Even before carbohydrates reach the bloodstream, the very sight and smell of a meal trigger the release of insulin. For the first time, researchers have shown that this insulin release depends on a short-term inflammatory response that takes place in these circumstances. In overweight individuals, however, this inflammatory response is so excessive that it can impair insulin secretion.
Even the anticipation of a forthcoming meal triggers a series of responses in the body, perhaps the most familiar of which is the watering of the mouth. But the hormone insulin, which regulates blood sugar, also arrives on the scene even before we tuck into the first mouthful of food. Experts refer to this as the neurally mediated (or cephalic) phase of insulin secretion.
In the past, however, it was unclear how the sensory perception of a meal generated a signal to the pancreas to ramp up insulin production. Now, researchers have identified an important piece of the puzzle: an inflammatory factor known as interleukin 1 beta (IL1B), which is also involved in the immune response to pathogens or in tissue damage. The team have reported their findings in the journal Cell Metabolism.
“The fact that this inflammatory factor is responsible for a considerable proportion of normal insulin secretion in healthy individuals is surprising, because it’s also involved in the development of type 2 diabetes,” explains study leader.
Also known as “adult-onset diabetes,” this form of diabetes is caused by chronic inflammation that damages the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, among other things. This is another situation in which IL1B plays a key role – in this case, it is produced and secreted in excessively large quantities. With this in mind, clinical studies are now examining whether inhibitors against this inflammatory factor are suitable for use as therapeutic agents for diabetes.
Circumstances are different when it comes to neurally mediated insulin secretion: “The smell and sight of a meal stimulate specific immune cells in the brain known as the microglia,” says study author. “These cells briefly secrete IL1B, which in turn affects the autonomic nervous system via the vagus nerve.” This system then relays the signal to the site of insulin secretion – that is, the pancreas.
In the case of morbid obesity, however, this neurally mediated phase of insulin secretion is disrupted. Specifically, by the initial excessive inflammatory response, as explained by doctoral candidate.
“Our results indicate that IL1B plays an important role in linking up sensory information such as the sight and smell of a meal with subsequent neurally mediated insulin secretion – and in regulating this connection,” summarizes the author.
https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(22)00221-2
http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Fthe-cephalic-phase-of&filter=22
The mere sight of a meal triggers an inflammatory response in the brain
- 750 views
- Added
Latest News
Mosquitoes have neuronal fail-safes to make sure they can always smell humans
Detecting gut microbes that activate immune cells
Shell microelectrode arrays (MEAs) for brain organoids
Why heat makes us sleepy
Nasal spray peptide can reduce seizure activity, protect neurons in Alzheimer's
Other Top Stories
mRNA methylation differentiates diseased beta cells in type 2 diabetes
Linking nicotine addiction to increased risk for diabetes via brain-pancreas signaling axis
Secretomes of human brown and white fat
Gene function that protects against type 2 diabetes discovered!
Organoids from islet and amniotic epithelial cells to treat diabetes
Protocols
Simultaneous recording of neuronal and vascular activity in the rodent brain using fiber- photom…
VDJdb in the pandemic era: a compendium of T cell receptors specifc for SARS-CoV-2
A scalable organoid model of human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease for disease mecha…
An improved organotypic cell culture system to study tissue-resident macrophages ex vivo
Protocol for spike-triggered closed-loop auditory stimulation during sleep in patients with epilepsy
Publications
Bipolar-associated miR-499-5p controls neuroplasticity by downregulating the Cav1.2 subunit CACNB2
Non-canonical odor coding in the mosquito
LY3437943, a novel triple glucagon, GIP, and GLP-1 receptor agonist for glycemic control and weig…
Calcium homeostasis and cancer: insights from endoplasmic reticulum-centered organelle communicat…
Systemic inflammation after stroke: implications for post-stroke comorbidities
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
Lipids
Cell biology of carbohydrate metabolism
RNA interference (RNAi)
RNA structure and functions
Posters
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CANCER–KIDNEY AND BLADDER
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CANCER–PROSTATE, TESTICULAR, AND PENILE
ASCO-2020-GYNECOLOGIC CANCER