Transcriptional mechanism of suppression of insulin gene expression by AMP-activated protein kinase activator 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside (AICAR) in β-cells

ABSTRACT Regulation of insulin gene expression by glucose in pancreatic β cells is largely dependent on a cis-regulatory element, termed RIPE3b/C1, in the insulin gene promoter. MafA, a member of the Maf family of basic leucine zipper (bZip) proteins, is a β-cell-specific transcriptional activator that binds to the C1 element. Based on increased C1-binding activity, MafA protein levels appear to be up-regulated in response to glucose, but the underlying molecular mechanism for this is not well understood. In this study, we show evidence supporting that the amino-terminal region of MafA is phosphorylated at multiple sites by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) in β cells. Mutational analysis of MafA and pharmacological inhibition of GSK3 in MIN6 β cells strongly suggest that the rate of MafA protein degradation is regulated by glucose, that MafA is constitutively phosphorylated by GSK3, and that phosphorylation is a prerequisite for rapid degradation of MafA under low-glucose conditions. Our data suggest a new glucose-sensing signaling pathway in islet β cells that regulates insulin gene expression through the regulation of MafA protein stability.

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Naringin (4′,5,7-Trihydroxyflavanone 7-Rhamnoglucoside) Attenuates β-Cell Dysfunction in Diabetic Rats through Upregulation of PDX-1

Cells Tissues Organs ◽

10.1159/000496506 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 206 (3) ◽

pp. 133-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Manickam Subramanian ◽

Balaji Thotakura ◽

Swathi Priyadarshini Chandra Sekaran ◽

Ashok kumar Jyothi ◽

Indumathi Sundaramurthi

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Insulin Secretion ◽

Protein Expression ◽

Serum Insulin ◽

Diabetic Rats ◽

Insulin Gene ◽

Β Cells ◽

Β Cell ◽

Insulin Gene Expression

Background: Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) is a key transcription factor which regulates Insulin gene expression and insulin secretion in adult β-cells and helps to maintain β-cells mass. Naringin, a flavanone, owing to its antioxidant property, is reported to have antidiabetic effects. Objectives: The present study tries to evaluate the role of naringin on the β-cell-specific transcription factor PDX-1 in diabetic rats. Methods: Diabetes was induced in male rats using streptozotocin and treated with naringin (100 mg/kg) orally for 4 and 8 weeks. Serum insulin level, Pdx-1 and Insulin gene expression, and PDX-1 protein expression were assessed in the rat pancreas. Histopathological and ultrastructural changes in the islet and β-cells were observed. Results: Naringin prevented leukocytic infiltration in the pancreas of diabetic rats and recouped the β-cells with adequate secretory granules. Naringin-treated diabetic rats showed significantly increased mRNA expression of Pdx-1 and Insulin genes, increased expression of transcription factor PDX-1, and higher serum insulin levels than the diabetic control animals. These changes were more pronounced in the 8-week naringin-treated diabetic animals. Conclusions: Naringin was found to be an effective antidiabetic agent which increased Insulin gene expression and insulin secretion by upregulating the PDX-1 gene and protein expression.

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Glucose regulation of insulin gene expression in pancreatic β-cells

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj20081029 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 415 (1) ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 130

Author(s):

Sreenath S. Andrali ◽

Megan L. Sampley ◽

Nathan L. Vanderford ◽

Sabire Özcan

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Transcription Factors ◽

Blood Glucose ◽

Insulin Gene ◽

Β Cells ◽

Β Cell ◽

Insulin Synthesis ◽

Glucose Levels ◽

Blood Glucose Levels ◽

Insulin Gene Expression

Production and secretion of insulin from the β-cells of the pancreas is very crucial in maintaining normoglycaemia. This is achieved by tight regulation of insulin synthesis and exocytosis from the β-cells in response to changes in blood glucose levels. The synthesis of insulin is regulated by blood glucose levels at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Although many transcription factors have been implicated in the regulation of insulin gene transcription, three β-cell-specific transcriptional regulators, Pdx-1 (pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1), NeuroD1 (neurogenic differentiation 1) and MafA (V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homologue A), have been demonstrated to play a crucial role in glucose induction of insulin gene transcription and pancreatic β-cell function. These three transcription factors activate insulin gene expression in a co-ordinated and synergistic manner in response to increasing glucose levels. It has been shown that changes in glucose concentrations modulate the function of these β-cell transcription factors at multiple levels. These include changes in expression levels, subcellular localization, DNA-binding activity, transactivation capability and interaction with other proteins. Furthermore, all three transcription factors are able to induce insulin gene expression when expressed in non-β-cells, including liver and intestinal cells. The present review summarizes the recent findings on how glucose modulates the function of the β-cell transcription factors Pdx-1, NeuroD1 and MafA, and thereby tightly regulates insulin synthesis in accordance with blood glucose levels.

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Hedgehog Signaling Regulation of Homeodomain Protein Islet Duodenum Homeobox-1 Expression in Pancreatic β-Cells*

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/endo.142.3.8007 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 142 (3) ◽

pp. 1033-1040 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Melissa K. Thomas ◽

Jee H. Lee ◽

Naina Rastalsky ◽

Joel F. Habener

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Transcriptional Activation ◽

Gene Promoter ◽

Insulin Gene ◽

Reporter Construct ◽

Β Cells ◽

Pancreatic Β Cells ◽

Insulin Promoter ◽

Insulin Gene Expression ◽

Hh Signaling

Abstract Insulin gene expression in pancreatic β-cells is regulated by signals from developmental morphogen proteins known as hedgehogs (Hhs). By analyzing 5′-deletion insulin promoter-reporter constructs in transient transfections of clonal INS-1 β-cells, we located activating Hh-responsive regions within the rat insulin I promoter that include the glucose-response elements Far (E2) and Flat (A2/A3). Activation of Hh signaling in INS-1 cells by ectopic Hh expression increased (and inhibition of Hh signaling with the Hh-specific inhibitor cyclopamine decreased) transcriptional activation of a multimerized FarFlat enhancer-reporter construct. In DNA-binding studies, nuclear extracts from INS-1 cells activated by ectopic Hh expression increased (and extracts from INS-1 cells treated with cyclopamine decreased) protein binding to a radiolabeled FarFlat oligonucleotide probe. An antiserum directed against the transcription factor islet duodenum homeobox-1 (IDX-1), a regulator of pancreas development and activator of the insulin gene promoter, attenuated the binding activity of Hh-responsive protein complexes. Nuclear IDX-1 protein levels on Western blots were increased by ectopic Hh expression, thereby providing a mechanism for Hh-mediated regulation of the insulin promoter. Addition of cyclopamine to INS-1 cells decreased IDX-1 messenger RNA expression. In transient transfections of a− 4.5-kb mouse IDX-1 promoter-reporter construct, ectopic Hh expression increased (and cyclopamine administration decreased) transcriptional activation of the IDX-1 promoter in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, the IDX-1 gene is a direct regulatory target of Hh signaling in insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells. We propose that Hh signaling activates the insulin gene promoter indirectly via the direct activation of IDX-1 expression. Because IDX-1 gene expression is essential for insulin gene expression, pancreatic β-cell development, and normal glucose homeostasis, our findings that Hh signaling regulates IDX-1 expression in the endocrine pancreas suggest possible novel therapeutic approaches for diabetes mellitus.

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