Chronic exposure to high glucose impairs multiple β-cell functions in cultured human pancreatic islets

AbstractLong non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as crucial regulators of β-cell development and function. Consequently, the mis-expression of members of this group may contribute to the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Here, we investigate roles for an antisense lncRNA expressed from the Pax6 locus (annotated as Pax6os1 in mice and PAX6-AS1 in humans) in β-cell function. The transcription factor Pax6 is required for the development of pancreatic islets and maintenance of a fully differentiated β-cell phenotype. Pax6os1/PAX6-AS1 expression was increased in pancreatic islets and β-cell lines at high glucose concentrations, in islets from mice fed a high fat diet, and in those from patients with type 2 diabetes. Silencing or deletion of Pax6os1/PAX6-AS1 in MIN6 cells and EndoC-βH1cells, respectively, upregulated β-cell signature genes, including insulin. Moreover, shRNA-mediated silencing of PAX6-AS1 in human islets not only increased insulin mRNA, but also enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and calcium dynamics. In contrast, inactivation of Pax6os1 in mice was largely without effect on glucose homeostasis, though female Pax6os1 null mice on high fat diet (HFD) showed a tendency towards enhanced glucose clearance. Together, our results suggest that increased expression of PAX6-AS1 at high glucose levels may contribute to β-cell dedifferentiation and failure in some forms of type 2 diabetes. Thus, targeting PAX6-AS1 may provide a promising strategy to enhance insulin secretion and improve glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes.

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Identification of a novel lncRNA (G3R1) regulated by GLIS3 in pancreatic β-cells

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology ◽

10.1530/jme-20-0082 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 65 (3) ◽

pp. 59-67

Author(s):

David W Scoville ◽

Artiom Gruzdev ◽

Anton M Jetten

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Islets ◽

Knockout Mouse ◽

Cell Function ◽

Significant Loss ◽

Messenger Rnas ◽

Β Cells ◽

Β Cell ◽

Pancreatic Β Cells ◽

Phenotypic Analysis ◽

Cell Functions

Recent advances in high throughput RNA sequencing have revealed that, in addition to messenger RNAs (mRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in the regulation of many cell functions and of organ development. While a number of lncRNAs have been identified in pancreatic islets, their function remains largely undetermined. Here, we identify a novel long ncRNA regulated by the transcription factor GLIS3, which we refer to as GLIS3 regulated 1 (G3R1). This lncRNA was identified for its significant loss of expression in GLIS3 knockout mouse pancreatic islets. G3R1 appears to be specifically expressed in mouse pancreatic β-cells and in a β-cell line (βTC-6). ChIP-seq analysis indicated that GLIS3 and other islet-enriched transcription factors bind near the G3R1 gene, suggesting they directly regulate G3R1 transcription. Similarly, an apparent human homolog of G3R1 displays a similar expression pattern, with additional expression seen in human brain. In order to determine the function of G3R1 in mouse pancreatic β-cells, we utilized CRISPR to develop a knockout mouse where ~80% of G3R1 sequence is deleted. Phenotypic analysis of these mice did not reveal any impairment in β-cell function or glucose regulation, indicating the complexity underlying the study of lncRNA function.

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