MiR-425-5p Regulates Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Production and Affects Blood Glucose Levels in High-fat Diet-fed Mice

BackgroundIn modern society, obesity has become a global problem with resulting in metabolic disorders and poses high risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been taken as an effective drug for the therapy of T2DM and obesity. In the present study, the regulatory roles and molecular mechanisms of miR-425-5p in GLP-1 secretion in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced diabetic mice were explored. MethodsOral glucose tolerance test and insulin tolerance test were performed to assess glucose metabolism and GLP-1 and LPS levels. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to detect the expression of LPS, GLP-1, GLP-1 receptors, miR-425-5p, phosphatase and tensin homology (PTEN), proglucagon, p65 and β-catenin. Western blot was performed to determine the expression of proglucagon, p65, β-catenin and PTEN. ResultsThe results showed that plasma GLP-1 level was negatively correlated with plasma LPS level in HFD-fed mice, and miR-425-5p expression and LPS level were up-regulated in the ileal fluid compared with control groups. LPS injection boosted miR-425-5p expression in ileum. MiR-425-5p ameliorated glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in HFD-fed mice by increasing GLP-1 secretion. Furthermore, p65 protein level in the cytoplasmic and nuclear in the ileum of HFD-fed mice was increased compared with the control group. MiR-425-5p agomir elevated nuclear β-catenin protein level, but reduced PTEN protein level in HFD-fed mice compared with HFD-fed mice treated with the miR-425-5p antagomir. ConclusionsOur results suggest that miR-425-5p promotes GLP-1 secretion and improves glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in high-fat diet-fed mice.