Abstract In type 1 diabetes (T1D), inflammation and oxidative stress in pancreatic islets amplifies various post-translational modifications (PTMs) of self-proteins. The loss of immune tolerance to islet PTMs triggers an autoreactive T cell response and contributes to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in T1D. The major function of beta cells is to secret insulin in response to glucose uptake in order to maintain glucose homeostasis. In this study, we identify autoantibodies against to beta subunit of prolyl-4-hydroxylase (P4Hb; native and carbonylated form) and glucokinase (GK; native and citrullinated form) in both human T1D and murine models. Glucokinase serves as a glucose sensor to initiate glycolysis and insulin signaling in beta cells. P4Hb is required for the accurate folding of insulin. By mass spectrometry, six carbonyl residues and eleven citrulline residues were mapped in oxidative rhP4Hb and PAD-treated rhGK, respectively. Of interest, autoreactive CD4+ T cells to citrullinated GK epitopes are present in the circulation of T1D patients. In regards to glucose metabolism, the carbonylated-P4Hb is amplified in stressed human islets coincident with decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and disturb (increase) proinsulin to insulin ratios. The citrullination alters GK biologic activity (Km) and suppresses glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Moreover, PAD2/4 inhibitors can partially restore IFNg +IL-1b suppressed glucose stimulated insulin secretion in INS-1E beta cells. Our studies implicate the crucial enzymes, glucokinase and P4Hb, as the biomarkers, providing new insights into creating autoantigens and define the impact of metabolic PTMs on the aberrant beta cell functions of T1D. This research was supported by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Innovative Grant to M.J.M., 2-SRA-2018-551-S-B to E.A.J.), and National Institutes of Health (DK104205-01 to K.H. and M.J.M.).
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