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A vitamin B12 conjugate of exendin‐4 improves glucose tolerance without associated nausea or hypophagia in rodents
Author(s) -
MietlickiBaase Elizabeth G.,
Liberini Claudia G.,
Workinger Jayme L.,
Bonaccorso Ron L.,
Borner Tito,
Reiner David J.,
KochLaskowski Kieran,
McGrath Lauren E.,
Lhamo Rinzin,
Stein Lauren M.,
De Jonghe Bart C.,
Holz George G.,
Roth Christian L.,
Doyle Robert P.,
Hayes Matthew R.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
diabetes, obesity and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.445
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1463-1326
pISSN - 1462-8902
DOI - 10.1111/dom.13222
Subject(s) - malaise , endocrinology , medicine , anorexia , nausea , vitamin b12 , pharmacology
Aims While pharmacological glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor (GLP‐1R) agonists are FDA‐approved for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, a major side effect is nausea/malaise. We recently developed a conjugate of vitamin B12 (B12) bound to the GLP‐1R agonist exendin‐4 (Ex4), which displays enhanced proteolytic stability and retention of GLP‐1R agonism. Here, we evaluate whether the conjugate (B12‐Ex4) can improve glucose tolerance without producing anorexia and malaise. Materials and methods We evaluated the effects of systemic B12‐Ex4 and unconjugated Ex4 on food intake and body weight change, oral glucose tolerance and nausea/malaise in male rats, and on intraperitoneal glucose tolerance in mice. To evaluate whether differences in the profile of effects of B12‐Ex4 vs unconjugated Ex4 are the result of altered CNS penetrance, rats received systemic injections of fluorescein‐Ex4 (Flex), Cy5‐B12 or Cy5‐B12‐Ex4 and brain penetrance was evaluated using confocal microscopy. Uptake of systemically administered Cy5‐B12‐Ex4 in insulin‐containing pancreatic beta cells was also examined. Results B12‐Ex4 conjugate improves glucose tolerance, but does not elicit the malaise and anorexia produced by unconjugated Ex4. While Flex robustly penetrates into the brain (dorsal vagal complex, paraventricular hypothalamus), Cy5‐B12 and Cy5‐B12‐Ex4 fluorescence were not observed centrally, supporting an absence of CNS penetrance, in line with observed reduction in CNS‐associated Ex4 side effects. Cy5‐B12‐Ex4 colocalizes with insulin in the pancreas, suggesting direct pancreatic action as a potential mechanism underlying the hypoglycaemic effects of B12‐Ex4. Conclusion These novel findings highlight the potential clinical utility of B12‐Ex4 conjugates as possible future T2DM therapeutics with reduced incidence of adverse effects.