Kisspeptin-10 Shows Promise Against Obesity-Diabetes in Female Mice

The global prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes continues to rise, posing significant public health challenges characterized by impaired glucose homeostasis and pancreatic dysfunction. While kisspeptin (a neuropeptide) is primarily recognized for its crucial role in reproductive physiology, emerging evidence suggests it also influences metabolic processes. However, the specific mechanisms by which Kisspeptin-10 influences gut hormones and pancreatic function in diet-induced obesity-diabetes are not fully understood.

Treatment with Kisspeptin-10 significantly ameliorated several hallmarks of obesity-diabetes. Treated mice exhibited a 23% reduction in body weight gain compared to HFD controls, alongside a 35% improvement in glucose tolerance (measured by Area Under the Curve, AUC) and a 28% improvement in insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR). Furthermore, Kisspeptin-10 increased circulating levels of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) by 1.8-fold and GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) by 1.5-fold, key gut hormones that stimulate insulin release. This was accompanied by an increase in ileal L-cells (GLP-1 producing) and K-cells (GIP producing). Pancreatic health also improved, with a 15% reduction in islet hypertrophy (enlargement) and a 20% increase in islet number, coupled with a significant reduction in beta-cell apoptosis (programmed cell death, p<0.05). Kisspeptin-10 significantly improved metabolic parameters, positively modulated gut hormone-producing cells, and enhanced pancreatic islet health in obese-diabetic female mice.