Low-molecular fraction of wheat protein hydrolysate stimulates glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion in an enteroendocrine L cell line and improves glucose tolerance in rats

The incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is secreted by enteroendocrine L cells. Stimulating endogenous GLP-1 secretion by dietary factors is a promising strategy to increase GLP-1 action. Several studies have examined the specific physiological function of wheat protein hydrolysate. Some reports suggested that intake of wheat protein ameliorates hyperglycemia. We hypothesized that wheat protein hydrolysate reduces blood glucose concentration via stimulation of GLP-1 secretion. In this study, we investigated whether wheat protein hydrolysate stimulates GLP-1 secretion and its molecular mechanism in an enteroendocrine L cell line (GLUTag cells), and we examined the effect on glucose tolerance via stimulation of GLP-1 secretion followed by induction of insulin secretion in rats. The low-molecular fraction of wheat protein hydrolysate (LWP) significantly increased GLP-1 secretion, whereas the high-molecular fraction did not. This increase was found to involve activation of the Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent kinase II pathway mediated by G protein-coupled receptor family C group 6 subtype A. Moreover, preadministration of LWP ameliorated hyperglycemia via the stimulation of GLP-1 secretion followed by induction of insulin secretion in rats. Furthermore, this LWP-induced glucose-lowering effect was significantly attenuated by the administration of a GLP-1 receptor antagonist. These results demonstrate that LWP significantly increased GLP-1 secretion through activation of the Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent kinase II pathway mediated by G protein-coupled receptor family C group 6 subtype A in GLUTag cells. Moreover, preadministration of LWP ameliorated hyperglycemia via the stimulation of GLP-1 secretion followed by induction of insulin secretion in rats.