Epigen-mediated mechanisms to alleviate glucose homeostasis disruptions in diet-induced obese and STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a crucial role in cellular processes such as development and tissue repair, with dysregulation linked to various diseases, including those affecting energy metabolism. Previous studies have reported that EGFR ligands enhance glucose homeostasis through various mechanisms across different tissues. However, epigen, the latest EGFR ligand, has not been thoroughly investigated regarding its impact on energy metabolism. In this study, we employed both in vivo gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches to investigate the role of epigen in metabolic regulation using diet-induced obesity (DIO) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Our findings, which align with previous research on other EGFR ligands, provide the first evidence that epigen is crucial for glucose homeostasis. It promotes the release of endogenous insulin, enhances glucose uptake in adipose tissues and muscle, improves glycolysis and respiration utilization in adipose tissues of DIO mice, and increases pancreatic beta cell mass in STZ-induced diabetic mice. Overall, our findings suggest that epigen could be a potential therapeutic target for managing both type 2 and type 1 diabetes, warranting further exploration in clinical settings.