CREB/CRTC2 controls GLP-1-dependent regulation of glucose homeostasis

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a major incretin that controls glucose homeostasis. The secretion of mature GLP-1 is regulated via GPCRs, including bile acid receptor G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1, which uses cAMPsignaling to enhance the exocytosis ofGLP-1-containing vesicles.However, the role of cAMP-mediated transcription has not been clearly demonstrated to date. In this study, we explored the role of cAMP response element-binding protein/CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CREB/CRTC2)-dependent transcription on GLP-1 secretion in the L cells. We found that the reduced CREB/CRTC2 activity impaired the cAMP-dependent increase in GLP-1 secretion, whereas expression of constitutively active CRTC2 increased GLP-1 exocytosis from the L cells. Close investigation revealed that expression of not only proglucagon but also PC1/3, an endopeptidase for GLP-1 maturation, is transcriptionally regulated by CREB/CRTC2. Furthermore, expression of peroxisome proliferator-activating receptor coactivator 1 α is also reduced upon depletion of CRTC2, leading to the decreased expression of oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) genes, reduced ATP levels, and calcium concentrations in the L cells. Finally, we observed that intestine-specific CRTC2 knockout mice displayed reduced GLP-1 expression, leading to the lower plasma GLP-1 levels, impaired glucose tolerance, and decreased insulin-containing β cells in pancreatic islets.Our data show that the CREB/CRTC2-dependent transcriptional pathway is critical for regulating glucosehomeostasisby controllingproductionofGLP-1 fromtheLcells at the levelof transcription, maturation, and exocytosis.