Decreased glucagon-like peptide-1 correlates with abdominal pain in patients with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome

• Published in: Clinics and research in hepatology and gastroenterology Vol. 41; no. 4; pp. 459 - 465
• Main Authors: Li, Zheng-Yang, Zhang, Na, Wen, Shuang, Zhang, Jing, Sun, Xiu-Li, Fan, Xiao-Ming, Sun, Yong-Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France 01.09.2017
• Subjects: Abdominal Pain - blood; Abdominal Pain - etiology; Adult; Aged; Constipation - blood; Constipation - etiology; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 - blood; Humans; Internal Medicine; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - blood; Irritable Bowel Syndrome - complications; Male; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 2210-7401; 2210-741X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2016.12.007

Summary Background and objective The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog, ROSE-010, plays a critical role in alleviating abdominal pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the underling mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we determined the serum GLP-1 level in patients with constipation-predominant IBS (IBS-C). The relationship between GLP-1 and abdominal pain was investigated. In addition, the expression of the GLP-1 receptor in the colon was determined. Methods Rectosigmoid biopsies were gathered from 38 patients with IBS-C who met the Rome III criteria, and 22 healthy controls. Abdominal pain was quantified by a validated questionnaire. Serum GLP-1 was measured by ELISA and correlated with abdominal pain scores. The presence of the GLP-1 receptor in the colonic mucosa was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results Serum GLP-1 was substantially decreased in patients with IBS-C. Decreased serum GLP-1 had a negative correlation with the abdominal pain scores. Biopsies from patients with IBS-C revealed a significant down-regulation of the GLP-1 receptor in colonic mucosa compared with control subjects. Conclusions Decreased serum GLP-1 correlates with abdominal pain in patients with IBS-C. Decreased expression of GLP-1 and GLP-1 receptor may be the basis for alleviation of abdominal pain in patients with IBS-C by ROSE-010.