Gene expression alterations of purinergic signaling components in obesity-associated intestinal low-grade inflammation in type 2 diabetes

Intestinal low-grade inflammation induced by a high-fat diet has been found to detonate chronic systemic inflammation, which is a hallmark of obesity, and precede the apparition of insulin resistance, a key factor for developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Aberrant purinergic signaling pathways have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease and other gastrointestinal diseases. However, their role in the gut inflammation associated with obesity and T2D remains unexplored. C57BL/6 J mice were fed a cafeteria diet for 21 weeks and received one injection of streptozotocin in their sixth week into the diet. The gene expression profile of purinergic signaling components in colon tissue was assessed by RT-qPCR. Compared to control mice, the treated group had a significant reduction in colonic length and mucosal and muscular layer thickness accompanied by increased NF-κB and IL-1β mRNA expression. Furthermore, colonic P2X2, P2X7, and A3R gene expression levels were lower, while the P2Y2, NT5E, and ADA expression levels increased. In conclusion, these data suggest that these purinergic signaling components possibly play a role in intestinal low-grade inflammation associated with obesity and T2D and thus could represent a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of the metabolic complications related to these diseases.