Background: Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 (GSK3) activity is repressed following insulin treatment of cells. Pharmacological inhibition of GSK3 mimics the effect of insulin on Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (PEPCK), Glucose-6 Phosphatase (G6Pase) and IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP1) gene expression. CAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBP ) regulates these gene promoters in liver and is phosphorylated on two residues (T222/T226) by GSK3, although the functional outcome of the phosphorylation has not been established. We aimed to establish whether CEBP is a link between GSK3 and these gene promoters.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an important insulinotropic hormone with potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, the short biological half-life of the peptide after cleavage by dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV) is a major limitation. Inhibition of DPP IV activity and the development of resistant GLP-1 analogues is the subject of ongoing research. In this study, we determined cell growth, insulin content, insulin accumulation and insulin secretory function of a insulin-secreting cell line cultured for 3 days with either GLP-1, GLP-1 plus the DPP IV inhibitor diprotin A (DPA) or stable N-acetyl-GLP-1. Native GLP-1 was rapidly degraded by DPP IV during culture with accumulation of the inactive metabolite GLP-1(9-36)amide. Inclusion of DPA or use of the DPP IV-resistant analogue, N-acetyl-GLP-1, improved cellular function compared to exposure to GLP-1 alone. Most notably, basal and accumulated insulin secretion was enhanced, and glucose responsiveness was improved. However, prolonged GLP-1 treatment resulted in GLP-1 receptor desensitization regardless of DPP IV status. The results indicate that prevention of DPP IV action is necessary for beneficial effects of GLP-1 on pancreatic beta cells and that prolonged exposure to GLP-1(9-36)amide may be detrimental to insulin secretory function. These observations also support the ongoing development of DPP-IV-resistant forms of GLP-1, such as N-acetyl-GLP-1.