GLP-2, EGF, and the Intestinal Epithelial IGF-1 Receptor Interactions in the Regulation of Crypt Cell Proliferation

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is an intestinotrophic hormone that promotes intestinal growth and proliferation through downstream mediators, including epidermal growth factor (EGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). EGF synergistically enhances the proliferative actions of IGF-1 in intestinal cell lines, and both of these factors are known to be essential for the trophic effects of GLP-2 in vivo. However, whether EGF and IGF-1 interact to mediate the proliferative actions of GLP-2 in vivo remains unknown. Normal and knockout (KO) mice lacking the intestinal epithelial IGF-1 receptor (IE-IGF-1R) were therefore treated chronically with EGF and/or long-acting human hGly2GLP-2, followed by determination of intestinal growth parameters. Intestines from control and IE-IGF-1R KO mice were also used to generate organoids (which lack the GLP-2 receptor) and were treated with EGF and/or IGF-1. Combination treatment with EGF and hGly2GLP-2 increased small intestinal weight and crypt-villus height in C57Bl/6 mice in an additive manner, whereas only hGly2GLP-2 treatment increased crypt cell proliferation. However, although combination treatment also increased small intestinal weight and crypt-villus height in IE-IGF-1R KO mice, the proliferative responses to hGly2GLP-2 alone or with EGF were diminished in these animals. Finally, IGF-1 treatment of organoids undergoing EGF withdrawal was not additive to the effect of EGF replacement on proliferation, but could restore normal proliferation in the absence of EGF. Together, these findings demonstrate that the intestinal proliferative effects of hGly2GLP-2 are augmented by exogenous EGF in a manner that is partially dependent upon IE-IGF-1R signaling.