Aristaless-Related Homeobox Plays a Key Role in Hyperplasia of the Pancreas Islet α–Like Cells in Mice Deficient in Proglucagon-Derived Peptides

Abstract

Defects in glucagon action can cause hyperplasia of islet α-cells, however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely to be elucidated. Mice homozygous for a glucagon-GFP knock-in allele (Gcggfp/gfp) completely lack proglucagon-derived peptides and exhibit hyperplasia of GFP-positive α-like cells. Expression of the transcription factor, aristaless-related homeobox (ARX), is also increased in the Gcggfp/gfp pancreas. Here, we sought to elucidate the role of ARX in the hyperplasia of α-like cells through analyses of two Arx mutant alleles (ArxP355L/Y and Arx [330insGCG]7/Y) that have different levels of impairment of their function. Expression of Gfp and Arx genes was higher and the size and number of islets increased in the Gcggfp/gfp pancreas compared to and Gcggfp/+ pancreas at 2 weeks of age. In male Gcggfp/gfp mice that are hemizygous for the ArxP355L/Y mutation that results in a protein with a P355L amino acid substitution, expression of Gfp mRNA in the pancreas was comparable to that in control Gcggfp/+Arx+/Y mice. The increases in islet size and number were also reduced in these mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the number of GFP-positive cells was comparable in Gcggfp/gfp ArxP355L/Y and Gcggfp/+Arx+/Y mice. These results indicate that the hyperplasia is reduced by introduction of an Arx mutation. ArxP355L/Y mice appeared to be phenotypically normal; however, Arx [330insGCG]7/Y mice that have a mutant ARX protein with expansion of the polyalanine tract had a reduced body size and shortened life span. The number of GFP positive cells was further reduced in the Gcggfp/gfp Arx [330insGCG]7/Y mice. Taken together, our findings show that the function of ARX is one of the key modifiers for hyperplasia of islet α-like cells in the absence of proglucagon-derived peptides.