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ABSTRACT: Objective
To determine whether glucagon receptor (GCGR) actions are modulated by cellular cholesterol levels.Methods
We determined the effects of experimental cholesterol depletion and loading on glucagon-mediated cAMP production, ligand internalisation and glucose production in human hepatoma cells, mouse and human hepatocytes. GCGR interactions with lipid bilayers were explored using coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations. Glucagon responsiveness was measured in mice fed a high cholesterol diet with or without simvastatin to modulate hepatocyte cholesterol content.Results
GCGR cAMP signalling was reduced by higher cholesterol levels across different cellular models. Ex vivo glucagon-induced glucose output from mouse hepatocytes was enhanced by simvastatin treatment. Mice fed a high cholesterol diet had increased hepatic cholesterol and a blunted hyperglycaemic response to glucagon, both of which were partially reversed by simvastatin. Simulations identified likely membrane-exposed cholesterol binding sites on the GCGR, including a site where cholesterol is a putative negative allosteric modulator.Conclusions
Our results indicate that cellular cholesterol content influences glucagon sensitivity and indicate a potential molecular basis for this phenomenon. This could be relevant to the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is associated with both hepatic cholesterol accumulation and glucagon resistance.
SUBMITTER: McGlone ER
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9254120 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
McGlone Emma Rose ER Ansell T Bertie TB Dunsterville Cecilia C Song Wanling W Carling David D Tomas Alejandra A Bloom Stephen R SR Sansom Mark S P MSP Tan Tricia T Jones Ben B
Molecular metabolism 20220616
<h4>Objective</h4>To determine whether glucagon receptor (GCGR) actions are modulated by cellular cholesterol levels.<h4>Methods</h4>We determined the effects of experimental cholesterol depletion and loading on glucagon-mediated cAMP production, ligand internalisation and glucose production in human hepatoma cells, mouse and human hepatocytes. GCGR interactions with lipid bilayers were explored using coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations. Glucagon responsiveness was measured in mice fed ...[more]