Associations of plasma sphingolipid profiles with insulin response during oral glucose testing in Icelandic horses.
Abstract: Sphingolipids modulate insulin sensitivity in mammals. Increased synthesis of ceramides is linked to decreased insulin sensitivity of tissues. Conversely, activation of the insulin signaling pathway can downregulate ceramide synthesis. Elucidating the association between sphingolipid metabolism and insulin response during oral glucose testing may help explain the pathophysiology of insulin dysregulation in horses. Objective: Horses with insulin dysregulation will have a plasma sphingolipid profile characterized by increased ceramide concentrations. The plasma sphingolipid profile will have decreased ceramide concentrations after acute activation of the insulin signaling pathway by oral glucose testing. Methods: Twelve Icelandic horses. Methods: Horses were subjected to an oral glucose test (0.5 g/kg body weight glucose), with plasma insulin concentrations measured at 0, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes postglucose administration. Plasma samples were collected at 0 and 120 minutes for sphingolipid profiling using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics analysis. Eighty-three species of sphingolipids were detected, including 3-ketosphinganines, dihydroceramides, ceramides, dihydrosphingomyelins, sphingomyelins, galatosylceramides, glucosylceramides, lactosylceramides, and ceramide-1-phosphates. Results: Glucose administration did not significantly alter plasma sphingolipid profiles. C22:0-ceramide, C24:1-ceramide, C23:0-ceramide, C16:1-sphingomyelin, C22:0-dihydroceramide, and C24:0-ceramide were positively correlated with the insulin response (area under the curve). Conclusions: Positive correlation between the insulin response and sphingolipid concentrations implies upregulated sphingolipid metabolism in insulin dysregulated horses. A high plasma ceramide concentration can indicate insulin dysregulation in horses.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2021-06-08 PubMed ID: 34105193PubMed Central: PMC8295691DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16200Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The article delves into a study about the correlation between sphingolipid levels, particularly ceramides, and insulin response in Icelandic horses. It analyzes if alterations in plasma sphingolipid profiles link to insulin dysregulation, potentially providing valuable insight into pathophysiology of this condition in horses.
Objective
- The primary goal was to observe if horses with insulin dysregulation exhibit a specific plasma sphingolipid profile characterized by increased ceramide concentrations and whether activating the insulin signaling pathway via oral glucose testing results in reduced ceramide levels.
Methods
- Twelve Icelandic horses were subjected to an oral glucose test, with plasma insulin levels measured at specified intervals following glucose intake.
- Plasma samples were collected at the beginning and two hours into the testing for sphingolipid profiling, which was carried out using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics analysis, leading to the identification of 83 species of sphingolipids.
Results
- Despite expectations, glucose administration did not significantly modify the horses’ plasma sphingolipid profiles.
- Certain types of ceramide and sphingomyelin were positively correlated with the insulin response, as quantified by the area under the curve measurement.
Conclusions
- A positive correlation between insulin response and increased sphingolipid concentrations might indicate a surge in the metabolism of sphingolipids in horses battling insulin dysregulation.
- Elevated plasma ceramide concentration could serve as an indicator of insulin dysregulation in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Leung YH, Kenéz Á, Grob AJ, Feige K, Warnken T.
(2021).
Associations of plasma sphingolipid profiles with insulin response during oral glucose testing in Icelandic horses.
J Vet Intern Med, 35(4), 2009-2018.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16200 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hanover, Germany.
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hanover, Germany.
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hanover, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Glucose
- Horse Diseases
- Horses
- Insulin
- Insulin Resistance
- Sphingolipids
- Sphingomyelins
Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors declare no conflict of interest.
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Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Dosi M, Scott L, Payne H, Poldy J, Keen J, McGorum B, Malbon A, Morgan R. Markers of Hepatic Insulin Clearance and Their Association With Steatosis in Hyperinsulinaemic Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jul-Aug;39(4):e70143.
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