Beyond the human realm, fruit bats share a love for sugar, consuming up to twice their body weight in sugary fruit daily. Unlike humans, fruit bats efficiently manage a sugar-rich diet, swiftly lowering their blood sugar compared to bats that primarily feed on insects. Intrigued by this metabolic prowess, a team of biologists and bioengineers embarked on a unique quest, delving into the genetics of fruit bats to explore unconventional avenues for diabetes therapy.
The research, recently published in Nature Communications, involved analyzing the DNA of individual cells from the Jamaican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) and the insect-eating big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). The study aimed to identify genetic and cellular variances between fruit-eating and insect-eating bats, focusing on key organs involved in metabolic disease: the pancreas and the kidney.
In the pancreas, responsible for regulating blood sugar and appetite, the team discovered that Jamaican fruit bats possess more insulin-producing and glucagon-producing cells than their insect-eating counterparts. Additionally, regulatory DNA in fruit bat pancreatic cells primes them for insulin and glucagon production, aiding in maintaining balanced blood sugar levels, even during high sugar consumption.
Examining the kidneys, which filter metabolic waste and maintain fluid balance, revealed adaptations in fruit bat kidney cells. Jamaican fruit bats adjusted the composition of their kidney cells to handle large water volumes from fruit consumption while retaining low salt levels. This adaptation reduces the concentration of urine, ensuring it is more diluted compared to big brown bats.
Considering the significant economic impact of diabetes, with the U.S. spending over $412.9 billion in 2022 on associated costs, the study underscores the potential of leveraging nature, specifically non-model organisms like fruit bats, to develop novel diabetes treatments. While the findings present promising therapeutic targets, further research is essential to determine the applicability of fruit bat DNA sequences in understanding, managing, or curing diabetes in humans. The team plans to explore additional organs involved in metabolism and is currently testing fruit bat regulatory DNA sequences in mice to evaluate their impact on glucose management.
