GLP-1 receptor nitration contributes to loss of brain pericyte function in a mouse model of diabetes.

Publisher: Springer Verlag Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 0006777 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-0428 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0012186X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Diabetologia Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Berlin Springer Verlag

Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental*/metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2*/metabolism ; Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor*/metabolism ; Pericytes*/metabolism; Animals ; Brain/metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Exenatide/therapeutic use ; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/metabolism ; Humans ; Mice

Aims/hypothesis: We have previously shown that diabetes causes pericyte dysfunction, leading to loss of vascular integrity and vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID). Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), used in managing type 2 diabetes mellitus, improve the cognitive function of diabetic individuals beyond glycaemic control, yet the mechanism is not fully understood. In the present study, we hypothesise that GLP-1 RAs improve VCID by preventing diabetes-induced pericyte dysfunction.
Methods: Mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes and non-diabetic control mice received either saline (NaCl 154 mmol/l) or exendin-4, a GLP-1 RA, through an osmotic pump over 28 days. Vascular integrity was assessed by measuring cerebrovascular neovascularisation indices (vascular density, tortuosity and branching density). Cognitive function was evaluated with Barnes maze and Morris water maze. Human brain microvascular pericytes (HBMPCs), were grown in high glucose (25 mmol/l) and sodium palmitate (200 μmol/l) to mimic diabetic conditions. HBMPCs were treated with/without exendin-4 and assessed for nitrative and oxidative stress, and angiogenic and blood-brain barrier functions.
Results: Diabetic mice treated with exendin-4 showed a significant reduction in all cerebral pathological neovascularisation indices and an improved blood-brain barrier (p<0.05). The vascular protective effects were accompanied by significant improvement in the learning and memory functions of diabetic mice compared with control mice (p<0.05). Our results showed that HBMPCs expressed the GLP-1 receptor. Diabetes increased GLP-1 receptor expression and receptor nitration in HBMPCs. Stimulation of HBMPCs with exendin-4 under diabetic conditions decreased diabetes-induced vascular inflammation and oxidative stress, and restored pericyte function (p<0.05).
Conclusions/interpretation: This study provides novel evidence that brain pericytes express the GLP-1 receptor, which is nitrated under diabetic conditions. GLP-1 receptor activation improves brain pericyte function resulting in restoration of vascular integrity and BBB functions in diabetes. Furthermore, the GLP-1 RA exendin-4 alleviates diabetes-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Restoration of pericyte function in diabetes represents a novel therapeutic target for diabetes-induced cerebrovascular microangiopathy and VCID.
(© 2022. This is a U.S. government work and not under copyright protection in the U.S.; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

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Keywords: Cognitive function; Diabetes; GLP-1 receptor; Nitration; Pericytes; Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia

0 (Glp1r protein, mouse)
0 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor)
89750-14-1 (Glucagon-Like Peptide 1)
9P1872D4OL (Exenatide)

Date Created: 20220610 Date Completed: 20220804 Latest Revision: 20230804

20250114

10.1007/s00125-022-05730-5

35687178