Exendin-4 ameliorates diabetic symptoms through activation of glucokinase

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its stable analogue exendin-4 maintain glucose homeostasis by modulating insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells and controlling hepatic glucose output. Glucokinase (GK), by catalysing the first step in glycolysis, plays an important role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and hepatic glucose metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the effects of exendin-4 on GK in high fat-fed and alloxan-treated diabetic mice.

The effects of alloxan (5, 10 and 20 μmol/L) on insulin release from isolated murine islets, as well as glycogen synthesis by isolated murine hepatocytes, were assessed. The effects of exendin-4 (10 nmol/kg, twice daily for 4 weeks) were assessed in high fat-fed, alloxan (50 mg/kg, i.v.)-treated C57 mice. Glucokinase activity was assessed in the same model.

Pretreatment with exendin-4 attenuated alloxan-induced decreases in insulin release and glycogen synthesis in islets and hepatocytes. The alloxan-induced decrease in the GK activity in islets and hepatocytes was also ameliorated by exendin-4 treatment. Pretreatment with the GLP-1 receptor antagonist exendin-9 (100 nmol/L) blocked the effects of exendin-4 on the liver and pancreas. Treatment of high-fat fed, alloxan-treated diabetic mice with exendin-4 (10 nmol/L, i.p.) reduced the severity of diabetic symptoms. Specifically, exendin-4 treatment reduced serum glucose by 50% and %HbA1c by 24% compared with control and significantly decreased HOMA-IR by 39% and increased HOMA-β by 150%. In addition, exendin-4 treatment significantly reduced body weight by 6.8% and serum triglycerides by 35%.

The results indicate that glucose-stimulated insulin release and glycogen synthesis are decreased by alloxan due to reduced GK activity. These findings provide further insight into the mechanism by which exendin-4 regulates glucose homeostasis.