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Augmented capacity for peripheral serotonin release in human obesity

  • Richard Young
  • , Amanda L. Lumsden
  • , Alyce M. Martin
  • , Gudrun Schober
  • , Nektaria Pezos
  • , Sony S. Thazhath
  • , Nicole Isaacs
  • , Nada Cvijanovic
  • , Emily W.L. Sun
  • , Tongzhi Wu
  • , Christopher K. Rayner
  • , Nam Q. Nguyen
  • , Dayan de Fontgalland
  • , Philippa Rabbitt
  • , Paul Hollington
  • , Luigi Sposato
  • , Steven L. Due
  • , David A. Wattchow
  • , Alice P. Liou
  • , V. Margaret Jackson
  • Damien J. Keating

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Background/objectives: Evidence from animal studies highlights an important role for serotonin (5-HT), derived from gut enterochromaffin (EC) cells, in regulating hepatic glucose production, lipolysis and thermogenesis, and promoting obesity and dysglycemia. Evidence in humans is limited, although elevated plasma 5-HT concentrations are linked to obesity. Subjects/methods: We assessed (i) plasma 5-HT concentrations before and during intraduodenal glucose infusion (4 kcal/min for 30 min) in non-diabetic obese (BMI 44 ± 4 kg/m2, N = 14) and control (BMI 24 ± 1 kg/m2, N = 10) subjects, (ii) functional activation of duodenal EC cells (immunodetection of phospho-extracellular related-kinase, pERK) in response to glucose, and in separate subjects, (iii) expression of tryptophan hydroxylase-1 (TPH1) in duodenum and colon (N = 39), and (iv) 5-HT content in primary EC cells from these regions (N = 85). Results: Plasma 5-HT was twofold higher in obese than control responders prior to (P = 0.025), and during (iAUC, P = 0.009), intraduodenal glucose infusion, and related positively to BMI (R2 = 0.334, P = 0.003) and HbA1c (R2 = 0.508, P = 0.009). The density of EC cells in the duodenum was twofold higher at baseline in obese subjects than controls (P = 0.023), with twofold more EC cells activated by glucose infusion in the obese (EC cells co-expressing 5-HT and pERK, P = 0.001), while the 5-HT content of EC cells in duodenum and colon was similar; TPH1 expression was 1.4-fold higher in the duodenum of obese subjects (P = 0.044), and related positively to BMI (R2 = 0.310, P = 0.031). Conclusions: Human obesity is characterized by an increased capacity to produce and release 5-HT from the proximal small intestine, which is strongly linked to higher body mass, and glycemic control. Gut-derived 5-HT is likely to be an important driver of pathogenesis in human obesity and dysglycemia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1880-1889
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Obesity
Volume42
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - 1 Nov 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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