Lysophosphatidylcholines Enriched with cis and trans Palmitoleic Acid Regulate Insulin Secretion via GPR119 Receptor

Among lipids, lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) with various fatty acyl chains have been identified as potential agonists of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Recently, targeting GPCRs has been switched to diabetes and obesity. Concomitantly, our last findings indicate the insulin secretagogue properties of cis and trans palmitoleic acid (16:1, n-7) resulting from GPCR activation, however, associated with different signaling pathways. We here report the synthesis of LPCs bearing two geometrical isomers of palmitoleic acids and investigation of their impact on human pancreatic β cells viability, insulin secretion, and activation of four GPCRs previously demonstrated to be targeted by free fatty acids and LPCs. Moreover, molecular modeling was exploited to investigate the probable binding sites of tested ligands and calculate their affinity toward GPR40, GPR55, GPR119, and GPR120 receptors.