Hepatic β-arrestin 2 is essential for maintaining euglycemia

J Clin Invest. 2017 Aug 1;127(8):2941-2945. doi: 10.1172/JCI92913. Epub 2017 Jun 26.

Abstract

An increase in hepatic glucose production (HGP) represents a key feature of type 2 diabetes. This deficiency in metabolic control of glucose production critically depends on enhanced signaling through hepatic glucagon receptors (GCGRs). Here, we have demonstrated that selective inactivation of the GPCR-associated protein β-arrestin 2 in hepatocytes of adult mice results in greatly increased hepatic GCGR signaling, leading to striking deficits in glucose homeostasis. However, hepatocyte-specific β-arrestin 2 deficiency did not affect hepatic insulin sensitivity or β-adrenergic signaling. Adult mice lacking β-arrestin 1 selectively in hepatocytes did not show any changes in glucose homeostasis. Importantly, hepatocyte-specific overexpression of β-arrestin 2 greatly reduced hepatic GCGR signaling and protected mice against the metabolic deficits caused by the consumption of a high-fat diet. Our data support the concept that strategies aimed at enhancing hepatic β-arrestin 2 activity could prove useful for suppressing HGP for therapeutic purposes.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Glucagon / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Homeostasis / physiology
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Glucagon / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • beta-Arrestin 1 / genetics
  • beta-Arrestin 2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Insulin
  • Receptors, Glucagon
  • beta-Arrestin 1
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • Glucagon