Overnutrition stimulates intestinal epithelium proliferation through β-catenin signaling in obese mice

Diabetes. 2013 Nov;62(11):3736-46. doi: 10.2337/db13-0035. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

Abstract

Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. And overnutrition is a leading cause of obesity. After most nutrients are ingested, they are absorbed in the small intestine. Signals from β-catenin are essential to maintain development of the small intestine and homeostasis. In this study, we used a hyperphagia db/db obese mouse model and a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model to investigate the effects of overnutrition on intestinal function and β-catenin signaling. The β-catenin protein was upregulated along with inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β in the intestines of both db/db and HFD mice. Proliferation of intestinal epithelial stem cells, villi length, nutrient absorption, and body weight also increased in both models. These changes were reversed by caloric restriction in db/db mice and by β-catenin inhibitor JW55 (a small molecule that increases β-catenin degradation) in HFD mice. Parallel, in vitro experiments showed that β-catenin accumulation and cell proliferation stimulated by glucose were blocked by the β-catenin inhibitor FH535. And the GSK-3 inhibitor CHIR98014 in an intestinal epithelial cell line increased β-catenin accumulation and cyclin D1 expression. These results suggested that, besides contribution to intestinal development and homeostasis, GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling plays a central role in intestinal morphological and functional changes in response to overnutrition. Manipulating the GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in intestinal epithelium might become a therapeutic intervention for obesity induced by overnutrition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caloric Restriction
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Diet, High-Fat
  • Glucose / administration & dosage
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / physiology
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Intestine, Small / embryology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Obese
  • Obesity / physiopathology*
  • Overnutrition / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • beta Catenin / physiology*

Substances

  • beta Catenin
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, mouse
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • Glucose