1
|
Tanaka T, Wada T, Uno K, Ogihara S, Ie H, Okekawa A, Ishikawa A, Ito T, Miyazawa Y, Sameshima A, Onogi Y, Tsuneki H, Sasahara M, Nakashima A, Saito S, Sasaoka T. Oestrogen receptor α in T cells controls the T cell immune profile and glucose metabolism in mouse models of gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia 2021; 64:1660-1673. [PMID: 33796910 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-021-05447-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS The imbalance between maternal insulin resistance and a relative lack of insulin secretion underlies the pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Alterations in T cell subtypes and increased levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines have been proposed as potential mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of insulin resistance in GDM. Since oestrogen modulates T cell immunity, we hypothesised that oestrogen plays a homeostatic role in visceral adipose tissue by coordinating T cell immunity through oestrogen receptor α (ERα) in T cells to prevent GDM. METHODS Female CD4-cre ERαfl/fl (KO) mice on a C57BL/6 background with ERα ablation specifically in T cells, and ERαfl/fl (ERα-floxed [FL]) mice were fed 60 kJ% high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks. Female mice mated with male BALB/c mice to achieve allogenic pregnancy and were maintained on an HFD to generate the GDM model. Mice were divided into four experimental groups: non-pregnant FL, non-pregnant KO, pregnant FL (FL-GDM) and pregnant KO (KO-GDM). GTTs and ITTs were performed on day 12.5 or 13.5 and 16.5 after breeding, respectively. On day 18.5 after breeding, mice were killed and T cell subsets in the gonadal white adipose tissue (gWAT) and spleen were analysed using flow cytometry. Histological examination was also conducted and proinflammatory gene expression in gWAT and the liver was evaluated. RESULTS KO mice that mated with BALB/c mice showed normal fertility rates and fetal weights as compared with FL mice. Body and tissue weights were similar between FL and KO mice. When compared with FL-GDM mice, KO-GDM mice showed decreased insulin secretion (serum insulin concentration 15 min after glucose loading: 137.3 ± 18.3 pmol/l and 40.1 ± 36.5 pmol/l, respectively; p < 0.05), impaired glucose tolerance (glucose AUC in GTT: 2308.3 ± 54.0 mmol/l × min and 2620.9 ± 122.1 mmol/l × min, respectively; p < 0.05) and increased numbers of T helper (Th)17 cells in gWAT (0.4 ± 0.0% vs 0.8 ± 0.1%; p < 0.05). However, the contents of Th1 and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in gWAT remained similar between FL-GDM and KO-GDM. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was similar between isolated islets derived from FL and KO mice, but was reduced by IL-17A treatment. Moreover, the levels of proinflammatory gene expression, including expression of Emr1 and Tnfa in gWAT, were significantly higher in KO-GDM mice than in FL-GDM mice (5.1-fold and 2.7-fold, respectively; p < 0.01 for both). Furthermore, KO-GDM mice showed increased expression of genes encoding hepatokines, Ahsg and Fgf21 (both were 2.4-fold higher vs FL-GDM mice; p < 0.05 and p = 0.09, respectively), with no changes in inflammatory gene expression (e.g., Tnfa and Ifng) in the liver compared with FL-GDM mice. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Deletion of ERα in T cells caused impaired maternal adaptation of insulin secretion, changes in hepatokine profiles, and enhanced chronic inflammation in gWAT alongside an abnormal increase in Th17 cells. These results suggest that the ERα-mediated oestrogen signalling effects in T cells regulate T cell immunity and contribute to glucose homeostasis in pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Tanaka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Wada
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
| | - Kimie Uno
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Saki Ogihara
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hiromi Ie
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Akira Okekawa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Akari Ishikawa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Ito
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Miyazawa
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Azusa Sameshima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Onogi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tsuneki
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | | | - Akitoshi Nakashima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Shigeru Saito
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Toshiyasu Sasaoka
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|