Open AccessA siRNA mediated hepatic dpp4 knockdown affects lipid, but not glucose metabolism in diabetic mice
Author(s) -
Sven W. Görgens,
Kerstin JahnHofmann,
Dinesh S. Bangari,
Sheila Cummings,
Christiane Metz-Weidmann,
Uwe Schwahn,
Paulus Wohlfart,
Matthias Schäfer,
Maximilian Bielohuby
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0225835
Subject(s) - steatosis , lipid metabolism , gene knockdown , small interfering rna , dipeptidyl peptidase 4 , carbohydrate metabolism , incretin , endocrinology , medicine , chemistry , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , pharmacology , transfection , biochemistry , apoptosis , gene
Systemic inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 ( dpp4 ) represents an effective and established treatment option for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The current study investigated in mice if a liver selective knock-down of dpp4 by therapeutic siRNAs could be a novel, similarly effective treatment option for T2D. Furthermore, the potential effects on hepatic steatosis, inflammation and lipid metabolism were investigated after hepato-selective knock-down of dpp4 . The knock-down efficiency and IC 50 values of siRNAs targeting dpp4 were analyzed in PC3 cells. In two independent studies, either db/db mice or C57BL/6J mice were injected intravenously with a liposomal formulation of siRNAs targeting either dpp4 or a non-targeting control, followed by metabolically characterization. In comparator groups, additional cohorts of mice were treated with an oral dpp4 inhibitor. In both animal studies, we observed a robust knock-down (~75%) of hepatic dpp4 with a potent siRNA. Hepatic dpp4 knockdown did not significantly affect glucose metabolism or circulating incretin concentrations in both animal studies. However, in obese and diabetic db/db mice hepatic steatosis was reduced and hepatic mRNA expression of acaca , s cd1 , fasn and pparg was significantly lower after siRNA treatment. Systemic inhibition of the enzymatic dpp4 activity by an oral dpp4 inhibitor significantly improved glucose handling in db/db mice but did not affect hepatic endpoints. These data demonstrate that a targeted reduction of dpp4 expression in the liver may not be sufficient to improve whole-body glucose metabolism in obese and diabetic mice but may improve hepatic lipid metabolism.