Upregulation of ACE2-ANG-(1-7)-Mas axis in jejunal enterocytes of type 1 diabetic rats: implications for glucose transport

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Sep 1;303(5):E669-81. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00562.2011. Epub 2012 Jul 17.

Abstract

The inhibitory effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-ANG II-angiotensin type 1 (AT₁) receptor axis on jejunal glucose uptake and the reduced expression of this system in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) have been documented previously. The ACE2-ANG-(1-7)-Mas receptor axis is thought to oppose the actions of the ACE-ANG II-AT₁ receptor axis in heart, liver, and kidney. However, the possible involvement of the ACE2-ANG-(1-7)-Mas receptor system on enhanced jejunal glucose transport in T1DM has yet to be determined. Rat everted jejunum and Caco-2 cells were used to determine the effects of ANG-(1-7) on glucose uptake and to study the ACE2-ANG-(1-7)-Mas receptor signaling pathway. Expression of target gene and protein in jejunal enterocytes and human Caco-2 cells were quantified using real-time PCR and Western blotting. T1DM increased jejunal protein and mRNA expression of ACE2 (by 59 and 173%, respectively) and Mas receptor (by 55 and 100%, respectively) in jejunum. One millimolar ANG-(1-7) reduced glucose uptake in jejunum and Caco-2 cells by 30.6 and 30.3%, respectively, effects that were abolished following addition of 1 μM A-779 (a Mas receptor blocker) or 1 μM GF-109203X (protein kinase C inhibitor) to incubation buffer for jejunum or Caco-2 cells, respectively. Finally, intravenous treatment of animals with ANG-(1-7) significantly improved oral glucose tolerance in T1DM but not control animals. In conclusion, enhanced activity of the ACE2-ANG-(1-7)-Mas receptor axis in jejunal enterocytes is likely to moderate the T1DM-induced increase in jejunal glucose uptake resulting from downregulation of the ACE-ANG II-AT₁ receptor axis. Therefore, altered activity of both ACE and ACE2 systems during diabetes will determine the overall rate of glucose transport across the jejunal epithelium.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin I / administration & dosage
  • Angiotensin I / genetics
  • Angiotensin I / metabolism*
  • Angiotensin I / therapeutic use
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Animals
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Enterocytes / drug effects
  • Enterocytes / metabolism*
  • Enterocytes / pathology
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / prevention & control
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / metabolism
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Jejunum / drug effects
  • Jejunum / metabolism*
  • Jejunum / pathology
  • Male
  • Peptide Fragments / administration & dosage
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism*
  • Peptide Fragments / therapeutic use
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / genetics
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinase C / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Up-Regulation*

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Angiotensin I
  • Protein Kinase C
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Ace2 protein, rat
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • angiotensin I (1-7)
  • Glucose