Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an anti-diabetic intestinal L cell hormone. The monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid (OA), is an effective GLP-1 secretagogue that crosses the cell membrane by an unknown mechanism. Immunoblotting demonstrated the presence of fatty acid transport proteins (CD36 and FATP1, 3 and 4) in the murine GLUTag L cell model. The cells demonstrated specific 3H-OA uptake, which was dose-dependently inhibited by unlabeled-OA. Phloretin and SSO, inhibitors of carrier-mediated transport and CD36, respectively, also significantly decreased 3H-OA uptake, as did knocking down FATP4 by transfection of siRNA. OA dose-dependently increased GLP-1 secretion in GLUTag cells, while phloretin and FATP4 knockdown, but not SSO, decreased this response. OA injected directly into the ileum of wild-type mice increased plasma GLP-1 levels; in contrast, preliminary findings suggest decreased GLP-1 levels in FATP4 null mice at 60 min. Collectively, these findings indicate a role for FATP4 in OA-induced GLP-1 secretion.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an anti-diabetic intestinal L cell hormone. The monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid (OA), is an effective GLP-1 secretagogue that crosses the cell membrane by an unknown mechanism. Immunoblotting demonstrated the presence of fatty acid transport proteins (CD36 and FATP1, 3 and 4) in the murine GLUTag L cell model. The cells demonstrated specific 3H-OA uptake, which was dose-dependently inhibited by unlabeled-OA. Phloretin and SSO, inhibitors of carrier-mediated transport and CD36, respectively, also significantly decreased 3H-OA uptake, as did knocking down FATP4 by transfection of siRNA. OA dose-dependently increased GLP-1 secretion in GLUTag cells, while phloretin and FATP4 knockdown, but not SSO, decreased this response. OA injected directly into the ileum of wild-type mice increased plasma GLP-1 levels; in contrast, preliminary findings suggest decreased GLP-1 levels in FATP4 null mice at 60 min. Collectively, these findings indicate a role for FATP4 in OA-induced GLP-1 secretion.