Inhibition Of Glucose-induced Insulin Release Research Articles

Cervical vagal nerve stimulation impairs glucose tolerance and suppresses insulin release in conscious rats.

Previously, we reported that cervical vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) increases blood glucose levels and inhibits insulin secretion in anesthetized rats through afferent signaling. Since afferent signaling is also thought to mediate the therapeutic effects of VNS in patients with therapy‐refractory epilepsy and major depression, the question arises if patients treated with VNS develop impaired glucose tolerance. Thus, we hypothesized that cervical VNS impairs glucose tolerance in conscious rats. Rats (n = 7) were instrumented with telemetric blood pressure sensors and right‐ or left‐sided cervical vagal nerve stimulators (3 V, 5 Hz, 1 msec pulse duration, 1 h on 1 h off). Glucose tolerance tests (GTTs, 1.5 g dextrose/kg BW, i.p.) were performed after overnight fasting with the stimulators on or off (sham stimulation) in randomized order separated by 3–4 days. Overnight VNS did not alter mean levels of blood pressure or heart rate, but increased fasted blood glucose levels (140 ± 13 mg/dL vs. 109 ± 8 mg/dL, P < 0.05). The area under the blood glucose concentration curves of the GTTs was larger during VNS than sham stimulation (3499 ± 211 mg/dL*h vs. 1810 ± 234 mg/dL*h, P < 0.05). One hour into the GTTs, the serum insulin concentrations had decreased during VNS (−0.57 ± 0.25 ng/mL, P < 0.05) and increased during sham stimulation (+0.71 ± 0.15 ng/mL, P < 0.05) compared to the fasted baseline levels. These results demonstrate that chronic cervical VNS elevates fasted blood glucose levels and impairs glucose tolerance likely through inhibition of glucose‐induced insulin release in conscious rats. It remains to be determined if patients treated with VNS are at greater risk of developing glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes.

Metabolic Imprinting by Maternal Protein Malnourishment Impairs Vagal Activity in Adult Rats

Protein restriction during lactation has been suggested to diminish parasympathetic activity, whereas sympathetic activity is enhanced in adult rats. The present study analyses whether dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system is involved in the impairment of insulin secretion from perinatally undernourished rats. Male neonates were reared by mothers fed a low- (4%) protein (LP group) or normal- (23%) protein diet (NP group). At 81 days of age, LP rats showed less body mass than NP rats (318 ± 4 g versus 370 ± 5 g) (P < 0.001). Fat tissue accumulation decreased in LP [0.8 ± 0.03 g/100 g body weight (BW)] compared to NP rats (1.1 ± 0.04 g/100 g BW) (P < 0.001). LP were glucose-intolerant as registered by the area under the curve of an i.v. glucose tolerance test (37 ± 3) compared to NP rats (29 ± 2) (P < 0.05); however, LP animals showed fasting normoglycaemia (LP, 5.0 ± 0.1; NP, 4.9 ± 0.03 mm) and hypoinsulinaemia (LP, 0.10 ± 0.02 ng/ml; NP, 0.17 ± 0.02 ng/ml). LP also showed glucose tissue uptake 60% higher than NP rats (P < 0.05). Vagus firing rate from LP was lower (7.1 ± 0.8 spikes/5 s) than that in NP rats (12.3 ± 0.7 spikes/5 s) (P < 0.001); however, there was no difference in sympathetic nervous activity. The cholinergic insulinotrophic effect was lower in pancreatic islets from LP (0.07 ± 0.01 ng/min/islet) than in NP rats (0.3 ± 0.06 ng/min/islet), whereas the levels of adrenaline-mediated inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release were similar. Perinatal protein restriction inhibited the activity of the vagus nerve, thus reducing the insulinotrophic effect of parasympathetic pathways on pancreatic β-cells, which inhibit insulin secretion.

Heat shock protein 72 protects insulin-secreting beta cells from lipopolysaccharide-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress

Purpose: Hyperthermia-induced activation of stress response proteins allows cells to withstand metabolic insults. In this study we set out to determine whether insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells was affected by the acute inflammatory response, systemic inflammation-induced hyperglycaemia, and whole-body hyperthermia. Given that systemic-inflammation induces ER stress, we further examined whether hyperthermia can attenuate the extent of LPS-induced ER stress.Materials and methods: Rats were randomised and divided into three treatment groups. Control rats received a 0.9% NaCl solution. Rats in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group received 7.5 mg of LPS/kg. Rats in the whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) + LPS group were exposed to 42 °C for 15 min, followed by injection with 7.5 mg of LPS/kg after 48 h. Glucose-potentiated insulin release and extent of ER stress were measured in beta cells.Results: LPS inhibited glucose-induced insulin release from islet cells and induced the expression of Bip/GRP78, XBP-1, and CHOP transcripts. The inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release and induction of ER stress proteins by LPS was attenuated by WBH.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that LPS-induced systemic inflammation decreased insulin release due to the effects of ER stress proteins on insulin secretion. Furthermore, the induction of ER stress proteins was prevented by pretreating rats with WBH. This may suggest that inhibiting the induction of ER stress proteins through WBH can restore insulin release in various disease states.

Glucose-stimulated Cdc42 Signaling Is Essential for the Second Phase of Insulin Secretion

The small Rho family GTPases Cdc42 and Rac1 have each been shown to function in insulin exocytosis and are presumed to function in actin remodeling and insulin granule mobilization. However, whether either GTPase is required for the mobilization phase of insulin release (second phase) and are linked in a common signaling pathway has remained unknown. Here we demonstrate that small interfering RNA-mediated depletion of Cdc42 from isolated islets results in the selective loss of second phase insulin release. Consistent with a role in this nutrient-dependent phase, Cdc42 activation was detected exclusively in response to D-glucose and was unresponsive to KCl or non-metabolizable glucose analogs in MIN6 beta-cells. Cdc42 activation occurred early in secretion (3 min), whereas Rac1 activation required approximately 15-20 min, suggesting Cdc42 as proximal and Rac1 as distal regulators of second-phase secretion. Importantly, Rac1 activation and function was linked in a common pathway downstream of Cdc42; Cdc42 depletion ablated glucose-induced Rac1 activation, and expression of constitutively active Rac1 in Cdc42-depleted cells functionally restored glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Occurring at a time midway between Cdc42 and Rac1 activations was the phosphorylation of p21-activated-kinase 1 (Pak1), and this phosphorylation event required Cdc42. Moreover, small interfering RNA-mediated Pak1 depletion abolished Rac1 activation and glucose-stimulated insulin release, suggesting that Pak1 may mediate the link between Cdc42 and Rac1 in this pathway. Taken together, these data substantiate the existence of a novel signaling pathway in the islet beta-cell whereby Cdc42 functions as a key proximal transmitter of the glucose signal early in stimulus-secretion coupling to support the later stage of insulin release.

The HND mouse, a nonobese model of type 2 diabetes mellitus with impaired insulin secretion

This study aimed to develop a novel type 2 diabetes model designated the HND (Horio-Niki diabetic) mouse, by transferring diabetogenic genes from wild castaneus mice (Mus musculus castaneus) captured in the Philippines into laboratory mice (C57BL/6J:B6). Offspring from the cross between a wild male and a B6 female were backcrossed to the sire. One male backcross which exhibited fasting hyperglycemia was crossed with a B6 female to comprise the fundamental stock (F0). Thereafter, full-sib mating was performed, and mice with impaired glucose tolerance were selected and bred from the F2 generation. Characterization of the phenotype of HND mice and insulin release from their islets was evaluated with F12 generation males. The male HND mice were lean, and spontaneously exhibited impaired glucose tolerance at a high incidence rate at 6 weeks of age. Their serum insulin levels in response to intraperitoneal glucose were markedly attenuated. However, glucose-induced insulin release from isolated HND islets was not affected. Notably, inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release by epinephrine was more pronounced in HND islets than in B6 islets. Moreover, in vivo treatment of HND mice with the alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine resulted in marked hypoinsulinemic hyperglycemia. We suggest the HND mouse may be a distinctive and useful model for type 2 diabetes with impaired neural control of insulin secretion.

Extracellularly Regulated Kinases 1/2 (p44/42 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases) Phosphorylate Synapsin I and Regulate Insulin Secretion in the MIN6 β-Cell Line and Islets of Langerhans

The p44/p42 MAPKs (ERK1/2) cascade regulates beta-cell nuclear events, which modulates cell differentiation and gene transcription, whereas its implication in processes occurring in the cytoplasm, such as activation of the exocytotic machinery, is still unclear. Using the MIN6 beta-cell line and isolated rat islets of Langerhans, we investigated whether glucose, by activating the ERK1/2 cascade, induces phosphorylation of cytoplasmic proteins implicated in exocytosis of insulin granules such as synapsin I. We observed that the majority of ERK1/2 activity induced by glucose remains in the cytoplasm and physically interacts with synapsin I, allowing phosphorylation of the substrate. Therefore, we reexamined the potential requirement of ERK1/2 for insulin secretion. Blocking activation of ERK1/2 using MEK1/2, the MAPK kinase inhibitor PD98059 or using small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of ERK1 and ERK2 expressions resulted in partial inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release, indicating that ERK1/2 pathway participates also in the regulation of insulin secretion. Moreover, using the pancreatic islet perifusion model, we found that the ERK1/2 activity participates in the first and second phases of insulin release induced by glucose. Taken together, our results demonstrate new aspects of the glucose-dependent actions of ERK1/2 in beta-cells exerted on cytoplasmic proteins, including synapsin I, and participating in the overall glucose-induced insulin secretion.

Ghrelin-regulated glucose homeostasis via inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release in pancreatic islets

Ghrelin-regulated glucose homeostasis via inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release in pancreatic islets

Inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release by 3-O-methyl-D-glucose: enzymatic, metabolic and cationic determinants.

The analog of D-glucose, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, is thought to delay the equilibration of D-glucose concentration across the plasma membrane of pancreatic islet B-cells, but not to exert any marked inhibitory action upon the late phase of glucose-stimulated insulin release. In this study, however, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose, when tested in high concentrations (30-80 mM) was found to cause a rapid, sustained and not rapidly reversible inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release in rat pancreatic islets. In relative terms, the inhibitory action of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose was more marked at low than high concentrations of D-glucose. It could not be attributed to hyperosmolarity and appeared specific for the insulinotropic action of D-glucose, as distinct from non-glucidic nutrient secretagogues. Although 3-O-methyl-D-glucose and D-glucose failed to exert any reciprocal effect upon the steady-state value for the net uptake of these monosaccharides by the islets, the glucose analog inhibited D-[5-3H]glucose utilization and D-[U-14C]glucose oxidation. This coincided with increased 86Rb outflow and decreased 45Ca outflow from prelabelled islets, as well as decreased 45Ca net uptake. A preferential effect of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose upon the first phase of glucose-stimulated insulin release was judged compatible with an altered initial rate of D-glucose entry into islet B-cells. The long-term inhibitory action of the glucose analog upon the metabolic and secretory response to D-glucose, however, may be due, in part at least, to an impaired rate of D-glucose phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of the hexose by beef heart hexokinase and human B-cell glucokinase, as well as by parotid and islet homogenates, was indeed inhibited by 3-O-methyl-D-glucose. The relationship between insulin release and D-glucose utilization or oxidation in the presence of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose was not different from that otherwise observed at increasing concentrations of either D-glucose or D-mannoheptulose. It is concluded, therefore, that 3-O-methyl-D-glucose adversely affects the metabolism and insulinotropic action of D-glucose by a mechanism largely unrelated to changes in the intracellular concentration of the latter hexose.

Engineered Peptides Corresponding to Segments of the H3 Domain of Syntaxin Inhibit Insulin Release both in Intact and Permeabilized Mouse Pancreatic β Cells

Syntaxin is one of the proteins involved in the exocytotic event through sequential binding to specific proteins, including SNAP25 and synaptobrevin. In a previous work in digitonin-permeabilized β cells, we characterized the functional role of two segments: synA and synB of the H3 domain of syntaxin. As a continuation of these experiments in the present study we have initially outlined a zone of 17 residues as the very effective uncoupling element of the synA segment. Further functional studies have been accomplished in intact pancreatic β cells with a specific myristoylated (myr) 13-mer peptide comprised in this active zone. These experiments showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release (IC50=4 μM) of this engineered peptide that was specific since a myristoylated random peptide with the same composition was ineffective. A second myristoylated 13-mer peptide comprised into the synB segment was shown to be even more potent promoting a selective inhibition of insulin release. These data show for the first time, that nutrient-induced secretory process can be specifically uncoupled in intact β cells demonstrating at the same time that syntaxin plays a central role in this mechanism.

Effect of n-hexacosanol on insulin secretion in the rat

n-Hexacosanol, a long-chain satured fatty alcohol extracted from Hygrophyla erecta Hochr., has been recently shown to exert neurotrophic properties on central neurons and to stimulate phagocytosis in macrophages. The present work was designed to investigate the effects of hexacosanol on stimulated insulin secretion in vivo and in vitro. In anaesthetized rats, hexacosanol (2 mg/kg i.p.) induced a reduction of the insulin response to an intravenous glucose tolerance test (0.3 g/kg) with a consequent increase in hyperglycaemia. In vitro, in the isolated perfused pancreas, hexacosanol at the concentration of 10 −7 M clearly reduced the two phases of glucose-induced insulin secretion. At the higher concentration (10 −5 M), hexacosanol was no longer able to exert an inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release; surprisingly a stimulating effect occurred which was of the same magnitude as in control experiments with Tween alone, at the concentration used to dissolve hexacosanol. In isolated perifused islets, 22 mM glucose-stimulated insulin release was also inhibited by hexacosanol at the concentrations of 10 −9 M and 10 −7 M, but not at 10 −5 M. In contrast, insulin secretion induced by arginine (20 mM) was not affected by the different concentrations of hexacosanol. It is concluded that n-hexacosanol at 10 −9 M and 10 −7 M exerts an inhibitory effect on insulin secretion stimulated by glucose in vivo and in vitro in the rat, suggesting a direct effect on islets of Langerhans.

Nitric oxide opens ATP-sensitive K+ channels through suppression of phosphofructokinase activity and inhibits glucose-induced insulin release in pancreatic beta cells.

Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be a potent messenger in the intracellular signal transduction system in many tissues. In pancreatic beta cells, NO has been reported to be formed from L-arginine through NO synthase. To elucidate the effect of NO on insulin secretion and to investigate the intracellular mechanism of its effect, we have used sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a NO donor. SNP inhibited glucose-induced insulin secretion in a dose-dependent manner, and its effect was reversed by hemoglobin, a known NO scavenger. However, glyceraldehyde-induced insulin secretion was not affected by SNP. Since the closure of ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP channel) has been established as a key step in glucose-induced insulin secretion, we have directly assessed the effect of SNP on KATP channel activity using the patch clamp technique. The KATP channel activity reduced by glucose was found to be reversibly activated by the addition of SNP, and this activation was able to be similarly reproduced by applying S-Nitroso-N-acetyl-DL-penicillamine (SNAP), another NO generator. Furthermore, these activating effects were completely eliminated by hemoglobin, in accordance with the reversibility in inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release. However, SNP could not affect the KATP channel suppression by ATP applied to the inside of the plasma membrane. The activation of the KATP channel by NO, therefore, seems to be due to the decreased ATP production attributable to impairment of glucose metabolism in beta cells. Since SNP exhibited no effect on glyceraldehyde-induced KATP channel inhibition, NO may disturb a glycolytic step before glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. The KATP channel activation by 2-deoxyglucose through presumable ATP consumption due to its phosphorylation by glucokinase was, however, not affected even in the presence of SNP. But in the permeabilized beta cells made by exposure to a low concentration (0.02 U/ml) of streptolysin O (open cell-attached configuration), SNP reopens KATP channels which have been eliminated by fructose-6-phosphate, while this effect was not observed in the KATP channels inhibited by fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. On the other hand, in rat ventricular myocyte KATP channels were not activated by SNP even under a low concentration of glucose. From these observations, the inhibition of phosphofructokinase activity is probably the site responsible for the impairment of glucose metabolism induced by NO in pancreatic beta cells. NO, therefore, seems to be a factor in the deterioration of glucose-induced insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells through a unique intracellular mechanism.

The imidazoline SL 84.0418 shows stereoselectivity in blocking alpha 2-adrenoceptors but not ATP-sensitive K+ channels in pancreatic B-cells.

The novel alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist SL 84.0418 (2-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-propyl-pyrrolo[3, 2,1- hi]-indole hydrochloride) is a racemic mixture of a (-) enantiomer (SL 86.0714) and a (+) enantiomer (SL 86.0715 or deriglidole). It was recently reported to inhibit alpha 2-adrenoceptors and ATP-sensitive K+ channels in mouse pancreatic B-cells, and to increase insulin release. We have now studied the stereospecificity of these responses with isolated mouse islets. Both enantiomers were equipotent in potentiating insulin release induced by 15 mM glucose alone. SL 86.0714 and deriglidole were also equally effective in inhibiting 86Rb efflux from islets perifused with a low-glucose medium, and in reversing the inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release caused by the opening of ATP-sensitive K+ channels with diazoxide. In contrast, deriglidole was approximately 100-fold more potent than SL 86.0714 in reversing the inhibition of insulin release caused by the activation of alpha 2-adrenoceptors with clonidine. The effects of SL 84.0418 are thus stereoselective on alpha 2-adrenoceptors, but not on ATP-sensitive K+ channels of pancreatic B-cells.

In vitro stimulation of insulin release by SL 84.0418, a new α2-adrenoceptor antagonist

SL 84.0418 (2-(4,5-dihydro-1 H-imidazol-2-yl)-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-2-propyl-Pyrrolo[3,2,1- hi]-indole hydrochloride) is a novel α 2-adrenoceptor antagonist which possesses anti-hyperglycaemic properties in vivo. In the present in vitro study, we tested its effects in insulin release from isolated mouse islets. In the presence of 15 mM glucose, SL 84.0418 produced a concentration-dependent (0.1–100 μM) increase of insulin release with a slightly higher potency than tolbutamide. SL 84.0418 antagonized the inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release caused either by the α 2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine or by diazoxide, a selective opener of ATP-sensitive K + channels in the β-cell membrane. Its potency was greater on the inhibition by clonidine than on that by diazoxide, complete antagonism of the inhibition being achieved by 0.9 μM and 6 μM SL 84.0418 respectively. When α 2-adrenoceptors were blocked by the antagonist idazoxan, the low concentrations of SL 84.0418 (0.1-0.3 μM) no longer increased insulin release, whereas the effect of higher concentrations (⩾1 μM) was not affected. SL 84.0418 (⩾1 μM) inhibited 86Rb efflux from islets perifused with a medium containing 3 mM glucose, i.e. under conditions where many ATP-sensitive K + channels are open. It also reduced the acceleration of 86Rb efflux that diazoxide caused in the presence of 6 mM glucose. Moreover, SL 84.0418 directly inhibited ATP-sensitive K + currents measured in single β-cells by the whole-cell mode of the patch-clamp technique. It is concluded that two mechanisms contribute to the stimulation of insulin release induced by SL 84.0418 in vitro: the small increase produced by low concentrations of the drug may be due to blockade of α 2-adrenoceptors and the large increase produced by higher concentrations may result from blockade of ATP-sensitive K + channels.

Stimulation by prostaglandin E2 of a high-affinity GTPase in the secretory granules of normal rat and human pancreatic islets

Recent reports of a pertussis-toxin (Ptx)-sensitive inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in transformed beta-cells prompted us to look for the presence of prostaglandin-regulatable GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) on the secretory granules of normal pancreatic islets. PGE2 (but not PGF2 alpha, PGA2, PGB2 or PGD2) stimulated in a concentration-dependent manner a high-affinity GTPase activity in the secretory-granule-enriched fractions of both normal rat and human islets. Similar results were found after sucrose-density-gradient-centrifugation-based isolation of secretory granules to those after a differential-centrifugation procedure. Half-maximal stimulation occurred at 800 nM PGE2, a concentration known to inhibit both phases of glucose-induced insulin secretion from pure beta-cell lines. The GTPase stimulatory effect of PGE2 was blocked virtually totally by Ptx pretreatment; it was not due to an effect on substrate binding since no measurable effect of PGE2 on binding of guanosine 5'-[gamma-[35S]thio]triphosphate was observed in cognate fractions. Other Ptx-sensitive inhibitors of insulin secretion (such as adrenaline or clonidine) also stimulated GTPase activity, suggesting that one (or more) inhibitory exocytotic G-proteins (i.e. a putative GEi) is located on the secretory granules. These studies demonstrate, for the first time in an endocrine gland, the presence of a regulatable G-protein, strategically located on the secretory granules where it might regulate the exocytotic cascade distal to both plasma-membrane events and the generation of soluble mediators of insulin secretion.

Ascorbic acid and insulin secretion in pancreatic islets.

The effect of ascorbic acid on glucose-induced insulin release from single pancreatic islets was measured using a new, ultra-sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent insulin assay. Within 20 s ascorbic acid inhibited insulin secretion; inhibition was dose dependent and completely reversible. There was a 50% inhibition of the secretory response with 200 microM ascorbic acid and 90% inhibition with 400 microM ascorbic acid. The decrease in insulin secretion was recorded as a reduction of the amplitudes of the fast insulin transients, which give rise to the oscillatory nature of insulin secretion. The inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release by ascorbic acid was associated with hyperpolarization of the pancreatic beta-cell. Suppression of glucose-induced membrane depolarization was evident after 20 s, was dose dependent, and was completely reversible. The data here may provide the first explanation of why plasma ascorbate concentrations are tightly controlled.

Nicotinamide partially reverses the interleukin-1β inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release in pancreatic islets

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is known to inhibit glucose-induced insulin release by pancreatic islets. We studied the effect of nicotinamide, an inhibitor of poly[adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose] synthetase and a free-radical scavenger, on this IL-1β-induced inhibition using rat pancreatic islets. In static experiments, groups of five islets were incubated for 24 hours in culture medium CMRL-1066, with or without 50 U/mL IL-1β, in the presence or absence of nicotinamide (dose range, 0 to 50 mmol/L), and then exposed for 1 hour to either 1.4 or 19.4 mmol/L glucose, 10 mmol/L arginine, or 10 μmol/L glyburide. Basal insulin secretion was 183 ± 32 pg/islet/h (mean ± SE, n = 7) and 176 ± 39 (n = 7) in control islets and in islets exposed to 50 U/mL IL-1β, respectively. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly reduced (185 ± 41) in IL-1β-exposed islets in comparison to control islets (2,037 ± 363). In parallel, arginine-stimulated insulin release was inhibited by IL-1β exposure (166 ± 31 pg/islet/h, mean ± SE, n = 3) in comparison to control islets (1,679 ± 307). In contrast, IL-1β exposure did not significantly reduced glyburide-induced insulin secretion (1,516 ± 231 and 1,236 ± 214 in control and IL-1β-exposed islets, respectively; mean ± SE, n = 3). When islets were simultaneously exposed to IL-1β and increasing concentrations of nicotinamide, a dose-dependent recovery of glucose-induced insulin secretion was observed, with the maximum effect at 25 mmol/L nicotinamide (1,007 ± 123, P < .001). Arginine-stimulated insulin release was also partially restored by the addition of 25 mmol/L nicotinamide. To study the phases of insulin release, groups of 100 islets exposed to IL-1β in the presence or absence of nicotinamide (as in static experiments) were perifused for 20 minutes at 37°C in phosphate buffer with glucose 1.4 mmol/L (basal secretion) and then stimulated with glucose 19.4 mmol/L for 35 minutes. In control islets, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion followed the characteristic biphasic pattern: the first peak was 54.9 ± 9.7 and the second one was 70.8 ± 12.5 pg/islet/min (mean ± SE, n = 7). In islets exposed to IL-1β, both phases were greatly reduced (4.9 ± 1.1 and 7.8 ± 2.2, respectively; P < .001). In the presence of 25 mmol/L nicotinamide, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was partially restored (19.3 ± 3.9, P < .01 in the first phase, and 28.1 ± 6.7, P < .01 in the second phase). Nicotinamide, therefore, is able to partially prevent the effect of IL-1β on blunting both glucose- and arginine-induced insulin secretion.

Role of receptor binding and gene transcription for both the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of interleukin-1 in pancreatic beta-cells.

A brief exposure of pancreatic islets to the cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) induces an initial stimulatory phase, which is followed by inhibition of islet function and eventually beta-cell damage. In the present study we have investigated the effects of IRAP, a blocker of type I IL-1 receptor and actinomycin D, an inhibitor of DNA transcription, on both the stimulatory and inhibitory effects of IL-1 beta on rat pancreatic islets in vitro. The two test agents counteracted the initial stimulatory actions of IL-1 beta on both islet glucose-induced insulin release and glucose oxidation rates. Furthermore, cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, could also prevent the early IL-1 beta-induced stimulation of insulin release. When islets were exposed for 1 hr to IL-1 beta and studied after 12 hr, there was a 75% inhibition of glucose induced insulin release, a 50% decrease in glucose oxidation rates and a 30% decrease in (pro)insulin biosynthesis. These effects were completely counteracted by coincubation with IRAP or actinomycin D, but were not affected by coincubation with pertussis toxin. Islet exposure to IL-1 alpha also induced a 60-80% inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release after 12 hr. As observed with rIL-1 beta, IRAP was also able to block the suppressive effects of IL-1 alpha on islet function. Mouse islets exposed for 2 hr to IL-1 beta and studied after 12 hr presented a 50% decrease in the glucose-induced insulin release. This effect was completely blocked by coincubation with a rat monoclonal antibody generated against the type I mouse IL-1 receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lipoxygenase-generated icosanoids inhibit glucose-induced insulin release from rat islets

Lipoxygenase-pathway metabolites of arachidonic acid are produced in pancreatic islets. They are are implicated in insulin release, since nonselective inhibitors of lipoxygenases inhibit glucose-induced insulin release. We studied the interplay in insulin release between glucose and selected icosanoids formed in 5-, 12- and 15-lipoxygenase pathways. Effects on immunoreactive insulin release of 10 7 to 10- 6 12-(R)-HETE, 12-(S)-HETE, hepoxilin A 3, lipoxin B 4, LTB 4 or LTC 4 were tested individually in 30-min incubations of freshly isolated young adult Wistar rat pancreatic islets, in the presence of 5.6 mM or 23 mM glucose. Basal insulin release (at 5.6 mM glucose) was stimulated by LTC 4 and hepoxilin A 3 (304% and 234% of controls at 5.6 mM glucose alone, respectively), inhibited by 12-(S)-HPETE (56%), and was not affected by 12-(R)-HETE, 12-(S)-HETE, lipoxin B 4 or LTB 4 (111%, 105%, 106% and 136%, respectively). Insulin release evoked by 23 mM glucose (190-2-320%) was inhibited (50–145%) by all icosanoids tested, except LTC 4 (162%). We conclude that, among the lipoxygenase products tested, only leukotrienes and hepoxilin are candidates for a tonic-stimulatory influence on basal insulin release. Since glucose promotes icosanoid formation in islets, the observed inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release by lipoxygenase products suggests the existence of a negative-feedback system.

Comparison of effects of phorbol esters and glucose on protein kinase C activation and insulin secretion in pancreatic islets.

The tumour-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induces insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets, and this suggests a potential role for protein kinase C in the regulation of stimulus-secretion coupling in islets. In the present study, the hypothesis that the insulinotropic effect of TPA is mediated by activation of protein kinase C in pancreatic islets has been examined. TPA induced a gradual translocation of protein kinase C from the cytosol to a membrane-associated state which correlated with the gradual onset of insulin secretion. The pharmacologically inactive phorbol ester 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate did not mimic this effect. TPA also induced a rapid time-dependent decline of total protein kinase C activity in islets and the appearance of a Ca2+- and phospholipid-independent protein kinase activity. Insulin secretion induced by TPA was completely suppressed (IC50 approximately 10 nM) by staurosporine, a potent protein kinase C inhibitor. Staurosporine also inhibited islet cytosolic protein kinase C activity at similar concentrations (IC50 approximately 2 nM). In addition, staurosporine partially (approximately 60%) inhibited glucose-induced insulin secretion at concentrations (IC50 approximately 10 nM) similar to those required to inhibit TPA-induced insulin secretion, suggesting that staurosporine may act at a step common to both mechanisms, possibly the activation of protein kinase C. However, stimulatory concentrations of glucose did not induce down-regulation of translocation of protein kinase C, and the inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release by staurosporine was incomplete. Significant questions therefore remain unresolved as to the possible involvement of protein kinase C in glucose-induced insulin secretion.

Ether-linked lysophospholipids initiate insulin secretion. Lysophospholipids may mediate effects of phospholipase A2 activation on hormone release.

Phospholipase A2 activation may be a pivotal step in glucose-induced insulin secretion; however, recent studies have focused on only one by-product (arachidonic acid). To examine the possible role of the other by-product (lysophospholipids), the lysoderivatives of alkylacyl- (ether linked) or diacylphospholipids were applied to rat islets in static incubations. 1-O-alkyl-2-lyso-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine [lyso-PAF, the precursor of platelet-activating factor (PAF)] or lysophosphatidylcholine initiated insulin release at 1.7 mM glucose. Two preparations of PAF itself (0.005-5000 ng/ml) were without effect at 1.7 or 16.7 mM glucose, but PAF was nearly equipotent to lyso-PAF at greater than or equal to 20 micrograms/ml. A precursor-product relationship was suggested because the precursors (alkylacyl- or diacylglyceryl-phosphorylcholine) of all three active metabolites were inactive. The stimulatory effect of lyso-PAF is largely independent of any toxic or lytic effect, being biphasic, reversible, unassociated with impairment of the subsequent physiologic functioning of treated islets, and inhibitable (by Ni2+, La3+, or nordihydroguaiaretic acid but not by other lipoxygenase inhibitors). It also occurred at threshold concentrations at which islet morphology and 51Cr retention were preserved. Furthermore, lyso-PAF-induced insulin secretion was markedly impaired by reduced ambient temperature (16 degrees C) or by the impermeant anion isethionate, further implying initiation of true exocytotic granule release and fission. Lyso-PAF (but not arachidonic acid) also circumvented the inhibition of glucose-induced insulin release caused by phospholipase inhibitors. Generation of endogenous lysophospholipids through exogenous application of phospholipase A2 also initiated insulin release, an effect responding to a panel of potential inhibitors identically to that induced by exogenously provided lysophospholipids. We propose that glucose activates phospholipase A2 in the pancreatic islet, leading to the generation of lysophospholipids; the latter may couple energy production to insulin release, at least in part via the promotion of Ca2+ translocation.