Diabetes, Vol 48, Issue 4 758-765, Copyright © 1999 by American Diabetes Association
NH2-terminally modified gastric inhibitory polypeptide exhibits amino-peptidase resistance and enhanced antihyperglycemic activity
FP O'Harte, MH Mooney and PR Flatt
School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland. fpm.oharte@ulst.ac.uk
Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) is an important insulin-releasing
hormone of the enteroinsular axis that, like glucagon-like peptide 1(7-36)
amide (tGLP-1), has a functional profile of possible therapeutic value for
type 2 diabetes. Both incretin hormones are rapidly inactivated in plasma
by the exopeptidase dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV. The present study
examined the ability of NH2-terminal modification of human GIP to protect
from plasma degradation and enhance insulin-releasing and antihyperglycemic
activity. Degradation of GIP by incubation at 37 degrees C with purified
DPP IV was clearly evident after 4 h (54% intact). After 12 h, >60% of
GIP was converted to GIP(3-42), whereas >99% of NH2-terminally modified
Tyr1-glucitol GIP remained intact. Tyr1-glucitol GIP was similarly
resistant to serum degradation. The formation of GIP(3-42) was almost
completely abolished by inhibition of plasma DPP IV with diprotin A.
Effects of GIP and Tyr1-glucitol GIP were examined in Wistar rats after
intraperitoneal injection of either peptide (10 nmol/kg) together with
glucose (18 mmol/kg). Plasma glucose concentrations were significantly
lower and insulin concentrations higher after both peptides compared with
glucose alone. More importantly, individual glucose values at 15 and 30 min
together with the areas under the curve (AUCs) for glucose were
significantly lower after administration of Tyr1-glucitol GIP compared with
GIP (AUC 255 +/- 33 vs. 368 +/- 8 mmol x l(-1) x min(-1), respectively; P
< 0.01). This was associated with a significantly greater and more
protracted insulin response after Tyr1-glucitol GIP than GIP (AUC 773 +/-
41 vs. 639 +/- 39 ng x ml(-1) x min(-1); P < 0.05). These data
demonstrate that Tyr1-glucitol GIP displays resistance to plasma DPP IV
degradation and exhibits enhanced antihyperglycemic activity and
insulin-releasing action in vivo.