Physiologic and Pharmacologic Modulation of Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide (GIP) Receptor Expression in β-Cells by Peroxisome Proliferator–Activated Receptor (PPAR)-γ Signaling: Possible Mechanism for the GIP Resistance in Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: We previously showed that peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR)-γ in β-cells regulates pdx-1 transcription through a functional PPAR response element (PPRE). Gene Bank blast for a homologous nucleotide sequence revealed the same PPRE within the rat glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIP-R) promoter sequence. We investigated the role of PPARγ in GIP-R transcription. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, siRNA, and luciferase gene transcription assay in INS-1 cells were performed. Islet GIP-R expression and immunohistochemistry studies were performed in pancreas-specific PPARγ knockout mice (PANC PPARγ(−/−)), normoglycemic 60% pancreatectomy rats (Px), normoglycemic and hyperglycemic Zucker fatty (ZF) rats, and mouse islets incubated with troglitazone. RESULTS: In vitro studies of INS-1 cells confirmed that PPAR-γ binds to the putative PPRE sequence and regulates GIP-R transcription. In vivo verification was shown by a 70% reduction in GIP-R protein expression in islets from PANC PPARγ(−/−) mice and a twofold increase in islets of 14-day post-60% Px Sprague-Dawley rats that hyperexpress β-cell PPARγ. Thiazolidinedione activation (72 h) of this pathway in normal mouse islets caused a threefold increase of GIP-R protein and a doubling of insulin secretion to 16.7 mmol/l glucose/10 nmol/l GIP. Islets from obese normoglycemic ZF rats had twofold increased PPARγ and GIP-R protein levels versus lean rats, with both lowered by two-thirds in ZF rats made hyperglycemic by 60% Px. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies have shown physiologic and pharmacologic regulation of GIP-R expression in β-cells by PPARγ signaling. Also disruption of this signaling pathway may account for the lowered β-cell GIP-R expression and resulting GIP resistance in type 2 diabetes.