Glucose-stimulated Insulin Secretion In Beta-cells Research Articles

NGF effects promote the maturation of rat pancreatic beta cells by regulating GLUT2 levels and distribution, and glucokinase activity.

The nerve growth factor (NGF) participates in cell survival and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) processes in rat adult beta cells. GSIS is a complex process in which metabolic events and ionic channel activity are finely coupled. GLUT2 and glucokinase (GK) play central roles in GSIS by regulating the rate of the glycolytic pathway. The biphasic release of insulin upon glucose stimulation characterizes mature adult beta cells. On the other hand, beta cells obtained from neonatal, suckling, and weaning rats are considered immature because they secrete low levels of insulin and do not increase insulin secretion in response to high glucose. The weaning of rats (at postnatal day 20 in laboratory conditions) involves a dietary transition from maternal milk to standard chow. It is characterized by increased basal plasma glucose levels and insulin levels, which we consider physiological insulin resistance. On the other hand, we have observed that incubating rat beta cells with NGF increases GSIS by increasing calcium currents in neonatal cells. In this work, we studied the effects of NGF on the regulation of cellular distribution and activity of GLUT2 and GK to explore its potential role in the maturation of GSIS in beta cells from P20 rats. Pancreatic islet cells from both adult and P20 rats were isolated and incubated with 5.6 mM or 15.6 mM glucose with and without NGF for 4 hours. Specific immunofluorescence assays were conducted following the incubation period to detect insulin and GLUT2. Additionally, we measured glucose uptake, glucokinase activity, and insulin secretion assays at 5.6 mM or 15.6 mM glucose concentrations. We observed an age-dependent variation in the distribution of GLUT2 in pancreatic beta cells and found that glucose plays a regulatory role in GLUT2 distribution independently of age. Moreover, NGF increases GLUT2 abundance, glucose uptake, and GSIS in P20 beta cells and GK activity in adult beta cells. Our results suggest that besides increasing calcium currents, NGF regulates metabolic components of the GSIS, thereby contributing to the maturation process of pancreatic beta cells.

Natural Compound α-PGG and Its Synthetic Derivative 6Cl-TGQ Alter Insulin Secretion: Evidence for Diminishing Glucose Uptake as a Mechanism.

PurposePreviously we showed that natural compound α-penta-galloyl-glucose (α-PGG) and its synthetic derivative 6-chloro-6-deoxy-1,2,3,4-tetra-O-galloyl-α-D-glucopyranose (6Cl-TGQ) act to improve insulin signaling in adipocytes by increasing glucose transport. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of actions of α-PGG and 6Cl-TGQ on insulin secretion.MethodsMouse islets and/or INS-1832/13 beta-cells were used to test the effects of our compounds on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i using fura-2AM, glucose transport activity via a radioactive glucose uptake assay, intracellular ATP/ADP, and extracellular acidification (ECAR) and mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates (OCAR) using Seahorse metabolic analysis.ResultsBoth compounds reduced GSIS in beta-cells without negatively affecting cell viability. The compounds primarily diminished glucose uptake into islets and beta-cells. Despite insulin-like effects in the peripheral tissues, these compounds do not act through the insulin receptor in islets. Further interrogation of the stimulus-secretion pathway showed that all the key metabolic factors involved in GSIS including ECAR, OCAR, ATP/ADP ratios, and [Ca2+]i of INS-1832/13 cells were diminished after the compound treatment.ConclusionThe compounds suppress glucose uptake of the beta-cells, which consequently slows down the rates of glycolysis and ATP synthesis, leading to decrease in [Ca2+]i and GSIS. The difference between adipocytes and beta-cells in effects on glucose uptake is of great interest. Further structural and functional modifications could produce new compounds with optimized therapeutic potentials for different target cells. The higher potency of synthetic 6Cl-TGQ in enhancing insulin signaling in adipocytes but lower potency in reducing glucose uptake in beta-cells compared to α-PGG suggests the feasibility of such an approach.

Acyl-CoA Synthetase Inhibition Protects Clonal Pancreatic Beta-cell from Effects of Chronic Excess Nutrients

Abstract Objectives A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) gene is strongly associated with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), and deletion of this SNP has been shown to reduce long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 5 (ACSL5) mRNA level. Previous research in our lab has shown chronic exposure to excess nutrients (glucose and fatty acid (FA)) increases lipid droplets in beta-cells and causes basal insulin hypersecretion, left-shifted glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), blunted maximal GSIS and reduced insulin content. We tested the efficacy of a known phenylpyrazole-carboxamide compound (herein named ADIPO C) to reduce accumulation of intracellular lipid droplets and reverse the left-shift of GSIS in beta-cells. Methods INS-1832/13 cells were cultured in RPMI media containing 10% FBS (source of FA) and either 4 or 11 mM glucose. Insulin was measured by HTRF assay (CisBio). Intracellular lipid was detected by fluorescence microscopy using Nile red. Fluorescent Bodipy-FA was used as a surrogate FA in both ACS activity assays and lipid incorporation into cells. Oxygen consumption rate was measured using the Seahorse ion flux analyzer and intracellular calcium was measured in fura 2 loaded cells mounted on an Olympus confocal microscope. Results Adipo C (10–25 µM) acutely inhibited acyl-CoA synthetase activity by up to 40% in cell homogenates and similarly reduced FA incorporation into neutral lipids in INS-1 (832/13) cells measured using thin layer chromatography. Longer exposure (72 hrs) to ADIPO C significantly decreased intracellular lipid droplets, right-shifted GSIS and increased insulin content in cells cultured in excess nutrients. Cells cultured in excess nutrients exhibited both increased basal oxygen consumption rate and intracellular calcium oscillations, which were both reduced with 72 hrs ADIPO C incubation. Conclusions Based on these results, we conclude that Adipo C has a protective effect on beta-cells exposed to a glucolipotoxic environment and thus may prove to have therapeutic potential in the prevention/treatment of T2D. Funding Sources No funding sources to report.

LDL receptor (LDLR) expression and LDL uptake in human pancreatic beta cells are regulated by statins and PCSK9 - Consequence for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS)

Aim: Statins increase the risk of type-2-diabetes in predisposed individuals. It is not known whether PCSK9 inhibitors may also increase this risk. A massive upregulation of LDLR in beta cells could prove lipotoxic and alter GSIS. We aimed to assess the regulation of LDLR expression and function as well as the effects of LDL uptake on GSIS in beta cells.

Decreased insulin secretion in pregnant rats fed a low protein diet.

Low protein (LP) diet during pregnancy leads to reduced plasma insulin levels in rodents, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Glucose is the primary insulin secretagogue, and enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in beta cells contributes to compensation for insulin resistance and maintenance of glucose homeostasis during pregnancy. In this study, we hypothesized that plasma insulin levels in pregnant rats fed LP diet are reduced due to disrupted GSIS of pancreatic islets. We first confirmed reduced plasma insulin levels, then investigated in vivo insulin secretion by glucose tolerance test and ex vivo GSIS of pancreatic islets in the presence of glucose at different doses, and KCl, glibenclamide, and L-arginine. Main findings include (1) plasma insulin levels were unaltered on day 10, but significantly reduced on days 14-22 of pregnancy in rats fed LP diet compared to those of control (CT) rats; (2) insulin sensitivity was unchanged, but glucose intolerance was more severe in pregnant rats fed LP diet; (3) GSIS in pancreatic islets was lower in LP rats compared to CT rats in the presence of glucose, KCl, and glibenclamide, and the response to L-arginine was abolished in LP rats; and (4) the total insulin content in pancreatic islets and expression of Ins2 were reduced in LP rats, but expression of Gcg was unaltered. These studies demonstrate that decreased GSIS in beta cells of LP rats contributes to reduced plasma insulin levels, which may lead to placental and fetal growth restriction and programs hypertension and other metabolic diseases in offspring.

Serotonin (5-HT) receptor 2b activation augments glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in human and mouse islets of Langerhans.

The Gq-coupled 5-hydroxytryptamine 2B (5-HT2B) receptor is known to regulate the proliferation of islet beta cells during pregnancy. However, the role of serotonin in the control of insulin release is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of the 5-HT2B receptor in the regulation of insulin secretion in mouse and human islets, as well as in clonal INS-1(832/13) cells. Expression of HTR2B mRNA and 5-HT2B protein was examined with quantitative real-time PCR, RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry. α-Methyl serotonin maleate salt (AMS), a serotonin receptor agonist, was employed for robust 5-HT2B receptor activation. Htr2b was silenced with small interfering RNA in INS-1(832/13) cells. Insulin secretion, Ca(2+) response and oxygen consumption rate were determined. Immunohistochemistry revealed that 5-HT2B is expressed in human and mouse islet beta cells. Activation of 5-HT2B receptors by AMS enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in human and mouse islets as well as in INS-1(832/13) cells. Silencing Htr2b in INS-1(832/13) cells led to a 30% reduction in GSIS. 5-HT2B receptor activation produced robust, regular and sustained Ca(2+) oscillations in mouse islets with an increase in both peak distance (period) and time in the active phase as compared with control. Enhanced insulin secretion and Ca(2+) changes induced by AMS coincided with an increase in oxygen consumption in INS-1(832/13) cells. Activation of 5-HT2B receptors stimulates GSIS in beta cells by triggering downstream changes in cellular Ca(2+) flux that enhance mitochondrial metabolism. Our findings suggest that serotonin and the 5-HT2B receptor stimulate insulin release.

Repression of HNF1α-mediated transcription by amino-terminal enhancer of split (AES)

HNF1α (Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1α) is one of the master regulators in pancreatic beta-cell development and function, and the mutations in Hnf1α are the most common monogenic causes of diabetes mellitus. As a member of the POU transcription factor family, HNF1α exerts its gene regulatory function through various molecular interactions; however, there is a paucity of knowledge in their functional complex formation. In this study, we identified the Groucho protein AES (Amino-terminal Enhancer of Split) as a HNF1α-specific physical binding partner and functional repressor of HNF1α-mediated transcription, which has a direct link to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in beta-cells that is impaired in the HNF1α mutation-driven diabetes.

Deletion of ARNT/HIF1β in pancreatic beta cells does not impair glucose homeostasis in mice, but is associated with defective glucose sensing ex vivo

It has been suggested that the transcription factor ARNT/HIF1β is critical for maintaining in vivo glucose homeostasis and pancreatic beta cell glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Our goal was to gain more insights into the metabolic defects seen after the loss of ARNT/HIF1β in beta cells. The in vivo and in vitro consequences of the loss of ARNT/HIF1β were investigated in beta cell specific Arnt/Hif1β knockout mice (β-Arnt (fl/fl/Cre) mice). The only in vivo defects found in β-Arnt (fl/fl/Cre) mice were significant increases in the respiratory exchange ratio and in vivo carbohydrate oxidation, and a decrease in lipid oxidation. The mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate was unaltered in mouse β-Arnt (fl/fl/Cre) islets upon glucose stimulation. β-Arnt (fl/fl/Cre) islets had an impairment in the glucose-stimulated increase in Ca(2+) signalling and a reduced insulin secretory response to glucose in the presence of KCl and diazoxide. The glucose-stimulated increase in the NADPH/NADP(+) ratio was reduced in β-Arnt (fl/fl/Cre) islets. The reduced GSIS and NADPH/NADP(+) levels in β-Arnt (fl/fl/Cre) islets could be rescued by treatment with membrane-permeable tricarboxylic acid intermediates. Small interfering (si)RNA mediated knockdown of ARNT/HIF1β in human islets also inhibited GSIS. These results suggest that the regulation of GSIS by the KATP channel-dependent and -independent pathways is affected by the loss of ARNT/HIF1β in islets. This study provides three new insights into the role of ARNT/HIF1β in beta cells: (1) ARNT/HIF1β deletion in mice impairs GSIS ex vivo; (2) β-Arnt (fl/fl/Cre) mice have an increased respiratory exchange ratio; and (3) ARNT/HIF1β is required for GSIS in human islets.

Deficiency of APPL1 in mice impairs glucose-stimulated insulin secretion through inhibition of pancreatic beta cell mitochondrial function

Adaptor protein, phosphotyrosine interaction, pleckstrin homology domain and leucine zipper containing 1 (APPL1) is an adapter protein that positively mediates adiponectin signalling. Deficiency of APPL1 in the target tissues of insulin induces insulin resistance. We therefore aimed, in the present study, to determine its role in regulating pancreatic beta cell function. A hyperglycaemic clamp test was performed to determine insulin secretion in APPL1 knockout (KO) mice. Glucose- and adiponectin-induced insulin release was measured in islets from APPL1 KO mice or INS-1(832/13) cells with either APPL1 knockdown or overproduction. RT-PCR and western blotting were conducted to analyse gene expression and protein abundance. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR), ATP production and mitochondrial membrane potential were assayed to evaluate mitochondrial function. APPL1 is highly expressed in pancreatic islets, but its levels are decreased in mice fed a high-fat diet and db/db mice compared with controls. Deletion of the Appl1 gene leads to impairment of both the first and second phases of insulin secretion during hyperglycaemic clamp tests. In addition, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) is significantly decreased in islets from APPL1 KO mice. Conversely, overproduction of APPL1 leads to an increase in GSIS in beta cells. In addition, expression levels of several genes involved in insulin production, mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial OCR, ATP production and mitochondrial membrane potential are reduced significantly in APPL1-knockdown beta cells. Moreover, suppression or overexproduction of APPL1 inhibits or stimulates adiponectin-potentiated GSIS in beta cells, respectively. Our study demonstrates the roles of APPL1 in regulating GSIS and mitochondrial function in pancreatic beta cells, which implicates APPL1 as a therapeutic target in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

SREBP‐1c, Pdx‐1, and GLP‐1R involved in palmitate–EPA regulated glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion in INS‐1 cells

Impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) caused by glucolipotoxicity is an essential feature in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Palmitate and eicosapentaenoate (EPA), because of their lipotoxicity and protection effect, were found to impair or restore the GSIS in beta cells. Furthermore, palmitate was found to up-regulate the expression level of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c and down-regulate the levels of pancreatic and duodenal homeobox (Pdx)-1 and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in INS-1 cells. To investigate the underlying mechanism, the lentiviral system was used to knock-down or over-express SREBP-1c and Pdx-1, respectively. It was found that palmitate failed to suppress the expression of Pdx-1 and GLP-1R in SREBP-1c-deficient INS-1 cells. Moreover, down-regulation of Pdx-1 could cause the low expression of GLP-1R with/without palmitate treatment. Additionally, either SREBP-1c down-regulation or Pdx-1 over-expression could partially alleviate palmitate-induced GSIS impairment. These results suggested that sequent SREBP-1c-Pdx-1-GLP-1R signal pathway was involved in the palmitate-caused GSIS impairment in beta cells.

Age‐associated loss of Sirt1‐mediated enhancement of glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion in beta cell‐specific Sirt1‐overexpressing (BESTO) mice

The Sir2 (silent information regulator 2) family of NAD-dependent deacetylases regulates aging and longevity across a wide variety of organisms, including yeast, worms, and flies. In mammals, the Sir2 ortholog Sirt1 promotes fat mobilization, fatty acid oxidation, glucose production, and insulin secretion in response to nutrient availability. We previously reported that an increased dosage of Sirt1 in pancreatic beta cells enhances glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and improves glucose tolerance in beta cell-specific Sirt1-overexpressing (BESTO) transgenic mice at 3 and 8 months of age. Here, we report that as this same cohort of BESTO mice reaches 18-24 months of age, the GSIS regulated by Sirt1 through repression of Ucp2 is blunted. Increased body weight and hyperlipidemia alone, which are observed in aged males and also induced by a Western-style high-fat diet, are not enough to abolish the positive effects of Sirt1 on beta cell function. Interestingly, plasma levels of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), an important metabolite for the maintenance of normal NAD biosynthesis and GSIS in beta cells, are significantly reduced in aged BESTO mice. Furthermore, NMN administration restores enhanced GSIS and improved glucose tolerance in the aged BESTO females, suggesting that Sirt1 activity decreases with advanced age due to a decline in systemic NAD biosynthesis. These findings provide insight into the age-dependent regulation of Sirt1 activity and suggest that enhancement of systemic NAD biosynthesis and Sirt1 activity in tissues such as beta cells may be an effective therapeutic intervention for age-associated metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes.

Role of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Coactivator-1α in the Transcriptional Regulation of the Human Uncoupling Protein 2 Gene in INS-1E Cells

A role of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) as negative modulator of insulin secretion has been suggested, but the transcriptional pathways regulating beta-cell UCP2 gene expression have been established in rodents only. We show here that the underlying sequence motifs are not conserved in the human gene and provide evidence for regulatory mechanisms involving the transcriptional cofactor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1alpha). PGC-1alpha potentiates thyroid hormone (T(3))-mediated transcriptional activation of the human UCP2 gene in INS-1E cells. Two thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) located at -322/-317 (TRE1) and -170/-165 (TRE2) were identified, and mutation of either TRE1 or TRE2 abrogated the stimulatory effect of T(3) treatment. Furthermore, two E-box motifs at -911/-906 (E1) and -743/-738 (E2) are involved in the regulation of UCP2 gene expression by sterol regulatory element binding protein isoforms (SREBP)-1a, -1c, and -2. Mutational analysis revealed that the presence of either E1 or E2 is sufficient to mediate activation of UCP2 gene transcription by nuclear active SREBPs. PGC-1alpha coactivates liver X receptor-mediated expression of SREBP-1c as well as dexamethasone-stimulated SREBP-2 expression in INS-1E cells. These transcriptional responses are antagonized by orphan nuclear receptor short heterodimer partner overexpression, which might explain its positive effects on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in beta-cells overexpressing UCP2. We also provide evidence that despite a lack of sequence homology within the regulatory region, the principal mechanisms regulating UCP2 gene expression are similar in rats and humans, being consistent with a role for UCP2 as a modulator of insulin secretion in humans.

13C NMR Isotopomer Analysis of Anaplerotic Pathways in INS-1 Cells

Anaplerotic flux into the Kreb's cycle is crucial for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells. However, the regulation of flux through various anaplerotic pathways in response to combinations of physiologically relevant substrates and its impact on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is unclear. Because different pathways of anaplerosis generate distinct products, they may differentially modulate the insulin secretory response. To examine this question, we applied 13C-isotopomer analysis to quantify flux through three anaplerotic pathways: 1) pyruvate carboxylase of pyruvate derived from glycolytic sources; 2) pyruvate carboxylase of pyruvate derived from nonglycolytic sources; and 3) glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). At substimulatory glucose, anaplerotic flux rate in the clonal INS-1 832/13 cells was approximately 40% of Kreb's cycle flux, with similar contributions from each pathway. Increasing glucose to 15 mm stimulated insulin secretion approximately 4-fold, and was associated with a approximately 4-fold increase in anaplerotic flux that could mostly be attributed to an increase in PC flux. In contrast, the addition of glutamine to the perfusion media stimulated GDH flux approximately 6-fold at both glucose concentrations without affecting insulin secretion rates. In conclusion, these data support the hypothesis that a signal generated by anaplerosis from increased pyruvate carboxylase flux is essential for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in beta-cells and that anaplerosis through GDH does not play a major role in this process.

The role of 12-lipoxygenase in pancreatic -cells (Review).

Leukocyte type 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA; C20:4) to 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE) and linoleic acid (LA; C18:2) to 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HPODE). Previous studies have demonstrated that 12-LO, but not 5- or 15-lipoxygenase (5-LO, 15-LO respectively), is specifically expressed in pancreatic -cells and is involved in regulating glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Lipoxygenase products also have been linked with inflammatory pathways in endothelial cells, kidney mesangial cells, inflammatory bowel disease, and corneal epithelial cells. Therefore, 12-LO may play a role in cytokine mediated inflammation in pancreatic beta-cells (i.e. beta -cell dysfunction and cytotoxicity). Cytokines such as IL-1 stimulate both de novo 12-LO protein synthesis and enzyme activity in pancreatic beta-cells. The products generated by 12-LO may ultimately be involved in cellular events that lead to lipid peroxidation. Hydroperoxide and free radical production in beta-cells can activate intracellular signaling pathways that lead to cell death or may directly damage mitochondrial and plasma membranes. Increased 12-LO expression has also been found in islets from prediabetic Zucker fatty rats, a model that demonstrates insulin secretory defects similar to human type 2 diabetes. In this review, we present an overview of the 12-LO pathway in regulating glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in beta-cells as well as more recent data which supports the hypothesis that the 12-LO pathway participates in cytokine mediated beta-cell dysfunction and cytotoxicity.