Prenatal dexamethasone exposure induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and glucose intolerance of male offspring rats: Role of the epigenetic repression of ACE2

The prevalence of diabetes in children and adolescents has been rising gradually, which is relevant to adverse environment during development, especially prepartum. We aimed to explore the effects of prenatal dexamethasone exposure (PDE) on β-cell function and glucose homeostasis in juvenile offspring rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were subcutaneously administered with dexamethasone [0.1, 0.2, 0.4mg/(kg.d)] from gestational day 9 to 20. PDE impaired glucose tolerance in the male offspring rather than the females. In male offspring, PDE impaired the development and function of β-cells, accompanied with lower H3K9ac, H3K14ac and H3K27ac levels in the promoter region of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as well as suppressed ACE2 expression. Meanwhile, PDE increased expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in fetal pancreas. Dexamethasone also inhibited ACE2 expression and insulin production in vitro. Recombinant expression of ACE2 restored insulin production inhibited by dexamethasone. In addition, dexamethasone activated GR and HDAC3, increased protein interaction of GR with HDAC3, and promoted the binding of GR-HDAC3 complex to ACE2 promoter region. Both RU486 and TSA abolished dexamethasone-induced decline of histone acetylation and ACE2 expression. In summary, suppression of ACE2 is involved in PDE induced β-cell dysfunction and glucose intolerance in juvenile male offspring rats.