Rat Intestinal Cultures Research Articles

Mechanism of Action of Glucagon-Like Peptide-2 to Increase IGF-I mRNA in Intestinal Subepithelial Fibroblasts

IGF-I, a known secretory product of intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts (ISEMFs), is essential for the intestinotropic effects of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2). Furthermore, GLP-2 increases IGF-I mRNA transcript levels in vitro in heterogeneous fetal rat intestinal cultures, as well as in vivo in the rodent small intestine. To determine the mechanism underlying the stimulatory effect of GLP-2 on intestinal IGF-I mRNA, murine ISEMF cells were placed into primary culture. Immunocytochemistry showed that the ISEMF cells appropriately expressed α-smooth muscle actin and vimentin but not desmin. The cells also expressed GLP-2 receptor and IGF-I mRNA transcripts. Treatment of ISEMF cells with (Gly2)GLP-2 induced IGF-I mRNA transcripts by up to 5-fold of basal levels after treatment with 10(-8) m GLP-2 for 2 h (P < 0.05) but did not increase transcript levels for other intestinal growth factors, such as ErbB family members. Immunoblot revealed a 1.6-fold increase in phospho (p)-Akt/total-(t)Akt with 10(-8) m GLP-2 treatment (P < 0.05) but no changes in cAMP, cAMP-dependent β-galactosidase expression, pcAMP response element-binding protein/tcAMP response element-binding protein, pErk1/2/tErk1/2, or intracellular calcium. Furthermore, pretreatment of ISEMF cells with the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, LY294002 and wortmannin, abrogated the IGF-I mRNA response to GLP-2, as did overexpression of kinase-dead Akt. The role of PI3K/Akt in GLP-2-induced IGF-I mRNA levels in the murine jejunum was also confirmed in vivo. These findings implicate the PI3K/Akt pathway in the stimulatory effects of GLP-2 to enhance intestinal IGF-I mRNA transcript levels and provide further evidence in support of a role for IGF-I produced by the ISEMF cells in the intestinotropic effects of GLP-2.

Biology of Incretins: GLP-1 and GIP

This review focuses on the mechanisms regulating the synthesis, secretion, biological actions, and therapeutic relevance of the incretin peptides glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). The published literature was reviewed, with emphasis on recent advances in our understanding of the biology of GIP and GLP-1. GIP and GLP-1 are both secreted within minutes of nutrient ingestion and facilitate the rapid disposal of ingested nutrients. Both peptides share common actions on islet beta-cells acting through structurally distinct yet related receptors. Incretin-receptor activation leads to glucose-dependent insulin secretion, induction of beta-cell proliferation, and enhanced resistance to apoptosis. GIP also promotes energy storage via direct actions on adipose tissue, and enhances bone formation via stimulation of osteoblast proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis. In contrast, GLP-1 exerts glucoregulatory actions via slowing of gastric emptying and glucose-dependent inhibition of glucagon secretion. GLP-1 also promotes satiety and sustained GLP-1-receptor activation is associated with weight loss in both preclinical and clinical studies. The rapid degradation of both GIP and GLP-1 by the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 has led to the development of degradation-resistant GLP-1-receptor agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. These agents decrease hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) safely without weight gain in subjects with type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 and GIP integrate nutrient-derived signals to control food intake, energy absorption, and assimilation. Recently approved therapeutic agents based on potentiation of incretin action provide new physiologically based approaches for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Somatostatin receptor subtype-5 mediates inhibition of peptide YY secretion from rat intestinal cultures.

Somatostatin-14 (S-14) and somatostatin-28 (S-28) bind to five distinct membrane receptors (SSTRs), but S-28 has higher affinity for SSTR-5. Whether S-28 acting through SSTR-5 regulates inhibition of peptide YY (PYY) secretion was tested in fetal rat intestinal cell cultures. S-28 and S-14 caused dose-dependent inhibition of PYY secretion stimulated by gastrin-releasing peptide, but S-28 was more potent than S-14 (EC(50) 0.04 vs. 13.2 nM). PYY was inhibited by two analogs with affinity for SSTR-5, BIM-23268 and BIM-23052, more potently than S-14 and as effectively as S-28. The SSTR-5 analog L-362855 suppressed PYY equivalent only to S-14, but the structurally related peptide L-372588 (Phe to Tyr at position 2) was equipotent to S-28, whereas L-372587 (Phe to Tyr at position 7) caused no inhibition. An SSTR-2 analog decreased PYY secretion similar to S-14, and an SSTR-3 analog was ineffective. PYY secretion stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and by forskolin was also more potently suppressed by S-28 and the octapeptide SSTR-5 analogs. The results indicate that S-28 mediates inhibition of gastrin-releasing peptide-stimulated PYY secretion through activation of SSTR-5 and includes suppression of cAMP- and protein kinase C-dependent pathways. Substitution of a single hydroxyl group confers differences in SSTR-5 agonist properties, suggesting region specificity for the intrinsic activity of this receptor subtype.

Nutrient and peptide regulation of somatostatin-28 secretion from intestinal cultures.

Of the two known forms of intestinal somatostatin, somatostatin-28 (S28) and S14, S28 predominates in the distal mucosa, whereas S14 is localized in the foregut. Although S14 release has been well studied, little is known about the factors regulating secretion of S28 from the intestine. Therefore, fetal rat intestinal cultures, which have been previously demonstrated to synthesize and secrete predominantly S28, were treated with potential nutrient, neuromodulator/transmitter, and peptide secretagogues (n = 4-6/experiment). Oleic acid dose dependently stimulated the release of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) to 272 +/- 81% of the control value at 1.5 x 10(-4) M (P < 0.01). Gel permeation analysis (n = 3) demonstrated that this increment was accounted for not only by an increase in the release of S28, but also by an increase in that of S14, such that the secretion of both peptides was increased in parallel. Of the neuromodulators tested, only the enteric peptide gastrin-releasing peptide stimulated intestinal SLI secretion, to 386 +/- 60% of the control value at 10(-6) M (P < 0.001); similar to oleic acid, the effects on S28 and S14 were equivalent. Galanin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, bethanechol, and epinephrine did not affect SLI release. The duodenal hormone secretin also stimulated SLI release to 310 +/- 78% of the control value at 10(-6) M (P < 0.001); however, secretin caused a preferential release of S14 over that of S28 (S14, 7.8 +/- 2.8-fold; S28, 1.5 +/- 0.1-fold). In contrast, gastrin, cholecystokinin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, neurotensin, peptide YY, epidermal growth factor, and transforming growth factor-alpha had no effect on intestinal SLI release. Thus, luminal nutrients and neuro/endocrine peptides exert differential effects on S28 release from the rat intestine compared with those on S14. These findings implicate S28 as a distinct regulatory peptide in the physiological setting.

Truncated and full-length glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) differentially stimulate intestinal somatostatin release.

Glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36NH2) is a potent stimulator of insulin secretion, as well as of somatostatin-14 (SS-14) release from the pancreatic and gastric D-cells. To investigate the possible effects of this peptide on release of intestinal somatostatin (SS-28 and SS-14, rat intestinal cultures were treated with 10(-12)-10(-6) M GLP-1(7-36NH2), as well as with the structurally related peptides, GLP-1(1-36NH2) and GLP-2. Both forms of GLP-1 stimulated does-dependent increases in intestinal somatostatin; secretion reached 643 +/- 126% of controls (p < 0.001) after treatment with 10(-6) M GLP-1(7-36NH2), and 398 +/-76% of controls (p < 0.001) after 10(-6) M GLP-1(1-36NH2). Thus, GLP-1(7-36NH2) was more effective than GLP-1(1-36NH2) in stimulating secretion of intestinal somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) (p < 0.05). GLP-2 did not affect intestinal somatostatin release. Gel permeation analysis demonstrated that 10(-6) M GLP-1(7-36NH2) stimulated SS-28 by 2.9 +/- 0.4-fold and SS-14 by 9.1 +/- 3.7-fold, whereas GLP-1(1-36NH2) exerted equivalent effects (2.8 +/- 0.9-fold) on both forms of somatostatin. These findings define a novel biological role for GLP-1(7-36NH2) in the regulation of intestinal somatostatin secretion, and demonstrate that GLP-1(1-36NH2) exerts unique biological activities in this system.

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.

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.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide-I preferentially stimulates secretion of somatostatin from intestinal cultures.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-I has been reported to inhibit gastric acid secretion through stimulation of gastric somatostatin-14 (S-14) release. To establish whether some of the effects of CGRP-I on intestinal function might also be mediated through somatostatin, fetal rat intestinal cultures were treated with test agents for 2 h, and the secretion of somatostatin-like immunoreactive (SLI) peptides was determined by RIA. The intestinal cultures have been previously found to synthesize and secrete both major forms of intestinal somatostatin (S-28 and S-14). Rat (r) CGRP-I treatment of the intestinal cultures stimulated SLI secretion to 163 +/- 33% of the control level at 3.3 x 10(-7) M (P < 0.01) and 227 +/- 30% of the control level at 10(-6) M (P < 0.001). In contrast, the structurally related peptide, human CGRP-II, had no effect on total SLI release at any concentration up to 10(-6) M. Gel permeation chromatography revealed that rCGRP-I increased the secretion of S-14 by 22 +/- 6-fold (P < 0.01) compared to the control value, whereas that of S-28 increased nonsignificantly by only 2 +/- 1-fold. Thus, the ratio of S-28 to S-14 secreted into the medium decreased from 1.7 +/- 0.2 in control medium to 0.2 +/- 0.3 after rCGRP-I treatment (P < 0.01). As the ratio of S-28 to S-14 stored by the cells was not altered by rCGRP-I treatment, these findings suggest that intestinal S-28 and S-14 may be secreted by two distinct intestinal D-cells with different sensitivities to rCGRP-I or by a single D-cell type containing distinct pools of S-14 and S-28 that have different sensitivities to rCGRP-I. The results of these in vitro studies further indicate that in vivo, CGRP-I may modulate aspects of intestinal function through its stimulation of the secretion of S-14.

Regulation of Peptide-YY Synthesis and Secretion in Fetal Rat Intestinal Cultures*

The regulation of intestinal peptide-YY (PYY) synthesis and secretion has not been well studied. We have used fetal rat intestinal cells in culture to examine the intra- and extracellular factors controlling the production of PYY. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a distinct population of cells containing immunoreactive PYY (IR-PYY). When examined by HPLC, the IR-PYY stored and secreted by fetal rat intestinal cell cultures eluted as a single moiety with the same elution time as synthetic rat PYY. Pro-PYY mRNA transcript levels and secretion of IR-PYY into the cell medium were increased by activation of protein kinase-A with either a long-acting cAMP analog or forskolin. In contrast, IR-PYY secretion only was stimulated in a synergistic fashion through calcium- and protein kinase-C-dependent pathways (stimulated with A23187 and phorbol myristate acetate, respectively). The intestinal endocrine peptide, gastric inhibitory peptide, and the neurocrine peptide, gastrin-releasing peptide, were found to stimulate IR-PYY secretion in a dose-dependent fashion, with significant effects observed at concentrations as low as 10(-8) and 10(-12) M, respectively (P less than 0.05-0.001). Cholecystokinin and vasoactive intestinal peptide were without effect on IR-PYY secretion at doses of 10(-12)-10(-6) M. The fatty acid sodium oleate and the cholinergic agonist bethanechol were also found to stimulate IR-PYY secretion, each at a concentration of 10(-4) M (P less than 0.001). The results of the present study indicate that the synthesis and secretion of PYY by the rat intestine is under the regulatory control of a wide variety of extracellular agents, mediated by several intracellular signalling pathways.