Action of glucagon-like peptide 1 and glucose levels on corticotropin-releasing factor and vasopressin gene expression in rat hypothalamic 4B cells

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are the two major regulatory peptides in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an important regulator of metabolism or energy homeostasis, is implicated in the regulation of the HPA axis in response to stress and may act directly on CRF and AVP neurons. To elucidate the direct regulation of CRF and AVP genes by GLP-1 in the hypothalamus, we examined the effect of GLP-1 in hypothalamic 4B cells, which show the characteristics of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus neurons. The mRNA of GLP-1 receptor was detected in 4B cells by RT-PCR. GLP-1 significantly stimulated both CRF and AVP mRNA levels. Cells were transfected with CRF or AVP promoter to examine the activity of each promoter. GLP-1 directly stimulated the activities of both CRF and AVP promoters in hypothalamic 4B cells. Basal promoter activities of both CRF and AVP were increased in higher glucose medium. In addition, CRF and AVP promoter activities were increased by GLP-1 in standard or low glucose medium but not in higher glucose medium. An equimolar concentration of metabolically inactive l-glucose failed to mimic the effect of d-glucose, indicating that the event was caused by changes in glucose levels and not by hyperosmolality. Together, these data suggest that GLP-1 would contribute to stress responses through activation of CRF and AVP genes in the hypothalamic cells. Hyperglycemia may be one of the stressors enhancing the syntheses of CRF and AVP in the hypothalamus.

► Direct regulation of CRF and AVP genes by GLP-1 was observed in hypothalamic 4B cells.
► GLP-1 contributes to stress responses through activation of CRF and AVP genes in the hypothalamic cells.
► Activation of the genes is caused by changes in glucose levels and not by hyperosmolality.
► Hyperglycemia may be one of the stressors enhancing the syntheses of CRF and AVP in the hypothalamus.