Background: Pancreatic islet remodelling in type 1 diabetes increases somatostatin (SST) expression, which inhibits glucagon counterregulation to hypoglycemia. Here, we characterized islet morphology and hormone composition in a rodent model of insulin-deficient type 2 diabetes (T2D) . Methods: Hypoinsulinemic T2D was induced in 8-9-week-old, male, Sprague-Dawley rats (n=4) via 3 weeks of high-fat feeding and a low-dose injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 35 mg/kg) . After 2 weeks of basal insulin treatment, pancreas tissue was extracted from T2D and healthy control (n=5) rats for immunohistochemical staining of representative islets. Results: Fasted plasma C-peptide levels of hyperglycemic (24.8±3.3 mmol/l) T2D rats were reduced by ∼44% (624±64 vs. 1107±121 pmol/l; p<0.001) , while glucagon was unchanged (75±31 vs. 98±39 pg/ml) . Fractional islet area of glucagon and SST were elevated by 40% (21±15 vs. 15±10%; p<0.001) and 83% (11±8 vs. 6±5%; p<0.001) , respectively, as compared to control rats (Figure) , which was most pronounced in small and medium-sized islets. Conclusions: Fractional area expression of glucagon and SST increased per islet in insulin-treated rats with advanced T2D. These findings may help account for the increase in SST signaling that underscores defective glucagon counterregulation to hypoglycemia in insulin-deficient diabetic states. Disclosure E. G. Hoffman: None. S. C. Atherley: None. N. Akbarian: None. N. Dsouza: None. R. Liggins: Employee; Zucara Therapeutics, Stock/Shareholder; Zucara Therapeutics. M. Riddell: Advisory Panel; Zealand Pharma A/S, Zucara Therapeutics, Consultant; Eli Lilly and Company, Jaeb Center for Health Research, Speaker’s Bureau; Dexcom, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk. Funding GlycoNet
Background: Elevated levels of somatostatin blunt glucagon counterregulation during hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and this can be improved using somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) antagonists. Hypoglycemia also occurs in late-stage type 2 diabetes (T2D), particularly when insulin therapy is initiated, but the utility of SSTR2 antagonists in ameliorating hypoglycemia in this disease state is unknown. We examined the efficacy of a single-dose of SSTR2 antagonists in a rodent model of T2D. Methods: High-fat fed (HFF), low dose streptozotocin (STZ, 35 mg/kg)-induced T2D and HFF only, nondiabetic (controls-no STZ) rats were treated with the SSTR2 antagonists ZT-01/PRL-2903 or vehicle ( n = 9–11/group) 60 min before an insulin tolerance test (ITT; 2–12 U/kg insulin aspart) or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 2 g/kg glucose via oral gavage) on separate days. Results: This rodent model of T2D is characterized by higher baseline glucose and HbA1c levels relative to HFF controls. T2D rats also had lower c-peptide levels at baseline and a blunted glucagon counterregulatory response to hypoglycemia when subjected to the ITT. SSTR2 antagonists increased the glucagon response and reduced incidence of hypoglycemia, which was more pronounced with ZT-01 than PRL-2903. ZT-01 treatment in the T2D rats increased glucagon levels above the control response within 60 min of dosing, and values remained elevated during the ITT (glucagon Cmax: 156 ± 50 vs. 77 ± 46 pg/mL, p < 0.01). Hypoglycemia incidence was attenuated with ZT-01 vs. controls (63% vs. 100%) and average time to hypoglycemia onset was also delayed (103.1 ± 24.6 vs. 66.1 ± 23.6 min, p < 0.05). ZT-01 administration at the OGTT onset increased the glucagon response without exacerbating hyperglycemia (2877 ± 806 vs. 2982 ± 781), potentially due to the corresponding increase in c-peptide levels (6251 ± 5463 vs. 14008 ± 5495, p = 0.013). Conclusion: Treatment with SSTR2 antagonists increases glucagon responses in a rat model of T2D and results in less hypoglycemia exposure. Future studies are required to determine the best dosing periods for chronic SSTR2 antagonism treatment in T2D.
Background: Few pharmacological strategies exist to prevent hypoglycemia in diabetes, other than reducing the intensity of glucose-lowering therapy. SSTR2a treatment increases glucagon counterregulation and reduces the time spent in hypoglycemia in rodent models of type 1 diabetes (T1D), but the utility of this approach in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of acute SSTR2a treatment in a rodent model of hypoglycemia in T2D. Methods: High fat fed (HFF), low dose streptozotocin (35 mg/kg) T2D rats received SSTR2a treatment (subcutaneous ZT-01 3 mg/kg) or vehicle (N=9-11/group) 60 min before the induction of hypoglycemia using rapid-acting insulin (12 U/kg). Glycemia, glucagon and c-peptide levels were measured intermittently pre- and post-dosing. Results: T2D in the rats was characterized by significantly higher baseline glucose (21.8 ± 4.7 vs 6.5 ± 0.7 mmol/L, p<0.05) and HbA1c (8.6 ± 0.6% vs 5.5 ± 0.5%; p<0.0001) levels relative to HFF controls (n=3). T2D rats also displayed reduced c-peptide levels relative to controls (3.1 ± 1.3 vs 6.1 ± 1.2 ng/ml, p<0.05). During hypoglycemic challenge (T2D rats only), SSTR2a elevated glucagon levels relative to vehicle treatment (glucagon Cmax: 156 ± 50 vs 77 ± 46 pg/ml, p<0.01) and reduced the incidence of hypoglycemia by ~40% (5/8 SSTR2a treated vs 9/9 vehicle treated rats). In those that developed hypoglycemia, the average time to hypoglycemia onset was delayed (103.1± 24.6 vs 66.1 ± 23.6 min, p<0.05) with SSTR2a compared to vehicle. Conclusion: SSTR2a treatment increases glucagon levels in this rodent model of T2D, which appears to reduce the risk for hypoglycemia following bolus insulin dosing. Disclosure N. C. D'souza: None. M. Nejad-mansouri: None. R. Liggins: Employee; Zucara Therapeutics, Stock/Shareholder; Zucara Therapeutics. O. Chan: None. M. C. Riddell: Advisory Panel; Zealand Pharma A/S, Zucara Therapeutics, Indigo Diabetes, Consultant; Lilly Diabetes, Eli Lilly and Company, Jaeb Center for Health Research, Speaker's Bureau; Dexcom, Inc., Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Stock/Shareholder; Supersapiens, Zucara Therapeutics. P. Zaree bavani: None. J. Aiken: None. E. G. Hoffman: None. S. C. Atherley: None. S. Champsi: None. N. Aleali: None. D. Shakeri: None. M. El-zahed: None. N. Akbarian: None. Funding GlycoNet (CD-85)
