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Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor activation stimulates hepatic lipid oxidation and restores hepatic signalling alteration induced by a high‐fat diet in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Author(s) -
SvegliatiBaroni Gianluca,
Saccomanno Stefania,
Rychlicki Chiara,
Agostinelli Laura,
De Minicis Samuele,
Candelaresi Cinzia,
Faraci Graziella,
Pacetti Deborah,
Vivarelli Marco,
Nicolini Daniele,
Garelli Paolo,
Casini Alessandro,
Manco Melania,
Mingrone Geltrude,
Risaliti Andrea,
Frega Giuseppe N.,
Benedetti Antonio,
Gastaldelli Amalia
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2011.02462.x
Subject(s) - medicine , endocrinology , exenatide , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , insulin resistance , fatty liver , peroxisome proliferator activated receptor , glucagon like peptide 1 , steatohepatitis , glucagon like peptide 1 receptor , steatosis , receptor , insulin , biology , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , agonist , disease
Background/Aims: High‐fat dietary intake and low physical activity lead to insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Recent studies have shown an effect of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) on hepatic glucose metabolism, although GLP‐1 receptors (GLP‐1r) have not been found in human livers. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of hepatic GLP‐1r and the effect of exenatide, a GLP‐1 analogue, on hepatic signalling.Methods: The expression of GLP‐1r was evaluated in human liver biopsies and in the livers of high‐fat diet‐treated rats. The effect of exenatide (100 nM) was evaluated in hepatic cells of rats fed 3 months with the high‐fat diet.Results: GLP‐1r is expressed in human hepatocytes, although reduced in patients with NASH. Similarly, in rats with NASH resulted from 3 months of the high‐fat diet, we found a decreased expression of GLP‐1r and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ), and reduced peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPARα) activity. Incubation of hepatocytes with exenatide increased PPARγ expression, which also exerted an insulin‐sensitizing action by reducing JNK phosphorylation. Moreover, exenatide increased protein kinase A (PKA) activity, Akt and AMPK phosphorylation and determined a PKA‐dependent increase of PPARα activity.Conclusions: GLP‐1 has a direct effect on hepatocytes, by activating genes involved in fatty acid β‐oxidation and insulin sensitivity. GLP‐1 analogues could be a promising treatment approach to improve hepatic insulin resistance in patients with NAFLD/NASH.