Hepatic gluconeogenic response to single and long-term SGLT2 inhibition in lean/obese male hepatic G6pc-reporter mice.

Abstract

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) consistently reduces blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes but increases hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression and glucose production, offsetting the glucose-lowering effect of SGLT2i. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of SGLT2i on the hepatic gluconeogenic response and its mechanism in both insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant states. A hepatic mouse model was generated to show liver-specific expression of Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) driven by the gluconeogenic enzyme gene G6pc promoter. Hepatic gluconeogenic response was evaluated by measuring plasma GLuc activity. SGLT2i was given to lean and obese mice in single gavage administration or 4-week dietary administration with 3-hourly controlled feeding. In lean mice, single-dose SGLT2i increased plasma GLuc activity from 2 h after administration, decreasing blood glucose and plasma insulin from 1 to 2 h after administration. In obese mice, which had higher plasma GLuc activity than lean ones, SGLT2i did not further increase GLuc activity despite decreased blood glucose and plasma insulin. Hepatic Akt and GSK3β phosphorylation was attenuated by single-dose SGLT2i in lean mice, in accordance with the plasma insulin decrease, but not in obese mice. Long-term SGLT2i administration, which increased plasma GLuc activity in lean mice, decreased it in obese mice from 3 weeks after initiation, with increased hepatic Akt and GSK3β phosphorylation. In conclusion, single SGLT2i administration increases hepatic gluconeogenic response in lean insulin-sensitive mice, but not in obese insulin-resistant mice; long-term SGLT2i administration relieves obesity-induced upregulation of the hepatic gluconeogenic response by restoring impeded hepatic insulin signaling in obese insulin-resistant mice.