy of targeting the RAS to improve both blood pressure regulation and insulin action in conditions of insulin resistance.


Endocrinology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 145 (7) ◽  
pp. 3158-3164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronwyn D. Hegarty ◽  
Stuart M. Furler ◽  
Nicholas D. Oakes ◽  
Edward W. Kraegen ◽  
Gregory J. Cooney

Abstract Agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) have emerged as important pharmacological agents for improving insulin action. A major mechanism of action of PPAR agonists is thought to involve the alteration of the tissue distribution of nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) uptake and utilization. To test this hypothesis directly, we examined the effect of the novel PPARα/γ agonist tesaglitazar on whole-body insulin sensitivity and NEFA clearance into epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT), red gastrocnemius muscle, and liver in rats with dietary-induced insulin resistance. Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet (59% of calories as fat) for 3 wk with or without treatment with tesaglitazar (1 μmol·kg−1·d−1, 7 d). NEFA clearance was measured using the partially metabolizable NEFA tracer, 3H-R-bromopalmitate, administered under conditions of basal or elevated NEFA availability. Tesaglitazar improved the insulin sensitivity of high-fat-fed rats, indicated by an increase in the glucose infusion rate during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (P &lt; 0.01). This improvement in insulin action was associated with decreased diglyceride (P &lt; 0.05) and long chain acyl coenzyme A (P &lt; 0.05) in skeletal muscle. NEFA clearance into WAT of high-fat-fed rats was increased 52% by tesaglitazar under basal conditions (P &lt; 0.001). In addition the PPARα/γ agonist moderately increased hepatic and muscle NEFA utilization and reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation (P &lt; 0.05). This study shows that tesaglitazar is an effective insulin-sensitizing agent in a mild dietary model of insulin resistance. Furthermore, we provide the first direct in vivo evidence that an agonist of both PPARα and PPARγ increases the ability of WAT, liver, and skeletal muscle to use fatty acids in association with its beneficial effects on insulin action in this model.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (6) ◽  
pp. E825-E832 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Koopmans ◽  
S. F. de Boer ◽  
H. C. Sips ◽  
J. K. Radder ◽  
M. Frolich ◽  
...  

In normal (N), 3-days starved (S), and streptozotocin-treated (65 mg/kg) 3-days diabetic (D) rats we examined the in vivo dose-response relationship between plasma insulin levels vs. whole body glucose uptake (BGU) and inhibition of hepatic glucose production (HGP) in conscious rats, as determined with the four-step sequential hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp technique, combined with [3-3H]glucose infusion. Twelve-hour fasting (basal) HGP was 3.0 +/- 0.2, 2.1 +/- 0.2, and 5.4 +/- 0.5 mg/min in N, S, and D rats, respectively. Next, all rats were clamped at matched glycemia (6 mM). Lowering plasma glucose in D rats from +/- 20 to 6.0 mM did not increase plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, glucagon, and corticosterone levels. For BGU, insulin sensitivity was increased (70 +/- 11 microU/ml) in S and unchanged (113 +/- 21 microU/ml) in D compared with N rats (105 +/- 10 microU/ml). Insulin responsiveness was unchanged (12.4 +/- 0.8 mg/min) in S and decreased (8.5 +/- 0.8 mg/min) in D compared with N rats (12.3 +/- 0.7 mg/min). For HGP, insulin sensitivity was unchanged (68 +/- 10 microU/ml) in S and decreased (157 +/- 21 microU/ml) in D compared with N rats (71 +/- 5 microU/ml). Insulin responsiveness was identical among N, S, and D rats (complete suppression of HGP). In summary, 1) insulin resistance in D rats is caused by hepatic insensitivity and by a reduction in BGU responsiveness. 2) S rats show normal hepatic insulin action, but insulin sensitivity for BGU is increased. Therefore, S and D rats both suffering from a comparable catabolic state (10-15% body wt loss in 3 days) show opposite effects on in vivo insulin action. This indicates that in vivo insulin resistance in D rats is not caused by the catabolic state per se.


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (5) ◽  
pp. E859-E867 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Hettiarachchi ◽  
S. Chalkley ◽  
S. M. Furler ◽  
Y.-S. Choong ◽  
M. Heller ◽  
...  

To clarify roles of amylin, we investigated metabolic responses to rat amylin-(8—37), a specific amylin antagonist, in normal and insulin-resistant, human growth hormone (hGH)-infused rats. Fasting conscious rats were infused with saline or hGH, each with and without amylin-(8—37) (0.125 μmol/h), over 5.75 h. At 3.75 h, a hyperinsulinemic (100 mU/l) clamp with bolus 2-deoxy-d-[3H]glucose and [14C]glucose was started. hGH infusion led to prompt (2- to 3-fold) basal hyperamylinemia ( P < 0.02) and hyperinsulinemia. Amylin-(8—37) reduced plasma insulin ( P < 0.001) and enhanced several measures of whole body and muscle insulin sensitivity ( P < 0.05) in both saline- and hGH-infused rats. Amylin-(8—37) corrected hGH-induced liver insulin resistance, increased basal plasma triglycerides and lowered plasma nonesterified fatty acids in both groups, and reduced muscle triglyceride and total long-chain acyl-CoA content in saline-treated rats ( P < 0.05). In isolated soleus muscle, amylin-(8—37) blocked amylin-induced inhibition of glycogen synthesis but had no effect in the absence of amylin. Thus 1) hyperamylinemia accompanies insulin resistance induced by hGH infusion; 2) amylin-(8—37) increases whole body and muscle insulin sensitivity and consistently reduces basal insulin levels in normal and hGH-induced insulin-resistant rats; and 3) amylin-(8—37) elicits a significant alteration of in vivo lipid metabolism. These findings support a role of amylin in modulating insulin action and suggest that this could be mediated by effects on lipid metabolism.


2004 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 253-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Guerrero-Romero ◽  
HE Tamez-Perez ◽  
G González-González ◽  
AM Salinas-Martínez ◽  
J Montes-Villarreal ◽  
...  

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice S Ryan ◽  
Heidi Ortmeyer ◽  
Frederick Ivey ◽  
Charlene Hafer-Macko

Risk of glucose intolerance and diabetes increases in chronic stroke. The purpose of this study was to assess insulin sensitivity and glycogen synthase (GS), a known benchmark index of insulin action in skeletal muscle, and to compare the activity of this important regulatory enzyme between paretic (P) and non-paretic (NP) skeletal muscle in chronic stroke. We measured insulin sensitivity (M) and bilateral GS fractional activity (ratio of independent to total activity), in lyophilized microdissected muscle samples obtained after an overnight fast and 2 hrs into a 3-hr 80 mU . m -2. min -1 hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp in 21 stroke survivors (n=15 men, n=6 women) (age: 59±2 yrs, BMI: 31±2 kg/m 2 , X±SEM). All had hemiparetic gait after ischemic stroke (>6 months), low aerobic capacity (VO 2 peak, 19.7±1.3 ml/kg/min), and wide range of %body fat (11-48%). Leg lean mass was lower in P than NP (9.3±0.5 vs. 10.0±0.5 kg, P<0.001). Subjects had either normal glucose tolerance (n=7), impaired glucose tolerance (n=7), or diabetes (n=7) and insulin resistance (M: 38.5±2.6 umol/kgFFM/min). Insulin robustly increased GS fractional activity (basal vs. insulin) in P (2.8±0.4 vs.7.5±0.8%, P<0.00001) and NP (2.7±0.4 vs. 9.1±1.1%, P<0.00001) muscle. The %change was greater in NP than P (213±32 vs. 296±36%, P=0.04). The effect of in vivo insulin to increase GS fractional activity was associated with M in P and NP muscle (r=0.59 and r=0.49, P<0.05). In conclusion, muscle atrophy and a reduction in insulin action in paretic muscle likely contribute to whole body insulin resistance in chronic stroke.


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