Gilliam-Vigh H, Jorsal T, Nielsen SW, Forman JL, Pedersen J, Poulsen SS, Vilsbøll T, Knop FK. Expression of Neurotensin and Its Receptors Along the Intestinal Tract in Type 2 Diabetes Patients and Healthy Controls.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2023;
108:2211-2216. [PMID:
36916883 DOI:
10.1210/clinem/dgad146]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT
Enteroendocrine N cells secrete neurotensin (NTS). NTS reduces food intake in rodents and may increase insulin release. In humans, postprandial NTS responses increase following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, associating the hormone with the glucose- and body weight-lowering effects of these procedures.
OBJECTIVE
We looked at N cell density and mucosal messenger RNA (mRNA) expression profiles of NTS and NTS receptors in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients and healthy controls.
METHODS
Using double-balloon enteroscopy, 12 patients with T2D and 12 sex-, age-, and body mass index-matched healthy controls had mucosa biopsies taken from the entire length of the small intestine (at 30-cm intervals) and from 7 anatomically well-defined locations in the large intestine. Biopsies were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and mRNA sequencing.
RESULTS
N cell density and NTS mRNA expression gradually increased from the duodenum to the ileum, while negligible NTS-positive cells and NTS mRNA expression were observed in the large intestine. NTS receptor 1 and 2 mRNA expression were not detected, but sortilin, a single-pass transmembrane neuropeptide receptor of which NTS also is a ligand, was uniformly expressed in the intestines. Patients with T2D exhibited lower levels of NTS-positive cells and mRNA expression than healthy controls, but this was not statistically significant after adjusting for multiple testing.
CONCLUSION
This unique intestinal mapping of N cell density and NTS expression shows increasing levels from the small intestine's proximal to distal end (without differences between patients with T2D and healthy controls), while negligible N-cells and NTS mRNA expression were observed in the large intestine. Sortilin was expressed throughout the intestines in both groups; no NTS receptor 1 or 2 mRNA expression were detected.
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