The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) system is involved in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which represents a potential therapeutic target for NAFLD. The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) signaling has been shown to regulate the RAS within various local tissues. In this study, we aimed to investigate the functional relationship between GLP-1 and the local RAS in the liver during NAFLD. Wild-type and ACE2 knockout mice were used to establish a high-fat-induced NAFLD model. After the mice were treated with liraglutide (a GLP-1 analogue) for four weeks, the key RAS component genes were up-regulated in the liver of NAFLD mice. Liraglutide treatment can regulate the RAS system balance, preventing a reduction in fatty acid oxidation gene expression, increase in gluconeogenesis, and expression of inflammation-related genes caused by NAFLD, which is impaired in ACE2KO mice. Liraglutide-treated HepG2 cells exhibited activation of the ACE2/Ang1-7/Mas axis, increased fatty acid oxidation gene expression, and decreased inflammation, which could be reversed by A779 and AngII. These results indicate that the local RAS in the liver becomes overactivated in response to NAFLD. Moreover, ACE2 knockout increases the seriousness of liver steatosis. Liraglutide has a negative and antagonistic effect on the ACE/AngII/AT1R axis, positive impact on the ACE2/Ang1-7/Mas axis, and is mediated through the PI3K/AKT pathway. This may represent a potential new mechanism by which liraglutide improves NAFLD.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a great contribution to the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aim of this study was to explore potential miRNAs-genes regulatory network and biomarkers for the pathogenesis of DN using bioinformatics methods. Gene expression profiling data related to DN (GSE1009) was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and then differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DN patients and normal individuals were screened using GEO2R, followed by a series of bioinformatics analyses, including identifying key genes, conducting pathway enrichment analysis, predicting and identifying key miRNAs, and establishing regulatory relationships between key miRNAs and their target genes. A total of 600 DEGs associated with DN were identified. An additional 7 key DEGs, including 6 downregulated genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor α (VEGFA) and COL4A5, and 1 upregulated gene (CCL19), were identified in another dataset (GSE30528) from glomeruli samples. Pathway analysis showed that the down- and upregulated DEGs were enriched in 14 and 6 pathways, respectively, with 7 key genes mainly involved in extracellular matrix–receptor interaction, PI3K/Akt signaling, focal adhesion, and Rap1 signaling. The relationships between miRNAs and target genes were constructed, showing that miR-29 targeted COL4A and VEGFA, miR-200 targeted VEGFA, miR-25 targeted ITGAV, and miR-27 targeted EGFR. MiR-29 and miR-200 may play important roles in DN. VEGFA and COL4A5 were targeted by miR-29 and VEGFA by miR-200, which may mediate multiple signaling pathways leading to the pathogenesis and development of DN.

The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/angiotensin 1–7 (A1–7)/MAS axis and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67)/gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signal both exist in the islet and play important roles in regulating blood glucose metabolism. It has been reported that the activation of ACE2 in the brain increases GABA expression to improve biological effects; however, it is unclear whether there is functional correlation between the ACE2/A1–7/MAS axis and GAD67/GABA signal in the islet. In this study, we showed that the ACE2/A1–7/MAS and GABA signaling systems decreased in the islet of different metabolic stress models. In ACE2-knockout mice, we found that GAD67 and GABA expression decreased significantly, which was reversed by exogenous administration of A1–7. Furthermore, A1–7 mediated PDX1 and AKT activation was inhibited by allylglycine (a specific GAD67 inhibitor) in MIN6 cells. Moreover, giving A1–7 and GABA could significantly reduce beta-cell dedifferentiation and improved glucose metabolism during metabolic stress in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, our study reveals that the ACE2/A1–7/MAS axis improves beta-cell function through regulating GAD67/GABA signal in beta cells and that up-regulating the ACE2/A1–7/MAS axis and GABA signals delays the development of obesity-induced diabetes.

Indole is a microbial metabolite produced by the gut microbiota through the degradation of dietary tryptophan, known for its well‐established anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In this study, we collected fecal samples from mice fed a high‐fat diet (HFD) and those on a standard diet (SD), then conducted 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze their gut microbiota. The analysis revealed distinct differences in the dominant bacterial species between the two groups, with a significant decrease in indole‐producing probiotics in the HFD mice compared to the SD group. Then we administered oral indole treatment to male C57BL/6J mice with HFD‐induced NAFLD and observed a significant improvement in hepatic steatosis and inflammation. Notably, indole alleviated the HFD‐induced decline in serum Angiotensin‐(1–7) [Ang‐(1–7)] levels and Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression. To further investigate the role of indole and ACE2 in NAFLD, we conducted experiments using ACE2 knockout (ACE2KO) mice that were also induced with HFD‐induced NAFLD and treated with indole. Interestingly, the protective effects of indole were compromised in the absence of ACE2. In HepG2 cells, indole similarly stimulated ACE2 expression and, in an ACE2‐dependent manner, reduced ROS generation, maintained mitochondrial membrane potential stability, and increased SIRT3 expression. In summary, our results highlight the formation of a biologically active gut‐liver axis between the gut microbiota and the liver through the tryptophan metabolite indole, which mitigates NAFLD in an ACE2‐dependent manner. Elevating dietary tryptophan and increasing indole levels may represent an effective approach for preventing and treating NAFLD.

The gastrointestinal tract plays a vital role in the occurrence and treatment of metabolic diseases. Recent studies have convincingly demonstrated a bidirectional axis of communication between the gut and islets, enabling the gut to influence glucose metabolism and energy homeostasis in animals strongly. The ‘gut–islet axis’ is an essential endocrine signal axis that regulates islet function through the dialogue between intestinal microecology and endocrine metabolism. The discovery of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1), gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) and other gut hormones has initially set up a bridge between gut and islet cells. However, the influence of other factors remains largely unknown, such as the homeostasis of the gut microbiota and the integrity of the gut barrier. Although gut microbiota primarily resides and affect intestinal function, they also affect extra‐intestinal organs by absorbing and transferring metabolites derived from microorganisms. As a result of this transfer, islets may be continuously exposed to gut‐derived metabolites and components. Changes in the composition of gut microbiota can damage the intestinal barrier function to varying degrees, resulting in increased intestinal permeability to bacteria and their derivatives. All these changes contribute to the severe disturbance of critical metabolic pathways in peripheral tissues and organs. In this review, we have outlined the different gut–islet axis signalling mechanisms associated with metabolism and summarized the latest progress in the complex signalling molecules of the gut and gut microbiota. In addition, we will discuss the impact of the gut renin–angiotensin system (RAS) on the various components of the gut–islet axis that regulate energy and glucose homeostasis. This work also indicates that therapeutic approaches aiming to restore gut microbial homeostasis, such as probiotics and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), have shown great potential in improving treatment outcomes, enhancing patient prognosis and slowing down disease progression. Future research should further uncover the molecular links between the gut–islet axis and the gut microbiota and explore individualized microbial treatment strategies, which will provide an innovative perspective and approach for the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases.