[HTML][HTML] Glucagon receptor inactivation leads to α-cell hyperplasia in zebrafish

M Li, ED Dean, L Zhao, WE Nicholson…�- The Journal of�…, 2015 - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
M Li, ED Dean, L Zhao, WE Nicholson, AC Powers, W Chen
The Journal of endocrinology, 2015ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Glucagon antagonism is a potential treatment for diabetes. One potential side effect is α-cell
hyperplasia, which has been noted in several approaches to antagonize glucagon action.
To investigate the molecular mechanism of the α-cell hyperplasia and to identify the
responsible factor, we created a zebrafish model in which glucagon receptor (gcgr)
signaling has been interrupted. The genetically and chemically tractable zebrafish, which
provides a robust discovery platform, has two glucagon receptor genes (gcgra and gcgrb) in�…
Abstract
Glucagon antagonism is a potential treatment for diabetes. One potential side effect is α-cell hyperplasia, which has been noted in several approaches to antagonize glucagon action. To investigate the molecular mechanism of the α-cell hyperplasia and to identify the responsible factor, we created a zebrafish model in which glucagon receptor (gcgr) signaling has been interrupted. The genetically and chemically tractable zebrafish, which provides a robust discovery platform, has two glucagon receptor genes (gcgra and gcgrb) in its genome. Sequence, phylogenetic, and synteny analyses suggest that these are co-orthologs of the human GCGR. Similar to its mammalian counterparts, gcgra and gcgrb are mainly expressed in the liver. We inactivated the zebrafish gcgra and gcgrb using TALEN (Transcription activator-like effector nuclease) first individually and then both genes, and assessed the number of α-cells using an α-cell reporter line, Tg (gcga: GFP). Compared to wild-type fish at 7 days postfertilization, there were more α-cells in gcgra−/−, gcgrb−/−, and gcgra−/−; gcgrb−/− fish and there was an increased rate of α-cell proliferation in the gcgra−/−; gcgrb−/− fish. Glucagon levels were higher but free glucose levels were lower in gcgra−/−, gcgrb−/−, and gcgra−/−; gcgrb−/− fish, similar to Gcgr−/− mice. These results indicate that the compensatory α-cell hyperplasia in response to interruption of glucagon signaling is conserved in zebrafish. The robust α-cell hyperplasia in gcgra−/−; gcgrb−/− larvae provides a platform to screen for chemical and genetic suppressors, and ultimately to identify the stimulus of α-cell hyperplasia and its signaling mechanism.
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