Increased GLP2R expression in gastric chief cells of patients with severe obesity regardless of diabetes status.

Glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) affects multiple facets of gastrointestinal physiology and have been used to treat patients with short bowel syndrome, but the distribution of its receptor (GLP2R) in human remains poorly understood. Gastric tissue samples of non-obese patients (NOB, n=10) and obese patients without diabetes (OB, n=31) and with diabetes (OWD, n=12) were used to evaluate GLP2R expression and distribution. Immunostaining with a validated antibody, as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization, showed that GLP2R expression was significantly increased in gastric chief cells in OB and OWD patients. PKCζ expression was also significantly increased. This is the first evidence of increased GLP2R expression in chief cells of patients with severe obesity regardless of diabetes status.