n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids protect against pancreatic β-cell damage due to ER stress and prevent diabetes development

Background/Aims: Intermittent hypoxia (IH) causes apoptosis in pancreatic β-cells, but the potential mechanisms remain unclear. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, autophagy, and apoptosis are interlocked in an extensive crosstalk. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the contributions of ER stress and autophagy to IH-induced pancreatic β-cell apoptosis. Methods: We established animal and cell models of IH, and then inhibited autophagy and ER stress by pharmacology and small interfering RNA (siRNA) in INS-1 cells and rats. The levels of biomarkers for autophagy, ER stress, and apoptosis were evaluated by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. The number of autophagic vacuoles was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: IH induced autophagy activation both in vivo and in vitro, as evidenced by increased autophagic vacuole formation and LC3 turnover, and decreased SQSTM1 level. The levels of ER-stress-related proteins, including GRP78, CHOP, caspase 12, phosphorylated (p)-protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK), p-eIF2α, and activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) were increased under IH conditions. Inhibition of ER stress with tauroursodeoxycholic acid or 4-phenylbutyrate partially blocked IH-induced autophagy in INS-1 cells. Furthermore, inhibition of PERK with GSK2606414 or siRNA blocked the ERstress-related PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling pathway and inhibited autophagy induced by IH, which indicates that IH-induced autophagy activation is dependent on this signaling pathway. Promoting autophagy with rapamycin alleviated IH-induced apoptosis, whereas inhibition of autophagy with chloroquine or autophagy-related gene (Atg5 and Atg7) siRNA aggravated pancreatic β-cell apoptosis caused by IH. Conclusion: IH induces autophagy activation through the ER-stress-related PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signaling pathway, which is a protective response to pancreatic β-cell apoptosis caused by IH.

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Effects of pharmacological inhibition of NADPH oxidase or iNOS on pro-inflammatory cytokine, palmitic acid or H2O2-induced mouse islet or clonal pancreatic β-cell dysfunction

Bioscience Reports ◽

10.1042/bsr20090138 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 445-453 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Marta Michalska ◽

Gabriele Wolf ◽

Reinhard Walther ◽

Philip Newsholme

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Insulin Secretion ◽

Nadph Oxidase ◽

Inflammatory Cytokine ◽

Pancreatic Β Cell ◽

Β Cells ◽

Β Cell ◽

Cell Dysfunction ◽

Mouse Islets ◽

Pro Inflammatory Cytokines

Various pancreatic β-cell stressors including cytokines and saturated fatty acids are known to induce oxidative stress, which results in metabolic disturbances and a reduction in insulin secretion. However, the key mechanisms underlying dysfunction are unknown. We investigated the effects of prolonged exposure (24 h) to pro-inflammatory cytokines, H2O2 or PA (palmitic acid) on β-cell insulin secretion, ATP, the NADPH oxidase (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase) component p47phox and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) levels using primary mouse islets or clonal rat BRIN-BD11 β-cells. Addition of a pro-inflammatory cytokine mixture [IL-1β (interleukin-1β), TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor-α) and IFN-γ (interferon-γ)] or H2O2 (at sub-lethal concentrations) inhibited chronic (24 h) levels of insulin release by at least 50% (from islets and BRIN-BD11 cells), while addition of the saturated fatty acid palmitate inhibited acute (20 min) stimulated levels of insulin release from mouse islets. H2O2 decreased ATP levels in the cell line, but elevated p47phox and iNOS levels as did cytokine addition. Similar effects were observed in mouse islets with respect to elevation of p47phox and iNOS levels. Addition of antioxidants SOD (superoxide dismutase), Cat (catalase) and NAC (N-acetylcysteine) attenuated H2O2 or the saturated fatty acid palmitate-dependent effects, but not cytokine-induced dysfunction. However, specific chemical inhibitors of NADPH oxidase and/or iNOS appear to significantly attenuate the effects of cytokines, H2O2 or fatty acids in islets. While pro-inflammatory cytokines are known to increase p47phox and iNOS levels in β-cells, we now report that H2O2 can increase levels of the latter two proteins, suggesting a key role for positive-feedback redox sensitive regulation of β-cell dysfunction.

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Differential activation of ER stress and apoptosis in response to chronically elevated free fatty acids in pancreatic β-cells

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.00478.2007 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 294 (3) ◽

pp. E540-E550 ◽

Cited By ~ 108

Author(s):

Elida Lai ◽

George Bikopoulos ◽

Michael B. Wheeler ◽

Maria Rozakis-Adcock ◽

Allen Volchuk

Keyword(s):

Er Stress ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Cell Apoptosis ◽

Human Islets ◽

Pancreatic Β Cell ◽

Β Cell ◽

Min6 Cells ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

Induced Apoptosis

Chronic exposure to elevated saturated free fatty acid (FFA) levels has been shown to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that may contribute to promoting pancreatic β-cell apoptosis. Here, we compared the effects of FFAs on apoptosis and ER stress in human islets and two pancreatic β-cell lines, rat INS-1 and mouse MIN6 cells. Isolated human islets cultured in vitro underwent apoptosis, and markers of ER stress pathways were elevated by chronic palmitate exposure. Palmitate also induced apoptosis in MIN6 and INS-1 cells, although the former were more resistant to both apoptosis and ER stress. MIN6 cells were found to express significantly higher levels of ER chaperone proteins than INS-1 cells, which likely accounts for the ER stress resistance. We attempted to determine the relative contribution that ER stress plays in palmitate-induced β-cell apoptosis. Although overexpressing GRP78 in INS-1 cells partially reduced susceptibility to thapsigargin, this failed to reduce palmitate-induced ER stress or apoptosis. In INS-1 cells, palmitate induced apoptosis at concentrations that did not result in significant ER stress. Finally, MIN6 cells depleted of GRP78 were more susceptible to tunicamycin-induced apoptosis but not to palmitate-induced apoptosis compared with control cells. These results suggest that ER stress is likely not the main mechanism involved in palmitate-induced apoptosis in β-cell lines. Human islets and MIN6 cells were found to express high levels of stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 compared with INS-1 cells, which may account for the decreased susceptibility of these cells to the cytotoxic effects of palmitate.

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Zsírsavtúltengés – inzulinrezisztencia és β-sejt-halál

Orvosi Hetilap ◽

10.1556/650.2016.30439 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 157 (19) ◽

pp. 733-739 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Miklós Csala

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Insulin Signaling ◽

Cell Damage ◽

Local Inflammation ◽

Cellular Functions ◽

Β Cell ◽

The Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Rapid Spread ◽

New Strategies

The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes correlates with the rapid spread of obesity worldwide. Adipocytes are strained by the demand of excessive storage, and the local inflammation accelerates triglyceride turnover, which elevates the plasma levels of free fatty acids. Sustained hyper-free fatty acidemia leads to disturbances in cellular functions (lipotoxicity) or even to programmed cell death. Activated stress kinases interfere with insulin signaling, and often facilitate apoptosis. Hyper-free fatty acidemia, therefore, links obesity to diabetes through insulin resistance and β-cell damage. Lipotoxicity research – including the comparison of the effects exerted by saturated, unsaturated and trans fatty acids – provides explanations for long-known phenomena. Our widening knowledge in the field offers new strategies for prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(19), 733–739.

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