195-OR: A Novel 13C5 Glutamine Tracer Method (Q Flux) Reveals a Key Role of Succinyl CoA Anaplerosis in Promoting Increased Rates of Hepatic Gluconeogenesis during Hyperglucagonemia

Abstract

Hyperglucagonemia is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and contributes to increased rates of endogenous glucose production (EGP) , mostly through increased rates of hepatic gluconeogenesis (GNG) , but the anaplerotic pathways and respective substrates that support this process are unclear. To address this question, we developed a novel and extensively validated 13C5 glutamine-based in vivo metabolic flux analysis method (Q Flux) , which allows for quantitation of both the relative and absolute rates of hepatic gluconeogenesis from pyruvate (via pyruvate carboxylase [PC]) , succinyl CoA (via methylmalonyl CoA mutase [MUT]) , glutamine (via glutaminase [GLS2]) , and glycerol. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (∼300 g) were infused for 90 minutes with either low-dose (LD) glucagon (1.25 ng/[kg-min]) or high-dose (HD) glucagon (ng/[kg-min]) , plus insulin (0.5 mU/[kg-min]) , somatostatin (4 μg/[kg-min]) , and 13C5 glutamine (3 μmol/[kg-min]) after a 16-hour fast to deplete hepatic glycogen. HD animals displayed significantly increased plasma glucose concentrations and EGP relative to LD controls. Analyses of liver tissues collected at sacrifice revealed that in LD animals, 70% of mitochondrial GNG was from pyruvate, 15% from succinyl CoA, and 15% from glutamine. In HD animals, 59% of mitochondrial GNG was derived from pyruvate (p=0.vs. LD) , 26% from succinyl CoA (p=0.0vs. LD) , and 15% from glutamine (p=0.99 vs. LD) . Conclusion: We find an unexpected role for succinyl CoA anaplerosis and methylmalonyl CoA mutase flux in supporting increased rates of mitochondrial GNG during hyperglucagonemia. Furthermore, relative contributions of glutamine to hepatic gluconeogenesis were unchanged, contrary to previous reports. Taken together, these results identify novel targets to reduce hyperglucagonemia-induced increases in rates of gluconeogenesis and hyperglycemia in T2DM. Disclosure B.T.Hubbard: None. G.I.Shulman: Advisory Panel; 89bio, Inc., AstraZeneca, Equator Therapeutics, Inc., Janssen Research & Development, LLC, Merck & Co., Inc., Consultant; DiCerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Novo Nordisk, Other Relationship; Generian Pharmaceuticals, iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation, Maze Therapeutics, The Liver Company, Stock/Shareholder; Levels Health, Inc. .