Life and death decisions of the pancreatic β-cell: the role of fatty acids

2006 ◽  
Vol 112 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Newsholme ◽  
Deirdre Keane ◽  
Hannah J. Welters ◽  
Noel G. Morgan

Both stimulatory and detrimental effects of NEFAs (non-esterified fatty acids) on pancreatic β-cells have been recognized. Acute exposure of the pancreatic β-cell to high glucose concentrations and/or saturated NEFAs results in a substantial increase in insulin release, whereas chronic exposure results in desensitization and suppression of secretion, followed by induction of apoptosis. Some unsaturated NEFAs also promote insulin release acutely, but they are less toxic to β-cells during chronic exposure and can even exert positive protective effects. Therefore changes in the levels of NEFAs are likely to be important for the regulation of β-cell function and viability under physiological conditions. In addition, the switching between endogenous fatty acid synthesis or oxidation in the β-cell, together with alterations in neutral lipid accumulation, may have critical implications for β-cell function and integrity. Long-chain acyl-CoA (formed from either endogenously synthesized or exogenous fatty acids) controls several aspects of β-cell function, including activation of specific isoenzymes of PKC (protein kinase C), modulation of ion channels, protein acylation, ceramide formation and/or NO-mediated apoptosis, and transcription factor activity. In this review, we describe the effects of exogenous and endogenous fatty acids on β-cell metabolism and gene and protein expression, and have explored the outcomes with respect to insulin secretion and β-cell integrity.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Idil I. Aigha ◽  
Essam M. Abdelalim

Abstract Understanding the biology underlying the mechanisms and pathways regulating pancreatic β cell development is necessary to understand the pathology of diabetes mellitus (DM), which is characterized by the progressive reduction in insulin-producing β cell mass. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can potentially offer an unlimited supply of functional β cells for cellular therapy and disease modeling of DM. Homeobox protein NKX6.1 is a transcription factor (TF) that plays a critical role in pancreatic β cell function and proliferation. In human pancreatic islet, NKX6.1 expression is exclusive to β cells and is undetectable in other islet cells. Several reports showed that activation of NKX6.1 in PSC-derived pancreatic progenitors (MPCs), expressing PDX1 (PDX1+/NKX6.1+), warrants their future commitment to monohormonal β cells. However, further differentiation of MPCs lacking NKX6.1 expression (PDX1+/NKX6.1−) results in an undesirable generation of non-functional polyhormonal β cells. The importance of NKX6.1 as a crucial regulator in MPC specification into functional β cells directs attentions to further investigating its mechanism and enhancing NKX6.1 expression as a means to increase β cell function and mass. Here, we shed light on the role of NKX6.1 during pancreatic β cell development and in directing the MPCs to functional monohormonal lineage. Furthermore, we address the transcriptional mechanisms and targets of NKX6.1 as well as its association with diabetes.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (4) ◽  
pp. E690-E701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamila S. Gwiazda ◽  
Ting-Lin B. Yang ◽  
Yalin Lin ◽  
James D. Johnson

There are strong links between obesity, elevated free fatty acids, and type 2 diabetes. Specifically, the saturated fatty acid palmitate has pleiotropic effects on β-cell function and survival. In the present study, we sought to determine the mechanism by which palmitate affects intracellular Ca2+, and in particular the role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In human β-cells and MIN6 cells, palmitate rapidly increased cytosolic Ca2+ through a combination of Ca2+ store release and extracellular Ca2+ influx. Palmitate caused a reversible lowering of ER Ca2+, measured directly with the fluorescent protein-based ER Ca2+ sensor D1ER. Using another genetically encoded indicator, we observed long-lasting oscillations of cytosolic Ca2+ in palmitate-treated cells. In keeping with this observed ER Ca2+ depletion, palmitate induced rapid phosphorylation of the ER Ca2+ sensor protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK) and subsequently ER stress and β-cell death. We detected little palmitate-induced insulin secretion, suggesting that these Ca2+ signals are poorly coupled to exocytosis. In summary, we have characterized Ca2+-dependent mechanisms involved in altered β-cell function and survival induced by the free fatty acid palmitate. We present the first direct evidence that free fatty acids reduce ER Ca2+ and shed light on pathways involved in lipotoxicity and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 2971-2979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Shigeyama ◽  
Toshiyuki Kobayashi ◽  
Yoshiaki Kido ◽  
Naoko Hashimoto ◽  
Shun-ichiro Asahara ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of insulin or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) for regulation of pancreatic β-cell mass. Given the role of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) as an upstream molecule of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), we examined the effect of TSC2 deficiency on β-cell function. Here, we show that mice deficient in TSC2, specifically in pancreatic β cells (βTSC2−/− mice), manifest increased IGF-1-dependent phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase and 4E-BP1 in islets as well as an initial increased islet mass attributable in large part to increases in the sizes of individual β cells. These mice also exhibit hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia at young ages (4 to 28 weeks). After 40 weeks of age, however, the βTSC2−/− mice develop progressive hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia accompanied by a reduction in islet mass due predominantly to a decrease in the number of β cells. These results thus indicate that TSC2 regulates pancreatic β-cell mass in a biphasic manner.


2014 ◽  
Vol 223 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Rouse ◽  
Antoine Younès ◽  
Josephine M Egan

Resveratrol (RES) and curcumin (CUR) are polyphenols that are found in fruits and turmeric, and possess medicinal properties that are beneficial in various diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Results from recent studies have indicated that their therapeutic properties can be attributed to their anti-inflammatory effects. Owing to reports stating that they protect against β-cell dysfunction, we studied their mechanism(s) of action in β-cells. In T2DM, cAMP plays a critical role in glucose- and incretin-stimulated insulin secretion as well as overall pancreatic β-cell health. A potential therapeutic target in the management of T2DM lies in regulating the activity of phosphodiesterases (PDEs), which degrade cAMP. Both RES and CUR have been reported to act as PDE inhibitors in various cell types, but it remains unknown if they do so in pancreatic β-cells. In our current study, we found that both RES (0.1–10 μmol/l) and CUR (1–100 pmol/l)-regulated insulin secretion under glucose-stimulated conditions. Additionally, treating β-cell lines and human islets with these polyphenols led to increased intracellular cAMP levels in a manner similar to 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a classic PDE inhibitor. When we investigated the effects of RES and CUR on PDEs, we found that treatment significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of most of the 11 PDE isozymes, including PDE3B, PDE8A, and PDE10A, which have been linked previously to regulation of insulin secretion in islets. Furthermore, RES and CUR inhibited PDE activity in a dose-dependent manner in β-cell lines and human islets. Collectively, we demonstrate a novel role for natural-occurring polyphenols as PDE inhibitors that enhance pancreatic β-cell function.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 7604-7610 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Allen Frank ◽  
Dmytro A. Yushchenko ◽  
Nicholas H. F. Fine ◽  
Margherita Duca ◽  
Mevlut Citir ◽  
...  

Fatty acids activate GPR40 and K+ channels to modulate β-cell function.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Gu ◽  
Yuege Lin ◽  
Qi Wan ◽  
Dongming Su ◽  
Qun Shu

Background: Increased insulin production and secretion by pancreatic β-cells are important for ensuring the high insulin demand during gestation. However, the underlying mechanism of β-cell adaptation during gestation or in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains unclear. Oxytocin is an important physiological hormone in gestation and delivery, and it also contributes to the maintenance of β-cell function. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of oxytocin in β-cell adaptation during pregnancy. Methods: The relationship between the blood oxytocin level and pancreatic β-cell function in patients with GDM and healthy pregnant women was investigated. Gestating and non-gestating mice were used to evaluate the in vivo effect of oxytocin signal on β-cells during pregnancy. In vitro experiments were performed on INS-1 insulinoma cells. Results: The blood oxytocin levels were lower in patients with GDM than in healthy pregnant women and were associated with impaired pancreatic β-cell function. Acute administration of oxytocin increased insulin secretion in both gestating and non-gestating mice. A three-week oxytocin treatment promoted the proliferation of pancreatic β-cells and increased the β-cell mass in gestating but not non-gestating mice. Antagonism of oxytocin receptors by atosiban impaired insulin secretion and induced GDM in gestating but not non-gestating mice. Oxytocin enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, and promoted cell proliferation in INS-1 cells. Conclusions: These findings provide strong evidence that oxytocin is needed for β-cell adaptation during pregnancy to maintain β-cell function, and lack of oxytocin could be associated with the risk of GDM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1509
Author(s):  
Natsuki Eguchi ◽  
Nosratola D. Vaziri ◽  
Donald C. Dafoe ◽  
Hirohito Ichii

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by inappropriately elevated glucose levels as a result of impaired pancreatic β cell function and insulin resistance. Extensive studies have been conducted to elucidate the mechanism involved in the development of β cell failure and death under diabetic conditions such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation. Of the plethora of proposed mechanisms, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress have been shown to play a central role in promoting β cell dysfunction. It has become more evident in recent years that these 3 factors are closely interrelated and importantly aggravate each other. Oxidative stress in particular is of great interest to β cell health and survival as it has been shown that β cells exhibit lower antioxidative capacity. Therefore, this review will focus on discussing factors that contribute to the development of oxidative stress in pancreatic β cells and explore the downstream effects of oxidative stress on β cell function and health. Furthermore, antioxidative capacity of β cells to counteract these effects will be discussed along with new approaches focused on preserving β cells under oxidative conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 711-717
Author(s):  
Zhenhuan Jiang ◽  
Min Yang ◽  
Jianming Jin ◽  
Zhenqiang Song ◽  
Chenguang Li ◽  
...  

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. There are evidences showed that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in DM. The purpose of our study was to determine the role of miR-124-3p in DM. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was applied to measure the level of miR- 124-3p in peripheral blood from healthy control patients and DM patients. Then we explored the effects of miR-124-3p inhibitor on the secretion of insulin of pancreatic β-cells. Moreover, we determined the effects of miR-124-3p inhibitor on the apoptosis and viability of pancreatic β-cells through flow cytometry and MTT assay. And we also used western blotting to detect the protein expression of cleaved-caspase3/pro-caspase3, and the activity of caspase3 was detected. In addition, we confirmed the direct target of miR-124-3p using Dual luciferase reporter assay. Our data showed that in the blood of DM patients, SFRP5 was significantly reduced, while miR-124-3p was increased significantly. Furthermore, we found that down-regulation of miR-124-3p increased total insulin content in INS-1 cells, enhanced insulin secretion in INS-1 cells. Furthermore, we revealed that miR-124-3p inhibitor enhanced INS-1 cell viability, decreased apoptosis of INS-1 cells, increased pro-caspase3 expression, decreased cleaved-caspase3 expression and caspase3 activity. In addition, we proved SFRP5 was a direct target of miR-124-3p in pancreatic β-cells. Moreover, SFRP5-siRNA reversed all the effects of miR-124-3p knockdown on pancreatic β-cells.


1979 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 624-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bo Hellman

ABSTRACT Glucose is believed to stimulate incorporation of calcium into the secretory granules of the pancreatic β-cells. The mechanism of the glucose-stimulated accumulation of calcium in the granule pool was evaluated by measuring fluxes of 45Ca in β-cell-rich pancreatic islets microdissected from ob/ob-mice. The incorporation of lanthanum-nondisplaceable 45Ca in response to glucose differed from both the basal uptake and that seen in response to phosphate in being suppressed by 10 μm antimycin A, 0.3 mm 2,4-dinitrophenol or 1 mm N-ethylmaleimide. Exposure to each of these metabolic inhibitors also resulted in a protracted efflux of the glucose-sensitive 45Ca under conditions when neither the 45Ca incorporated in the presence of 3 mm glucose nor in response to phosphate was significantly affected. The glucose-stimulated intracellular 45Ca existed in a state allowing it to be washed out with the ionophore A-23187. The results suggest that the glucose-stimulated incorporation of calcium into the secretory granules is mediated by transport against a concentration gradient into the granule sac.


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