Role of LRP5/6/GSK-3β/β-catenin in the differences in exenatide- and insulin-promoted T2D osteogenesis and osteomodulation

Background and purpose: Insulin and exenatide are two hypoglycaemic agents that exhibit different osteogenic effects. This study compared the differences between exenatide and Insulin in osseointegration in a rat model of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and explored the mechanisms promoting osteogenesis in this model of T2D.

Experimental approach: In vivo, micro-CT was used to detect differences in the peri-implant bone microstructure in vivo. Histology, dual-fluorescent labelling, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were used to detect differences in tissue, cell and protein expression around the implants. In vitro, RT-PCR and western blotting were used to measure the expression of osteogenesis- and Wnt signalling-related genes and proteins in bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) from rats with T2D (TBMSCs) after PBS, Insulin and exenatide treatment. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Wnt bypass cascade reactions under Wnt inactivation.

Key results: Micro-CT and section staining showed exenatide extensively promoted peri-implant osseointegration. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed exenatide substantially increased the expression of osteogenesis-related and activated the LRP5/6/GSK-3β/β-catenin-related Wnt pathway. Furthermore, exenatide suppressed expression of Bmpr1a to inhibit lipogenesis and promoted expression of Btrc to suppress inflammation.

Conclusion and implications: Compared to Insulin, exenatide significantly improved osteogenesis in T2D rats and TBMSCs. In addition to its dependence on LRP5/6/GSK-3β/β-catenin signalling for osteogenic differentiation, exenatide-mediated osteomodulation also involves inhibition of inflammation and adipogenesis by BMPR1A and β-TrCP, respectively.

T2D; exenatide; insulin; osseointegration.