TUDCA modulates pancreatic alpha cell and glucagon secretion

• Grant number: 16/07127-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2016
• End date: January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Everardo Magalhães Carneiro
• Grantee: Jean Franciesco Vettorazzi
• Supervisor: Ivan Quesada
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche (UMH), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 13/01318-4 - Characterization of tauroursodesoxicolic (TUDCA) action on the pancreatic endocrine function and action in tissue glucagon target ob / ob mice, BP.DR

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is an epidemic disease worldwide characterized by impaired insulin action and secretion in tissues and pancreatic ² cells, respectively. The pancreatic ± cell is also disrupted during the course of type 2 diabetes development. Bile acids are cholesterol-derived molecules, which had beneficial effects upon carbohydrate metabolism. In this context, the taurine conjugated bile acid TUDCA improves glucose homeostasis increasing the insulin sensitivity at the peripheral tissues. In a recently publication in association with the laboratory of Ivan Quesada, from Spain, we demonstrated that TUDCA increases glucose-induced insulin secretion by a cAMP/PKA pathway in pancreatic ² cells. In order to improve the knowledge about the effect of this bile acids upon pancreatic function, we decided to investigate its effects on ± cell function and glucagon secretion, focusing on ± cell electrical activity and calcium signaling. Ivan Quesada have all approaches necessaries to the development of this project due to work with ± cell in rodents and cell line, leading to many publications in this field, as well as the use of a Patch-Clamp system allowing electrophysiologic measurements. (AU)