Preprint Review Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

The ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ of Gluconeogenesis: Early-Life Adversity, Later Life Stress, and Metabolic Disturbances

Version 1 : Received: 28 February 2021 / Approved: 2 March 2021 / Online: 2 March 2021 (12:38:47 CET)
Version 2 : Received: 19 March 2021 / Approved: 23 March 2021 / Online: 23 March 2021 (09:04:41 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Seal, S.V.; Turner, J.D. The ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ of Gluconeogenesis: Early Life Adversity, Later Life Stress, and Metabolic Disturbances. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 3344. Seal, S.V.; Turner, J.D. The ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ of Gluconeogenesis: Early Life Adversity, Later Life Stress, and Metabolic Disturbances. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 3344.

Abstract

The physiological response to a psychological stressor broadly impacts energy metabolism. Inversely, changes in energy availability affect the physiological response to the stressor in terms of hypothalamus, pituitary adrenal gland axis and sympathetic nervous system activation upon exposure to a stressor. Glucocorticoids, the endpoint of the HPA axis, are critical checkpoints in endocrine control of energy homeostasis. Glucocorticoid actions have been linked to many severe metabolic diseases including obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Glucocorticoids, through the glucocorticoid receptor, activate transcription of many genes associated with glucose and lipid regulatory pathways and thereby intricately control both physiological and pathophysiological systemic energy homeostasis. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of glucocorticoid functions in energy metabolism and systemic metabolic dysfunction, particularly focusing on glucose and lipid metabolism. There are many elements in the external environment that induce lifelong changes in the HPA axis stress response and glucocorticoid levels, the most prominent are early-life adversity, or exposure to traumatic stress. We hypothesise that when the HPA axis is so disturbed after early-life adversity, it will fundamentally alter hepatic gluconeogenesis, inducing hyperglycaemia, and hence crystalise the significant lifelong risk of developing either the metabolic syndrome, or type 2 diabetes. This gives a “Jekyll and Hyde” role to gluconeogenesis, providing the necessary energy in situations of acute stress, but driving towards pathophysiological consequences when the HPA axis has been altered.

Keywords

glucose; glycogen; gluconeogenesis; early life adversity; acute stress; chronic stress; psychosocial stress; hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis; ageing; immuno-senescence; inflamm-ageing; Developmental origins of health and disease

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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