scholarly journals AKT1 Regulates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Mediates the Adaptive Response of Pancreatic β Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhechu Peng ◽  
Richa Aggarwal ◽  
Ni Zeng ◽  
Lina He ◽  
Eileen X. Stiles ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Isoforms of protein kinase B (also known as AKT) play important roles in mediating insulin and growth factor signals. Previous studies have suggested that the AKT2 isoform is critical for insulin-regulated glucose metabolism, while the role of the AKT1 isoform remains less clear. This study focuses on the effects of AKT1 on the adaptive response of pancreatic β cells. Using a mouse model with inducible β-cell-specific deletion of the Akt1 gene (βA1KO mice), we showed that AKT1 is involved in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced growth and survival of β cells but is unnecessary for them to maintain a population in the absence of metabolic stress. When unchallenged, βA1KO mice presented the same metabolic profile and β-cell phenotype as the control mice with an intact Akt1 gene. When metabolic stress was induced by HFD, β cells in control mice with intact Akt1 proliferated as a compensatory mechanism for metabolic overload. Similar effects were not observed in βA1KO mice. We further demonstrated that AKT1 protein deficiency caused endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and potentiated β cells to undergo apoptosis. Our results revealed that AKT1 protein loss led to the induction of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 α subunit (eIF2α) signaling and ER stress markers under normal-chow-fed conditions, indicating chronic low-level ER stress. Together, these data established a role for AKT1 as a growth and survival factor for adaptive β-cell response and suggest that ER stress induction is responsible for this effect of AKT1.

2015 ◽  
Vol 290 (34) ◽  
pp. 20687-20699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Yu ◽  
Shang Cui ◽  
Chen Zong ◽  
Weina Gao ◽  
Tongfu Xu ◽  
...  

The role of NR4A1 in apoptosis is controversial. Pancreatic β-cells often face endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress under adverse conditions such as high free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations and sustained hyperglycemia. Severe ER stress results in β-cell apoptosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of NR4A1 in ER stress-mediated β-cell apoptosis and to characterize the related mechanisms. We confirmed that upon treatment with the ER stress inducers thapsigargin (TG) or palmitic acid (PA), the mRNA and protein levels of NR4A1 rapidly increased in both MIN6 cells and mouse islets. NR4A1 overexpression in MIN6 cells conferred resistance to cell loss induced by TG or PA, as assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, and TUNEL assays indicated that NR4A1 overexpression also protected against ER stress-induced apoptosis. This conclusion was further confirmed by experiments exploiting siRNA to knockdown NR4A1 expression in MIN6 cells or exploiting NR4A1 knock-out mice. NR4A1 overexpression in MIN6 cells reduced C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression and Caspase3 activation induced by TG or PA. NR4A1 overexpression in MIN6 cells or mouse islets resulted in Survivin up-regulation. A critical regulatory element was identified in Survivin promoter (−1872 bp to −1866 bp) with a putative NR4A1 binding site; ChIP assays demonstrated that NR4A1 physically associates with the Survivin promoter. In conclusion, NR4A1 protects pancreatic β-cells against ER stress-mediated apoptosis by up-regulating Survivin expression and down-regulating CHOP expression, which we termed as “positive and negative regulation.”


2007 ◽  
Vol 193 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Tsunekawa ◽  
Naoki Yamamoto ◽  
Katsura Tsukamoto ◽  
Yuji Itoh ◽  
Yukiko Kaneko ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo and in vitro effects of exendin-4, a potent glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist, on the protection of the pancreatic β-cells against their cell death. In in vivo experiments, we used β-cell-specific calmodulin-overexpressing mice where massive apoptosis takes place in their β-cells, and we examined the effects of chronic treatment with exendin-4. Chronic and s.c. administration of exendin-4 reduced hyperglycemia. The treatment caused significant increases of the insulin contents of the pancreas and islets, and retained the insulin-positive area. Dispersed transgenic islet cells lived only shortly, and several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related molecules such as immunoglobulin-binding protein (Bip), inositol-requiring enzyme-1α, X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP-1), RNA-activated protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, activating transcription factor-4, and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) were more expressed in the transgenic islets. We also found that the spliced form of XBP-1, a marker of ER stress, was also increased in β-cell-specific calmodulin-overexpressing transgenic islets. In the quantitative real-time PCR analyses, the expression levels of Bip and CHOP were reduced in the islets from the transgenic mice treated with exendin-4. These findings suggest that excess of ER stress occurs in the transgenic β-cells, and the suppression of ER stress and resultant protection against cell death may be involved in the anti-diabetic effects of exendin-4.


Endocrinology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (4) ◽  
pp. 1242-1250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chisayo Kozuka ◽  
Sumito Sunagawa ◽  
Rei Ueda ◽  
Moritake Higa ◽  
Hideaki Tanaka ◽  
...  

Abstract Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is profoundly involved in dysfunction of β-cells under high-fat diet and hyperglycemia. Our recent study in mice showed that γ-oryzanol, a unique component of brown rice, acts as a chemical chaperone in the hypothalamus and improves feeding behavior and diet-induced dysmetabolism. However, the entire mechanism whereby γ-oryzanol improves glucose metabolism throughout the body still remains unclear. In this context, we tested whether γ-oryzanol reduces ER stress and improves function and survival of pancreatic β-cells using murine β-cell line MIN6. In MIN6 cells with augmented ER stress by tunicamycin, γ-oryzanol decreased exaggerated expression of ER stress-related genes and phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2α, resulting in restoration of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and prevention of apoptosis. In islets from high-fat diet-fed diabetic mice, oral administration of γ-oryzanol improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion on following reduction of exaggerated ER stress and apoptosis. Furthermore, we examined the impact of γ-oryzanol on low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, where exaggerated ER stress and resultant apoptosis in β-cells were observed. Also in this model, γ-oryzanol attenuated mRNA level of genes involved in ER stress and apoptotic signaling in islets, leading to amelioration of glucose dysmetabolism. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that γ-oryzanol directly ameliorates ER stress-induced β-cell dysfunction and subsequent apoptosis, highlighting usefulness of γ-oryzanol for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Shrestha ◽  
Elisa De Franco ◽  
Peter Arvan ◽  
Miriam Cnop

The notion that in diabetes pancreatic β-cells express endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers indicative of increased unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling is no longer in doubt. However, what remains controversial is whether this increase in ER stress response actually contributes importantly to the β-cell failure of type 2 diabetes (akin to ‘terminal UPR’), or whether it represents a coping mechanism that represents the best attempt of β-cells to adapt to changes in metabolic demands as presented by disease progression. Here an intercontinental group of experts review evidence for the role of ER stress in monogenic and type 2 diabetes in an attempt to reconcile these disparate views. Current evidence implies that pancreatic β-cells require a regulated UPR for their development, function and survival, as well as to maintain cellular homeostasis in response to protein misfolding stress. Prolonged ER stress signaling, however, can be detrimental to β-cells, highlighting the importance of “optimal” UPR for ER homeostasis, β-cell function and survival.


Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 582
Author(s):  
Alessandra Galli ◽  
Paola Marciani ◽  
Algerta Marku ◽  
Silvia Ghislanzoni ◽  
Federico Bertuzzi ◽  
...  

Substantial epidemiological evidence indicates that a diet rich in polyphenols protects against developing type 2 diabetes. The phenylethanoid glycoside verbascoside/acteoside, a widespread polyphenolic plant compound, has several biological properties including strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. The aim of this research was to test the possible effects of verbascoside on pancreatic β-cells, a target never tested before. Mouse and human β-cells were incubated with verbascoside (0.8–16 µM) for up to five days and a combination of biochemical and imaging techniques were used to assess the β-cell survival and function under normal or endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress inducing conditions. We found a dose-dependent protective effect of verbascoside against oxidative stress in clonal and human β-cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that the polyphenol protects β-cells against ER-stress mediated dysfunctions, modulating the activation of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) branch of the unfolded protein response and promoting mitochondrial dynamics. As a result, increased viability, mitochondrial function and insulin content were detected in these cells. These studies provide the evidence that verbascoside boosts the ability of β-cells to cope with ER-stress, an important contributor of β-cell dysfunction and failure in diabetic conditions and support the therapeutic potential of verbascoside in diabetes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 420 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 95-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao-Hao Zhang ◽  
Xiao-Jun Ma ◽  
Li-Na Wu ◽  
Yan-Yan Zhao ◽  
Peng-Yu Zhang ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. R1-R17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kira Meyerovich ◽  
Fernanda Ortis ◽  
Florent Allagnat ◽  
Alessandra K Cardozo

Insulin-secreting pancreatic β-cells are extremely dependent on their endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to cope with the oscillatory requirement of secreted insulin to maintain normoglycemia. Insulin translation and folding rely greatly on the unfolded protein response (UPR), an array of three main signaling pathways designed to maintain ER homeostasis and limit ER stress. However, prolonged or excessive UPR activation triggers alternative molecular pathways that can lead to β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. An increasing number of studies suggest a role of these pro-apoptotic UPR pathways in the downfall of β-cells observed in diabetic patients. Particularly, the past few years highlighted a cross talk between the UPR and inflammation in the context of both type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this article, we describe the recent advances in research regarding the interplay between ER stress, the UPR, and inflammation in the context of β-cell apoptosis leading to diabetes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 199 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Sargsyan ◽  
Henrik Ortsäter ◽  
Kristofer Thorn ◽  
Peter Bergsten

Elevated levels of glucose and lipids are characteristics of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The enhanced nutrient levels have been connected with deterioration of β-cell function and impaired insulin secretion observed in these individuals. A strategy to improve β-cell function in individuals with T2DM has been intermittent administration of KATP channel openers. After such treatment, both the magnitude and kinetics of insulin secretion are markedly improved. In an attempt to further delineate mechanisms of how openers of KATP channels improve β-cell function, the effects of diazoxide on markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was determined in β-cells exposed to the fatty acid palmitate. The eukaryotic translation factor 2-alpha kinase 3 (EIF2AK3; also known as PERK) and endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1 (ERN1; also known as IRE1) pathways, but not the activating transcription factor (ATF6) pathway of the unfolded protein response, are activated in such lipotoxic β-cells. Inclusion of diazoxide during culture attenuated activation of the EIF2AK3 pathway but not the ERN1 pathway. This attenuation was associated with reduced levels of DNA-damage inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3; also known as CHOP) and β-cell apoptosis was decreased. It is concluded that reduction of ER stress may be a mechanism by which diazoxide improves β-cell function.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinghe Li ◽  
Ryota Inoue ◽  
Yu Togashi ◽  
Tomoko Okuyama ◽  
Aoi Satoh ◽  
...  

The effects of imeglimin, a novel anti-diabetes agent, on β-cell function remain unclear. Here, we unveiled the impact of imeglimin on β-cell survival. Treatment with imeglimin augmented mitochondrial function, enhanced insulin secretion, promoted β-cell proliferation, and improved β-cell survival in mouse islets. Imeglimin upregulated the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-related molecules including <i>Chop (Ddit3),</i> <i>Gadd34</i> (<i>Ppp1r15a</i>), <i>Atf3</i>, and <i>Sdf2l1</i>, and decreased eIF2α phosphorylation, after treatment with thapsigargin, and restored global protein synthesis in β-cells under ER stress. Imeglimin failed to protect ER stress-induced β-cell apoptosis in CHOP-deficient islets or in the presence of GADD34 inhibitor. Treatment with imeglimin showed a significant decrease in the number of apoptotic β-cells and increased β-cell mass in Akita mice. Imeglimin also protected against β-cell apoptosis in both human islets and human pluripotent stem cell (<a>hPSC)-derived β-like cells</a>. <a>Taken together, imeglimin modulates ER homeostasis pathway, which results in the prevention of β-cell apoptosis both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.</a>


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarin T. Snyder ◽  
Christine Darko ◽  
Rohit B. Sharma ◽  
Laura C. Alonso

Aging is associated with loss of proliferation of the insulin-secreting β-cell, a possible contributing factor to the increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the elderly. Our group previously discovered that moderate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress occurring during glucose exposure increases the adaptive β-cell proliferation response. Specifically, the ATF6α arm of the tripartite Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) promotes β-cell replication in glucose excess conditions. We hypothesized that β-cells from older mice have reduced proliferation due to aberrant UPR signaling or an impaired proliferative response to ER stress or ATF6α activation. To investigate, young and old mouse islet cells were exposed to high glucose with low-dose thapsigargin or activation of overexpressed ATF6α, and β-cell proliferation was quantified by BrdU incorporation. UPR pathway activation was compared by qPCR of target genes and semi-quantitative Xbp1 splicing assay. Intriguingly, although old β-cells had reduced proliferation in high glucose compared to young β-cells, UPR activation and induction of proliferation in response to low-dose thapsigargin or ATF6α activation in high glucose were largely similar between young and old. These results suggest that loss of UPR-led adaptive proliferation does not explain the reduced cell cycle entry in old β-cells, and raise the exciting possibility that future therapies that engage adaptive UPR could increase β-cell number through proliferation even in older individuals.


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