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  2. Exenatide regulates Th17/Treg balance via PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathway in db/db mice

Exenatide regulates Th17/Treg balance via PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathway in db/db mice

  • Mol Med. 2022 Dec 3;28(1):144. doi: 10.1186/s10020-022-00574-6.
Qinqin Xu 1 2 Xiaoling Zhang 1 2 Tao Li 3 Shiying Shao 4 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Division of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Road 1095, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
  • 2 Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
  • 3 Division of Ophthalmology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Road 1095, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. dr_litao@163.com.
  • 4 Division of Endocrinology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Road 1095, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China. shaoshiying@hotmail.com.
  • 5 Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hubei, People's Republic of China. shaoshiying@hotmail.com.
Abstract

Background: The T helper 17 (Th17)/T regulatory (Treg) cell imbalance is involved in the course of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the current study, the exact role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) exenatide on regulating the Th17/Treg balance and the underlying molecular mechanisms are investigated in obese diabetic mice model.

Methods: Metabolic parameters were monitored in db/db mice treated with/without exenatide during 8-week study period. The frequencies of Th17 and Treg cells from peripheral blood and pancreas in db/db mice were assessed. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) pathway in Th17 and Treg cells from the spleens of male C57BL/6J mice was detected by western blotting. In addition, the expression of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of male C57BL/6J mice was analyzed.

Results: Exenatide treatment improved β-cell function and insulitis in addition to glucose, Insulin sensitivity and weight. Increased Th17 and decreased Treg cells in peripheral blood were present as diabetes progressed while exenatide corrected this imbalance. Progressive IL-17 + T cell infiltration of pancreatic islets was alleviated by exenatide intervention. In vitro study showed no significant difference in the level of GLP-1R expression in PBMCs between control and palmitate (PA) groups. In addition, PA could promote Th17 but suppress Treg differentiation along with down-regulating the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/FoxO1, which was reversed by exenatide intervention. FoxO1 inhibitor AS1842856 could abrogate all these effects of exenatide against lipid stress.

Conclusions: Exenatide could restore systemic Th17/Treg balance via regulating FoxO1 pathway with the progression of diabetes in db/db mice. The protection of pancreatic β-cell function may be partially mediated by inhibiting Th17 cell infiltration into pancreatic islets, and the resultant alleviation of islet inflammation.

Keywords

Exenatide; Forkhead box O1; T helper 17 cell; T regulatory cell; Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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