Effects of CGRP receptor antagonism on glucose and bone metabolism in mice with diet-induced obesity

The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and its receptor, calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CLR) complexing with receptor activity-modifiying protein 1 (RAMP1), have been shown to be crucially involved in the pathogenesis of migraine. However, CGRP also plays a pivotal role in regulating bone turnover and was suggested to contribute to the development of the metabolic syndrome. Therefore, our study was designed to characterize the effects of CGRP antagonism on bone and glucose metabolism in a murine model of diet-induced obesity (DIO). A subcutaneous pellet releasing the CGRP receptor antagonist BIBN 4096 (BIBN; olcegepant) was implanted in WT mice with DIO. Metabolic effects were assessed through body- and organ-weights, oral glucose tolerance (oGT), serum lipids, and gene-expression studies. Bone turnover was assessed through histomorphometry of non-decalcified bone sections and analyses of bone turnover markers in serum samples. BIBN treatment did not alter body weight gain or the levels of serum lipids including triacylglycerol and cholesterol during DIO. BIBN led to a moderate improvement of oGT which was accompanied by an increased expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase in the liver. In skeletal tissue, BIBN treatment resulted in reduced bone volume. This was explained by decreased parameters of bone formation whereas bone resorption was not affected. Our results indicate that inhibition of CGRP signaling only moderately affects glucose metabolism during DIO but significantly impairs bone formation. As novel agents blocking CGRP or its receptor are currently introduced clinically for the treatment of migraine disorders, their potential negative impact on bone metabolism requires further clinical studies. •A model of CGRP antagonism in mice with diet-induced obesity is presented•CGRP antagonism induces the hepatic expression of inflammatory cytokines and markers of fatty acid synthesis in this model.•CGRP antagonism does not affect systemic glucose and lipid metabolism in this model•CGRP antagonism reduces bone mass through decreasing bone formation in mice with diet-induced obesity•Patients receiving CGRP blockers may require the assessment of bone status