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Primary structures of peptides derived from proglucagon isolated from the pancreas of the elasmobranch fish, Scyliorhinus canicula.

Three peptides derived from the posttranslational processing of proglucagon have been isolated from the pancreas of the elasmobranch fish, Scyliorhinus canicula (European common dogfish). The peptide HSEGT FTSDY SKYMD NRRAK DFVQW LMST represents the 29 amino acid residue form of glucagon previously identified in dogfish intestine. A second component with 33 amino acid residues represents glucagon extended from its COOH-terminal region by -KRNG. The peptide HAEGT YTSDV DSLSD YFKAK RFVDS LKSY represents glucagon-like peptide (GLP). The primary structures of the GLPs from mammals have strongly conserved but a comparison of the amino acid sequences of known GLPs from different classes of fish shows that the structure of the peptide has been very poorly conserved in lower vertebrates. Only three residues (Ala2, Asp9, and Leu26) are found in the same position in all fish GLPs. A similar comparison of the primary structures of glucagons from the same species shows 13 amino acid residues in common.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of insulins and proglucagon-derived peptides from a phylogenetically ancient fish, the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula).

The North American paddlefish, Polyodon spathula (Order Acipenseriformes) is an extant representative of a group of primitive Actinopterygian (ray-finned) fish that probably shared a common ancestor with present-day teleosts. Two molecular forms of insulin which differ by a single amino acid substitution, His or Asp at position 15 of the A chain, were isolated from the pancreas of the paddlefish. Paddlefish insulins show greatest structural similarity to insulin from the garfish (order Lepisosteiformes) and resemble mammalian insulins more strongly than do insulins from teleost fish. The primary structures of several proglucagon-derived peptides, two molecular forms of glucagon which differ by the single amino acid substitution Arg18-->Ser, and glucagon-like peptide, have been less well conserved during evolution. The paddlefish glucagons contain 31 amino acid residues, rather than the usual 29, and show several structural features, such as Met5, Glu24 and Gly29, not previously observed in glucagons from other species. In spite of considerable differences in structure between paddlefish and mammalian glucagons (10 or 11 amino acid substitutions), both paddlefish glucagons are equally as effective as bovine glucagon in stimulating glycogenolysis in dispersed hepatocytes from the teleost fish Sebastes caurinus (rockfish). However, the substitution Arg18-->Ser in the paddlefish glucagon results in a 6-fold decrease in potency in this system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

TCF-4 mediates cell type-specific regulation of proglucagon gene expression by beta-catenin and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta.

The proglucagon gene (glu) encodes glucagon, expressed in pancreatic islets, and the insulinotropic hormone GLP-1, expressed in the intestines. These two hormones exert critical and opposite effects on blood glucose homeostasis. An intriguing question that remains to be answered is whether and how glu gene expression is regulated in a cell type-specific manner. We reported previously that the glu gene promoter in gut endocrine cell lines was stimulated by beta-catenin, the major effector of the Wnt signaling pathway, whereas glu mRNA expression and GLP-1 synthesis were activated via inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, the major negative modulator of the Wnt pathway (Ni, Z., Anini, Y., Fang, X., Mills, G. B., Brubaker, P. L., & Jin, T. (2003) J. Biol. Chem. 278, 1380-1387). We now show that beta-catenin and the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta inhibitor lithium do not activate glu mRNA or glu promoter expression in pancreatic cell lines. In the intestinal GLUTag cell line, but not in the pancreatic InR1-G9 cell line, the glu promoter G2 enhancer-element was activated by lithium treatment via a TCF-binding motif. TCF-4 is abundantly expressed in the gut but not in pancreatic islets. Furthermore, both TCF-4 and beta-catenin bind to the glu gene promoter, as detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Finally, stable introduction of dominant-negative TCF-4 into the GLUTag cell line repressed basal glu mRNA expression and abolished the effect of lithium on glu mRNA expression and GLP-1 synthesis. We have therefore identified a unique mechanism that regulates glu expression in gut endocrine cells only. Tissue-specific expression of TCF factors thus may play a role in the diversity of the Wnt pathway.

Animals↗

Proglucagon-derived peptides: mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential.

Glucagon is used for the treatment of hypoglycemia, and glucagon receptor antagonists are under development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and GLP-2 receptor agonists appear to be promising therapies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and intestinal disorders, respectively. This review discusses the physiological, pharmacological, and therapeutic actions of the proglucagon-derived peptides, with an emphasis on clinical relevance of the peptides for the treatment of human disease.

Animals↗

Control of proglucagon-derived peptide synthesis and secretion in fetal rat hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus has the highest concentration of proglucagon-derived peptides (Pgdp's) in the brain, however, the control of the synthesis and secretion of these peptides is not understood. The goal of our studies was to examine in detail the regulation of synthesis and secretion of Pgdp's in the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic cultures were prepared from fetal rats on day 19-21 of gestation and Pgdp's in media and cells were determined by radioimmunoassay after treatment with test agents. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP or forskolin, activators of protein kinase A, markedly stimulated both Pgdp synthesis (by 5-fold) and secretion (by 10-fold) after 24 h of treatment (p < 0.05). The effects of protein kinase A stimulation on Pgdp's in the hypothalamus were greater than seen in our previous studies with the Pgdp-producing pancreatic A and intestinal L cells. Therefore there are tissue-specific differences with regard to the magnitude of the response of Pgdp's to protein kinase A stimulation. Consistent with an involvement of protein kinase A in hypothalamic Pgdp synthesis and secretion, somatostatin-14, an inhibitor of protein kinase A, was found to inhibit Pgdp synthesis and secretion in a dose-dependent fashion (p < 0.05). Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a stimulator of protein kinase C, did not significantly affect the synthesis or secretion of Pgdp's at 6 h, but significantly stimulated Pgdp secretion after 24 h (p < 0.05). The inactive phorbol ester, phorbol triacetate was without effect on Pgdp synthesis or secretion after 24 h of incubation (p > 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Significance of prohormone convertase 2, PC2, mediated initial cleavage at the proglucagon interdomain site, Lys70-Arg71, to generate glucagon.

To define the biological significance of the initial cleavage at the proglucagon (PG) interdomain site, K70-R71 downward arrow, we created two interdomain mutants, K70Q-R71Q and R71A. Cotransfection studies in GH4C1 cells show significant amounts of glucagon production by PC2 along with some glicentin, glicentin-related polypeptide-glucagon (GRPP-glucagon) and oxyntomodulin from wild-type PG. In contrast, a larger peptide, PG 33-158, and low amounts of GRPP-glucagon are predominantly generated from interdomain mutants. HPLC analysis shows a 5-fold increase in glucagon production by PC2 from wild-type PG and a corresponding 4-fold lower accumulation and secretion of unprocessed precursor relative to interdomain mutants. PC2 generates significant levels of glucagon from a glicentin (PG 1-69) expression plasmid, whereas PC1/3 produces only modest amounts of oxyntomodulin. Employing a major PG fragment (PG 72-158) expression plasmid, we show that PC1/3 predominantly generates glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, whereas PC2 produces only N-terminally extended GLP-1. Surprisingly, production of GLP-1 and GLP-2 by PC1/3 from interdomain mutants, compared with wild-type PG, is not significantly impaired. In addition to PC2 and PC1/3, PC5/6A and furin are also able to cleave the sites, K70-R71 downward arrow and R107-X-R-R110 downward arrow in PG. We show a much greater ability of furin to cleave the monobasic site, R77 downward arrow, than at the dibasic site, R124-R125 downward arrow, which is also weakly processed by PC5/6A, indicating overlapping specificities of these two convertases mainly with PC1/3. We propose here a trimer-like model of the spatial organization of the hormonal sequences within the PG molecule in which the accessibility to prohormone convertase action of most cleavage sites is restricted with the exception of the interdomain site, K70-R71, which is maximally accessible.

Animals↗

Secretion of proglucagon-derived peptides in response to intestinal luminal nutrients.

To establish whether secretion of proglucagon-derived peptides (PGDPs) by the intestinal L cell is nutrient- and/or location-dependent, 0.9% saline, 200 mM glucose, or emulsified fats were administered into the ileal or duodenal lumen of normal rats. Fat administration, but not saline or glucose treatment, significantly increased circulating levels of the intestinal PGDPs in a time-dependent fashion, indicating a selectivity of the L cell in its response to nutrients. Interestingly, the response to duodenal fats was quantitatively and qualitatively identical to the response to ileal fats, despite 50-fold lower concentrations of PGDPs in the duodenum. These results suggest the existence of a duodenal factor that stimulates ileal PGDP secretion in response to fat ingestion. Ileal and plasma levels of gut PGDPs have been reported to be elevated in poorly controlled streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Whether the sensitivity of the L cell to luminal nutrients is altered in diabetes was, therefore, also examined. The L cell responses to luminal nutrients in diabetic rats were not significantly different from those of the normal rat, indicating a normal responsiveness of the L cell. However, independent of changes in glycemia, luminal glucose perfusion significantly decreased circulating glucagon levels in normal rats, but not in diabetics. Furthermore, luminal fat administration increased plasma glucagon levels in normal rats only. These results indicate that moderately controlled diabetes is associated with alterations in the pancreatic A cell, but not the intestinal L cell response to ingested nutrients. The results of the present study indicate that the response of the intestinal L cell to ingested food is nutrient-specific and that this specificity is not altered in diabetes. A duodenal-ileal axis is proposed to contribute to increments in circulating intestinal PGDPs in response to nutrient ingestion.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗

Stereospecific effects of fatty acids on proglucagon-derived peptide secretion in fetal rat intestinal cultures.

The ingestion of fats is a potent stimulus for the secretion of the proglucagon-derived peptides (PGDPs), including the insulinotropic peptide glucagon-like peptide-1 from the intestinal L cell. The aim of the study was to characterize the structural requirements for fatty acid-induced secretion of the PGDPs and investigate the cellular mechanisms through which fatty acids mediate PGDP secretion. Fetal rat intestinal cell cultures were incubated with 10-150 microM fatty acids that differed in chain length (14-18 carbons) and degree of unsaturation (0-2). Inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) and fatty acid esterification and oxidation were also incubated with the cells in the presence of stimulatory fatty acids. The cultures were assayed for glucagon-like immunoreactivity and glucagon-like peptide-1-(7-36)NH2 secretion. Monounsaturated fatty acids of chain length greater than 14 carbons stimulated PGDP secretion by 1.8 to 3.4-fold in a dose-dependent fashion (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Enhanced PGDP secretion was lost upon full saturation of the stimulatory fatty acids. Furthermore, although blockade of fatty acid esterification with a carboxyl methyl ester group prevented PGDP secretion, inhibition of fatty acid oxidation with methyl palmoxirate did not prevent PGDP secretion. Finally, the use of various inhibitors of PKC (staurosporine, H7, 24-h down-regulation) also did not alter fatty acid-induced PGDP secretion. In conclusion, monounsaturated long-chain fatty acids possessing a free carboxyl group stimulate intestinal PGDP secretion. Neither fatty acid oxidation nor classical isoforms of PKC appear to be directly involved in this response. Therefore, the structure of the fatty acid plays a central role in inducing intestinal PGDP secretion. These findings suggest that fat composition may significantly affect the magnitude of the GLP-1 response to ingested nutrients.

Animals↗

Gastrin-releasing peptide is a novel mediator of proximal nutrient-induced proglucagon-derived peptide secretion from the distal gut.

The ileal proglucagon-derived peptides (PGDPs) play important roles in the regulation of gastric function and insulin secretion. We have previously demonstrated the existence of a proximal-distal enteroendocrine loop mediated by glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), through which intestinal PGDP secretion is stimulated after placement of nutrients in the duodenum. To study the possible involvement of neuropeptides in this loop, we infused gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) into anesthetized rats at 47, 235, or 470 ng/h. GRP stimulated secretion of the intestinal PGDPs only at the highest dose, from 250 +/- 18 to 321 +/- 9 pg/ml (P < 0.05). Gastrin secretion was also increased by GRP infusion (from 20 +/- 7 to 75 +/- 19 pg/ml; P < 0.05); however, GIP release was not altered from basal levels. Placement of fat into the duodenum stimulated the secretion of both the intestinal PGDPs and GIP (to 618 +/- 221 and 417 +/- 154 pg/ml above basal, respectively; P < 0.05). However, infusion of the GRP antagonist, BW10 (3 ng/h), completely abrogated the PGDP response to duodenal fat (P < 0.05). In contrast, the GIP response was reduced by 56 +/- 15% (P < 0.05) with BW10 administration, but remained elevated compared to the basal level (P < 0.05). Removal of the entire intestine distal to the fat-infused duodenal segment prevented the rise in intestinal PGDPs, but not that of GIP, demonstrating the distal and proximal origins of these peptides, respectively. Thus, placement of fat into the duodenum stimulated the release of the PGDPs from the distal intestine through a GRP-dependent mechanism. Although GIP plays a role in regulating intestinal PGDP secretion in the rat, GRP appears to exert its effects independent of changes in GIP.

Animals↗

Proglucagon processing in an islet cell line: effects of PC1 overexpression and PC2 depletion.

Proglucagon (proG) is differentially processed in the A cells of the pancreas to yield glucagon, and in the L cells of the intestine to generate glicentin, oxyntomodulin, the incretin glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1(7-36NH2) and the intestinotropin GLP-2. To establish roles for the prohormone convertases PC1 and PC2 in proG processing within the context of a physiological model, we created stable cell lines from an islet-derived cell line, InR1-G9. These cells express proG and PC2, but not PC1, messenger RNA (mRNA). InR1-G9 cells were stably transfected with PC1 or antisense PC2. Selection was carried out in G418 (InR1-G9/PC1) or Zeocin (InR1-G9/ASPC2). Both PC1 mRNA and protein were highly expressed in InR1-G9/PC1 cells (P < 0.01-0.001) compared with wild-type (WT) cells. Cells transfected with ASPC2 demonstrated significant decreases in both PC2 mRNA (P < 0.001) and protein (P < 0.05) levels. ProG-derived peptides in WT, control, InR1-G9/PC1, and InR1-G9/ASPC2 cells were identified by HPLC and RIA. Overexpression of PC1 in InR1-G9 cells resulted in increased processing to glicentin (P < 0.01), oxyntomodulin (P < 0.05), and GLP-2 (P < 0.05). Interestingly, processing to GLP-1(7-36NH2) did not increase upon transfection of PC1. Transfection of InR1-G9 cells with ASPC2 resulted in the disappearance of glicentin (P < 0.05). However, production of glucagon was not altered by antisense deletion of PC2. Surprisingly, GLP-1(7-36NH2) production appeared to be augmented (P < 0.05) in InR1-G9/ASPC2 cells, whereas GLP-2 production was not altered. In conclusion, these studies establish the role of PC1 in the processing of proG to the intestinal proG-derived peptides. This study also establishes a role for PC2 in the production of glicentin; however, the liberation of glucagon appears to be mediated by another, yet to be identified, convertase.

Animals↗

Proglucagon processing profile in canine L cells expressing endogenous prohormone convertase 1/3 and prohormone convertase 2.

The tissue-specific differential processing of proglucagon (Pg) yields glucagon in pancreatic A cells and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), GLP-2, and glicentin in intestinal L cells. It has been suggested that the difference in Pg cleavage in A and L cells is due to the presence of distinct prohormone convertases (PC) in the two cell types, PC1/3 in the L cell and PC2 in the A cell. PC2 has been shown to cleave the N-terminal part of Pg, being essential for glucagon formation and PC1/3 to cleave the C-terminal part of Pg, leading to the formation of GLP-1. However, some of the cleavage sites in Pg have not proven to be substrates exclusively for either PC2 or PC1/3, and the cleavage profile of Pg in a primary cultured L cell has not yet been correlated with the actual presence of PC2 and PC1/3 in the L cell. We demonstrate here the presence of PC1/3, PC2, and the PC2 chaperone 7b2, in L cells using light immunohistochemistry on sections from canine ileum and on a canine intestinal cell culture enriched for L cells. Analysis of the cultured L cells, using gel chromatography and RIA, confirms the classical intestinal cleavage profile of Pg, resulting in mainly glicentin, oxyntomodulin, GLP-1-(7-37), and GLP-2. Despite the presence of 7b2 and mature PC2, as demonstrated by Western blot, absolute minimal amounts of glucagon were detected. These data show that the presence of intracellular PC2 and 7b2 in a primary cell possessing Pg does not have to lead to the formation of glucagon. This formation must then require an additional element to occur, or alternatively, the results could be explained by a canine specific organization of PC2 and Pg into separate compartments, which would prevent interaction.

Animals↗

All products of proglucagon are elevated in plasma from uremic patients.

We measured and characterized the proglucagon (PG) products in plasma obtained from nine uremic patients and six control subjects in the fasting state. The concentrations of PG products measured by direct RIAs were significantly higher in the uremic patients than in the normal subjects; the concentration of total glucagon immunoreactivity in plasma was 209 +/- 20 vs. 70 +/- 11 pmol/L, the glucagon-like peptide-1 immunoreactivity was 154 +/- 33 vs. 41 +/- 13 pmol/L, and the concentration of pancreatic-type glucagon immunoreactivity was 53 +/- 6 vs. 30 +/- 7 pmol/L. By chromatography, the predominating PG products in both uremic and normal plasma were shown to be glicentin [corresponding to PG-(1-69)] and the major PG fragment [presumably corresponding to PG-(72-158)]. In addition, glucagon-like peptide-1 [presumably corresponding to PG-(72-107) amide] was a major product in uremic plasma. Our results suggest that the kidneys play an important role in the removal from plasma of these products of PG.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

Role of prohormone convertases in the tissue-specific processing of proglucagon.

Proglucagon (proG) is processed in a tissue-specific manner to glucagon in the pancreas and to gilcentin, oxyntomodulin, glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1, and GLP-2 in the intestine. Recombinant vaccinia virus (vv) vectors were used to infect prohormone convertase 1 (PC1) or PC2 into nonendocrine (BHK-proG) cells, which stably express proG. Similarly, endocrine (GH3, AtT-20) cells were coinfected with proG along with PC1 or PC2 alone, or in combination with furin, PACE4, PC5a, or PC5b. Cell extracts were analyzed for various proG-derived peptides by RIA of fractions obtained from HPLC. Upon infection of BHK-proG cells with either vv: furin or vv:PC1, glicentin was produced, while vv: PC2 did not process proG. In GH3 and AtT-20 cells, vv:PC1 produced glicentin, oxyntomodulin, GLP-1(1-37), GLP-1(7-37), and GLP-2. All other enzymes tested produced only glicentin. Interestingly, no enzyme or combination produced glucagon. Coinfection of GH3 cells with vv:PC2 and members of the chromogranin family of peptides, including chromogranin A and B and secretogranin II, as well as the PC2-binding protein 7B2, did not result in processing to glucagon. It is concluded that: 1) PC1 is responsible for the processing of proG to produce the intestinal peptides glicentin, oxyntomodulin, GLP-1(1-37), GLP-1(7-37), and GLP-2, and 2) PC2 processes proG to glicentin but does not produce glucagon, alone or in combination with other enzymes or with known molecular chaperones.

Animals↗

Peptones stimulate both the secretion of the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 and the transcription of the proglucagon gene.

Truncated glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 is a potent incretin. Its synthesis and secretion are modulated by food, but the influence of individual nutrients remains to be established. The hypothesis that protein hydrolysates (peptones) can directly regulate both GLP-1 secretion and proglucagon (PG) gene transcription was tested in this study, ex vivo in the isolated vascularly perfused rat intestine and in vitro in the murine enteroendocrine cell line STC-1. Peptones were albumin egg hydrolysate (AEH) and meat hydrolysate (MH). We demonstrate in these two models that peptones dose-dependently stimulate GLP-1 release, whereas isocaloric quantities of bovine serum albumin or of an amino acid mixture had no stimulatory effect. A strong and rapid increase of PG RNA level was observed in STC-1 cells treated with peptones (14-fold and 7-fold increase after 4 h of incubation with 3% wt/vol MH and AEH, respectively). Peptones also increased the PG RNA level in the colonic PG-expressing cell line GLUTag. In contrast, peptones did not modify the PG RNA level in two pancreatic glucagon-producing cell lines, namely, the RINm5F and INR1G9 cells. The peptone effect in STC-1 cells was completely abolished by blocking transcription before MH treatment. The stability of proglugacon transcripts was not modified by MH treatment, but nascent transcripts were more abundant in STC-1 cells preincubated with MH. Finally, MH treatment strongly stimulated (15-fold stimulation) the transcriptional activity of two PG gene promoter fragments (-1100 and -350 base pair) linked to the CAT reporter gene transiently transfected in STC-1 cells. Overall, peptones evoke an as yet undescribed release of GLP-1 when brought into contact with native intestinal L-cells or with STC-1 enteroendocrine cells. The increased transcription of the glucagon gene in the latter system suggests an important role of protein hydrolysates in the control of not only the secretion but also the synthesis of the incretin hormone.

Animals↗

Intestinal nutrient-gene interaction: the effect of feed deprivation and refeeding on cholecystokinin and proglucagon gene expression.

We tested the hypothesis that dietary components reaching the bovine small intestine influence the expression of genes that encode the gastrointestinal neuropeptides cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The amount of digesta reaching the intestine was manipulated during the experiment by withholding feed from five heifers fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas for 48 h and then subsequent refeeding. Duodenal and ileal biopsies were collected using a fiber-optic endoscope. A Northern hybridization procedure was used to evaluate changes in gene expression. Blood concentrations of CCK and GLP-1 were determined with RIA. The data indicate that CCK blood concentration and mRNA abundance decreased during the period of feed deprivation, but they returned to predeprivation values within 16 to 24 h of refeeding. The GLP-1 blood concentration also decreased during feed deprivation and returned to predeprivation values within 4 to 8 h of refeeding, despite the fact that proglucagon mRNA abundance did not change significantly during feed deprivation and refeeding. These findings provide evidence that CCK and GLP-1 are released in response to nutrients that reach the small intestine and may be involved in the physiological process of digestion and possibly play a role in regulating feed intake in ruminants.

Animals↗

Pancreatic pre-proglucagons are encoded by two separate mRNAs.

Poly(A) RNA prepared from anglerfish islets programs the synthesis in a wheat germ cell-free system of two proteins of Mr = 14,500 and Mr = 12,500 that are both immunoprecipitated by an antiserum prepared to pancreatic glucagon of Mr = 3,500 (29 amino acids). We provide evidence by cDNA hybridizations and nucleotide sequence analyses that these two proteins are precursors of glucagon and that they are encoded by separate genes. Two cloned recombinant cDNAs prepared from the islet mRNAs individually hybrid-selected mRNAs that directed the cell-free synthesis of each of the two glucagon-related proteins. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cDNA corresponding to the Mr = 14,500 protein revealed a coding sequence for a peptide of 29 amino acids flanked by Lys-Arg sequences typical of those found at the sites of post-translational cleavages of hormone precursors. Twenty of the 29 amino acids in the sequence are identical with those found in the sequence of mammalian pancreatic glucagon. The second of the two cDNAs completely hybrid-arrested the translation of the mRNA encoding the smaller glucagon precursor of Mr = 12,500 but had no effect on the translation of the mRNA encoding the Mr = 14,500 precursor. The cDNA corresponding to this Mr = 14,500 precursor hybridized to the DNA of bacterial colonies containing the cDNA for the Mr = 12,500 precursor. Thus, two separate but partially homologous mRNAs encode the two pre-proglucagons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Truncated GLP-1 (proglucagon 78-107-amide) inhibits gastric and pancreatic functions in man.

We studied the effect of intravenous infusion of synthetic truncated GLP-1 (proglucagon 78-107-amide) on fasting and postprandial gastric acid secretion, gastric emptying, and pancreatic secretion of trypsin and lipase in eight normal volunteers using marker dilution and aspiration technique. The infusion resulted in a plasma concentration of 110 +/- 14 pmol/liter (mean +/- SEM). Truncated GLP-1 significantly inhibited postprandial acid secretion by 43 +/- 11% in spite of unchanged plasma gastrin concentration. Gastric emptying rate decreased significantly; 50% emptying time increased from 16 +/- 2 min to 30 +/- 5 min. Postprandial trypsin and lipase outputs were significantly inhibited by 47 +/- 17% and 40 +/- 9% during truncated GLP-1 infusion. Pancreatic enzyme output was linearly correlated to gastric emptying, and truncated GLP-1 did not affect this relationship, suggesting that the effect on pancreatic secretion was secondary to the effect on gastric emptying. Postprandial insulin and glucagon concentrations were similar with and without truncated GLP-1 infusion in spite of significantly lower blood glucose levels (5.2 +/- 0.2 versus 3.7 +/- 0.3), indicating that GLP-1 stimulated insulin secretion and inhibited glucagon secretion. In conclusion, our results suggest that truncated GLP-1 act as a physiological inhibitor of gastric and pancreatic functions in man.

Adult↗

Effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 (proglucagon 78-107amide) on hepatic glucose production in healthy man.

The newly discovered intestinal hormone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) (proglucagon 78-107amide), stimulates insulin secretion and inhibits glucagon secretion in man and may therefore be anticipated to influence hepatic glucose production. To study this, we infused synthetic GLP-1 sequentially at rates of 25 and 75 pmol.kg-1.h-1 into eight healthy volunteers after an overnight fast and measured plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and glucagon and glucose turnover by a technique involving infusion of 3-3H-glucose. Plasma levels of GLP-1 increased by 21.3 +/- 3.1 and 75.4 +/- 3.2 pmol/L during the infusion, changes that were within physiologic limits. In a control experiment only saline was infused. During GLP-1 infusion, plasma glucose level decreased significantly (from 5.3 +/- 0.1 to 4.7 +/- 0.1 and 4.3 +/- 0.1 pmol/L at the end of the two infusion periods). Despite this, plasma insulin level increased significantly (from 20.5 +/- 2.9 to a peak value of 33.5 +/- 5.2 pmol/L during the second period), and plasma glucagon level decreased (from 9.3 +/- 1.7 to 7.1 +/- 1.0 pmol/L). Glucose rate of appearance (Ra) decreased significantly to 75% +/- 6% of the preinfusion values during GLP-1 infusion. Glucose disappearance rate (Rd) did not change significantly, but glucose clearance increased significantly compared with saline. All parameters of glucose turnover remained constant during saline infusion. We conclude that GLP-1 may potently control hepatic glucose production and glucose clearance through its effects on the pancreatic glucoregulatory hormones. The effect of GLP-1 on glucose production is consistent with its proposed use in the treatment of type II diabetes.

Adult↗