RESUMO
The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in host metabolism via production of dietary metabolites. Microbiota imbalances are linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D), but dietary modification of the microbiota may promote glycemic control. Using a rodent model of T2D and an in vitro gut model system, this study investigated whether differences in gut microbiota between control mice and mice fed a high-fat, high-fructose (HFHFr) diet influenced the production of phenolic acid metabolites following fermentation of wholegrain (WW) and control wheat (CW). In addition, the study assessed whether changes in metabolite profiles affected pancreatic beta cell function. Fecal samples from control or HFHFr-fed mice were fermented in vitro with 0.1% (w/v) WW or CW for 0, 6, and 24 h. Microbiota composition was determined by bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing and phenolic acid (PA) profiles by UPLC-MS/MS. Cell viability, apoptosis and insulin release from pancreatic MIN6 beta cells and primary mouse islets were assessed in response to fermentation supernatants and selected PAs. HFHFr mice exhibited an overall dysbiotic microbiota with an increase in abundance of proteobacterial taxa (particularly Oxalobacteraceae) and Lachnospiraceae, and a decrease in Lactobacillus. A trend toward restoration of diversity and compositional reorganization was observed following WW fermentation at 6 h, although after 24 h, the HFHFr microbiota was monodominated by Cupriavidus. In parallel, the PA profile was significantly altered in the HFHFr group compared to controls with decreased levels of 3-OH-benzoic acid, 4-OH-benzoic acid, isoferulic acid and ferulic acid at 6 h of WW fermentation. In pancreatic beta cells, exposure to pre-fermentation supernatants led to inhibition of insulin release, which was reversed over fermentation time. We conclude that HFHFr mice as a model of T2D are characterized by a dysbiotic microbiota, which is modulated by the in vitro fermentation of WW. The differences in microbiota composition have implications for PA profile dynamics and for the secretory capacity of pancreatic beta cells.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Cross-talk between different pancreatic islet cell types regulates islet function and somatostatin (SST) released from pancreatic delta cells inhibits insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. In other tissues SST exhibits both protective and pro-apoptotic properties in a tissue-specific manner, but little is known about the impact of the peptide on beta cell survival. Here we investigate the specific role of SST in the regulation of beta cell survival in response to physiologically relevant inducers of cellular stress including palmitate, cytokines and glucose. METHODS: Pancreatic MIN6 beta cells and primary mouse islet cells were pre-treated with SST with or without the Gi/o signalling inhibitor, pertussis toxin, and exposed to different cellular stress factors. Apoptosis and proliferation were assessed by measurement of caspase 3/7 activity, TUNEL and BrdU incorporation, respectively, and expression of target genes was measured by qPCR. RESULTS: SST partly alleviated upregulation of cellular stress markers (Hspa1a and Ddit3) and beta cell apoptosis in response to factors such as lipotoxicity (palmitate), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1ß and TNFα) and low glucose levels. This effect was mediated via a Gi/o protein-dependent pathway, but did not modify transcriptional upregulation of the specific NFκB-dependent genes, Nos2 and Ccl2, nor was it associated with transcriptional changes in SST receptor expression. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest an underlying protective effect of SST which modulates the beta cell response to ER stress and apoptosis induced by a range of cellular stressors associated with type 2 diabetes.
