Human glucagon gene promoter sequences regulating tissue-specific versus nutrient-regulated gene expression

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2002 Jan;282(1):R173-83. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00215.2001.

Abstract

The glucagon-like peptides (GLPs) are synthesized and secreted in a nutrient-dependent manner in rodents; however, the factors regulating human GLP-1 and GLP-2 biosynthesis remain unclear. To understand how nutrients regulate human proglucagon gene expression, we studied the expression of a human proglucagon promoter-growth hormone (GH) transgene in 1.6 human glucagon-GH transgenic mice. Fasting-refeeding significantly decreased and increased the levels of circulating mouse insulin and transgene-derived hGH (P < 0.05 fasting vs. refeeding) and decreased and upregulated, respectively, the levels of endogenous mouse proglucagon RNA in the ileum but not in the jejunum or colon. High-fiber feeding significantly increased the levels of glucose-stimulated circulating hGH and upregulated levels of mouse intestinal proglucagon gene expression in the jejunum, ileum, and colon (P < 0.05, 0 vs. 30% fiber diet). In contrast, neither fasting-refeeding nor a high-fiber diet upregulated the expression of the human proglucagon promoter-hGH transgene. These findings demonstrate that human proglucagon gene regulatory sequences specifying tissue-specific expression in gut endocrine cells are not sufficient for recognition of energy-derived signals regulating murine glucagon gene expression in enteroendocrine cells in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*
  • Animals
  • DNA Primers
  • Diet
  • Dietary Fiber / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Glucagon / genetics*
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 2
  • Human Growth Hormone / blood
  • Human Growth Hormone / genetics
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Intestines / cytology
  • Intestines / physiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Organ Size
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics*
  • Peptides / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics*
  • Protein Precursors / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 2
  • Insulin
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Peptides
  • Protein Precursors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
  • Glucagon