Abstract (eng)
Current numbers for the prevalence of overweight and obesity demonstrate an epidemic extent, indicating an urgent need for efficient measures. Since overweight arises from a positive energy balance, an optimization of foods to enhance satiety is a promising non-invasive strategy.
Proteins and certain free amino acids are known to stimulate mechanisms of satiety and gastric acid secretion. Most of the L amino acids are described as bitter-tasting, and the bitter-tasting compound caffeine has been shown to stimulate gastric acid secretion via T2R signaling. Since application of bitter-tasting compounds to healthy subjects promoted satiety, the question arises if also bitter tasting amino acids induce satiety. Therefore, the present PhD thesis aimed to identify a possible link between mechanisms regulating satiety and gastric acid secretion, induced by bitter tasting amino acids.
For this purpose, in Part I of the present thesis, methods for characterizing and investigating a link between gastric acid secretion and satiety were established. Thus, in vitro, a T2R43 mediated proton secretion in HGT-1 cells was detected by a CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out approach. Furthermore, an influence on satiety induced by the bitter-masking compound HED was demonstrated in a human intervention study. In addition, treatment with HED regulated gas-tric motility in human stomach specimens. In a mechanistical approach studying gastric mecha-nisms of satiety, HGT-1 cells were established as a suitable cell model for analyzing peripheral serotonin release after treatment with L arginine.
In Part II of this thesis, 20 amino acids were tested for their effects on proton secretion in HGT-1 cells and bitter as well as sweet taste intensities of these candidates were assessed by a method-trained panel. Correlation analysis identified bitter taste intensities and molecular weight of L amino acids as key determinants for proton secretion. Furthermore, co-incubation experi-ments of L arginine and L isoleucine with bitter and sweet taste antagonists enlightened a T2R involvement in HGT-1 cells. Moreover, a TAS2R1 knock out by means of CRISPR/Cas9 in HGT-1 cells indicates a role also on a functional level. Since L-arginine induced the most pronounced effect on proton secretion and is also known to increase satiety, this amino acid was chosen for administration in a human intervention study. In this study a fortified wheat protein hydrolysate with L arginine further enhanced the satiating effect induced by the capsaicinoid nonivamide in healthy male subjects.
To summarize, within this PhD thesis, the bitter-tasting amino acid L arginine was identified to regulate a T2R1 mediated secretion of protons in vitro, and to induce mechanisms regulating satiety and food intake in vivo. Whether and to which extend this effect is mediated via gastric acid secretion and T2R signaling has to be verified in healthy subjects.