scholarly journals Pancreatic β-Cell Electrical Activity and Insulin Secretion: Of Mice and Men

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrik Rorsman ◽  
Frances M. Ashcroft

The pancreatic β-cell plays a key role in glucose homeostasis by secreting insulin, the only hormone capable of lowering the blood glucose concentration. Impaired insulin secretion results in the chronic hyperglycemia that characterizes type 2 diabetes (T2DM), which currently afflicts >450 million people worldwide. The healthy β-cell acts as a glucose sensor matching its output to the circulating glucose concentration. It does so via metabolically induced changes in electrical activity, which culminate in an increase in the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and initiation of Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of insulin-containing secretory granules. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the β-cell transcriptome, electrical activity, and insulin exocytosis. We highlight salient differences between mouse and human β-cells, provide models of how the different ion channels contribute to their electrical activity and insulin secretion, and conclude by discussing how these processes become perturbed in T2DM.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Admin ◽  
Christopher J. Barker ◽  
Fernando Henrique Galvão Tessaro ◽  
Sabrina de Souza Ferreira ◽  
Rafael Simas ◽  
...  

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is the hallmark of the pancreatic β-cell, a critical player in the regulation of blood glucose concentration. In 1974 Dawson, Freinkel and co-workers made the remarkable observation that an efflux of intracellular inorganic phosphate (P<sub>i</sub>) accompanied the events of stimulated insulin secretion. The mechanism behind this ‘phosphate flush’, its association with insulin secretion and its regulation have since then remained a mystery. We recapitulated the phosphate flush in the MIN6m9 β-cell line and pseudoislets. We demonstrated that knockdown of XPR1, a phosphate transporter present in MIN6m9 cells and pancreatic islets, prevented this flush. Concomitantly, XPR1 silencing led to intracellular P<sub>i</sub> accumulation and a potential impact on Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling. XPR1 knockdown slightly blunted first phase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in MIN6m9 cells, but had no significant impact on pseudoislet secretion. In keeping with other cell types, basal P<sub>i</sub> efflux was stimulated by inositol pyrophosphates and basal intracellular P<sub>i</sub> accumulated following knockdown of inositol hexakisphosphate kinases. However, the glucose-driven phosphate flush occurred despite inositol pyrophosphate depletion. Finally, whilst it is unlikely that XPR1 directly affects exocytosis, it may protect Ca<sup>2+ </sup>signaling. Thus we have revealed XPR1 as the missing mediator of the phosphate flush, shedding light on a 45-year-old mystery.


2009 ◽  
Vol 203 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Åkerblom ◽  
Sebastian Barg ◽  
Gabriela Calounova ◽  
Dariush Mokhtari ◽  
Leif Jansson ◽  
...  

Src homology 2 domain-containing protein B (SHB) is an adapter protein involved in the regulation of β-cell and endothelial cell function. We have recently obtained the Shb knockout mouse, and consequently, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of Shb deletion upon β-cell function and blood glucose homeostasis. Shb−/− mice display an elevated basal blood glucose concentration, and this increase is maintained during insulin challenge in insulin sensitivity tests. To assess glucose-induced insulin secretion, pancreata were perfused, and it was observed that Shb−/− first phase insulin secretion was blunted during glucose stimulation. Gene expression of Shb−/− islets shortly after isolation was altered, with increased pancreatic and duodenal homeobox gene-1 (Pdx1) gene expression and reduced expression of Vegf-A. Islet culture normalized Pdx1 gene expression. The microvascular density of the Shb−/− islets was reduced, and islet capillary endothelial cell morphology was changed suggesting an altered microvascular function as a contributing cause to the impaired secretory activity. Capacitance measurements of depolarization-induced exocytosis indicate a direct effect on the exocytotic machinery, in particular a dramatic reduction in readily releasable granules, as responsible for the insulin-secretory defect operating in Shb−/− islets. Shb−/− mice exhibited no alteration of islet volume or β-cell area. In conclusion, loss of Shb impairs insulin secretion, alters islet microvascular morphology, and increases the basal blood glucose concentration. The impaired insulin secretory response is a plausible underlying cause of the metabolic impairment observed in this mutant mouse.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Admin ◽  
Christopher J. Barker ◽  
Fernando Henrique Galvão Tessaro ◽  
Sabrina de Souza Ferreira ◽  
Rafael Simas ◽  
...  

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is the hallmark of the pancreatic β-cell, a critical player in the regulation of blood glucose concentration. In 1974 Dawson, Freinkel and co-workers made the remarkable observation that an efflux of intracellular inorganic phosphate (P<sub>i</sub>) accompanied the events of stimulated insulin secretion. The mechanism behind this ‘phosphate flush’, its association with insulin secretion and its regulation have since then remained a mystery. We recapitulated the phosphate flush in the MIN6m9 β-cell line and pseudoislets. We demonstrated that knockdown of XPR1, a phosphate transporter present in MIN6m9 cells and pancreatic islets, prevented this flush. Concomitantly, XPR1 silencing led to intracellular P<sub>i</sub> accumulation and a potential impact on Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling. XPR1 knockdown slightly blunted first phase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in MIN6m9 cells, but had no significant impact on pseudoislet secretion. In keeping with other cell types, basal P<sub>i</sub> efflux was stimulated by inositol pyrophosphates and basal intracellular P<sub>i</sub> accumulated following knockdown of inositol hexakisphosphate kinases. However, the glucose-driven phosphate flush occurred despite inositol pyrophosphate depletion. Finally, whilst it is unlikely that XPR1 directly affects exocytosis, it may protect Ca<sup>2+ </sup>signaling. Thus we have revealed XPR1 as the missing mediator of the phosphate flush, shedding light on a 45-year-old mystery.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Admin ◽  
Christopher J. Barker ◽  
Fernando Henrique Galvão Tessaro ◽  
Sabrina de Souza Ferreira ◽  
Rafael Simas ◽  
...  

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is the hallmark of the pancreatic β-cell, a critical player in the regulation of blood glucose concentration. In 1974 Dawson, Freinkel and co-workers made the remarkable observation that an efflux of intracellular inorganic phosphate (P<sub>i</sub>) accompanied the events of stimulated insulin secretion. The mechanism behind this ‘phosphate flush’, its association with insulin secretion and its regulation have since then remained a mystery. We recapitulated the phosphate flush in the MIN6m9 β-cell line and pseudoislets. We demonstrated that knockdown of XPR1, a phosphate transporter present in MIN6m9 cells and pancreatic islets, prevented this flush. Concomitantly, XPR1 silencing led to intracellular P<sub>i</sub> accumulation and a potential impact on Ca<sup>2+</sup> signaling. XPR1 knockdown slightly blunted first phase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in MIN6m9 cells, but had no significant impact on pseudoislet secretion. In keeping with other cell types, basal P<sub>i</sub> efflux was stimulated by inositol pyrophosphates and basal intracellular P<sub>i</sub> accumulated following knockdown of inositol hexakisphosphate kinases. However, the glucose-driven phosphate flush occurred despite inositol pyrophosphate depletion. Finally, whilst it is unlikely that XPR1 directly affects exocytosis, it may protect Ca<sup>2+ </sup>signaling. Thus we have revealed XPR1 as the missing mediator of the phosphate flush, shedding light on a 45-year-old mystery.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda Strutt ◽  
Sandra Szlapinski ◽  
Thineesha Gnaneswaran ◽  
Sarah Donegan ◽  
Jessica Hill ◽  
...  

AbstractThe apelin receptor (Aplnr) and its ligands, Apelin and Apela, contribute to metabolic control. The insulin resistance associated with pregnancy is accommodated by an expansion of pancreatic β-cell mass (BCM) and increased insulin secretion, involving the proliferation of insulin-expressing, glucose transporter 2-low (Ins+Glut2LO) progenitor cells. We examined changes in the apelinergic system during normal mouse pregnancy and in pregnancies complicated by glucose intolerance with reduced BCM. Expression of Aplnr, Apelin and Apela was quantified in Ins+Glut2LO cells isolated from mouse pancreata and found to be significantly higher than in mature β-cells by DNA microarray and qPCR. Apelin was localized to most β-cells by immunohistochemistry although Aplnr was predominantly associated with Ins+Glut2LO cells. Aplnr-staining cells increased three- to four-fold during pregnancy being maximal at gestational days (GD) 9–12 but were significantly reduced in glucose intolerant mice. Apelin-13 increased β-cell proliferation in isolated mouse islets and INS1E cells, but not glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Glucose intolerant pregnant mice had significantly elevated serum Apelin levels at GD 9 associated with an increased presence of placental IL-6. Placental expression of the apelinergic axis remained unaltered, however. Results show that the apelinergic system is highly expressed in pancreatic β-cell progenitors and may contribute to β-cell proliferation in pregnancy.


2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (3) ◽  
pp. E520-E528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Laedtke ◽  
Lise Kjems ◽  
Niels Pørksen ◽  
Ole Schmitz ◽  
Johannes Veldhuis ◽  
...  

Impaired insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes is characterized by decreased first-phase insulin secretion, an increased proinsulin-to-insulin molar ratio in plasma, abnormal pulsatile insulin release, and heightened disorderliness of insulin concentration profiles. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that these abnormalities are at least partly reversed by a period of overnight suspension of β-cell secretory activity achieved by somatostatin infusion. Eleven patients with type 2 diabetes were studied twice after a randomly ordered overnight infusion of either somatostatin or saline with the plasma glucose concentration clamped at ∼8 mmol/l. Controls were studied twice after overnight saline infusions and then at a plasma glucose concentration of either 4 or 8 mmol/l. We report that in patients with type 2 diabetes, 1) as in nondiabetic humans, insulin is secreted in discrete insulin secretory bursts; 2) the frequency of pulsatile insulin secretion is normal; 3) the insulin pulse mass is diminished, leading to decreased insulin secretion, but this defect can be overcome acutely by β-cell rest with somatostatin; 4) the reported loss of orderliness of insulin secretion, attenuated first-phase insulin secretion, and elevated proinsulin-to-insulin molar ratio also respond favorably to overnight inhibition by somatostatin. The results of these clinical experiments suggest the conclusion that multiple parameters of abnormal insulin secretion in patients with type 2 diabetes mechanistically reflect cellular depletion of immediately secretable insulin that can be overcome by β-cell rest.


1999 ◽  
Vol 277 (2) ◽  
pp. E283-E290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj Shah ◽  
Ananda Basu ◽  
Rita Basu ◽  
Robert Rizza

People with type 2 diabetes have defects in both α- and β-cell function. To determine whether lack of suppression of glucagon causes hyperglycemia when insulin secretion is impaired but not when insulin secretion is intact, twenty nondiabetic subjects were studied on two occasions. On both occasions, a “prandial” glucose infusion was given over 5 h while endogenous hormone secretion was inhibited. Insulin was infused so as to mimic either a nondiabetic ( n = 10) or diabetic ( n = 10) postprandial profile. Glucagon was infused at a rate of 1.25 ng ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ min−1, beginning either at time zero to prevent a fall in glucagon (nonsuppressed study day) or at 2 h to create a transient fall in glucagon (suppressed study day). During the “diabetic” insulin profile, lack of glucagon suppression resulted in a marked increase ( P < 0.002) in both the peak glucose concentration (11.9 ± 0.4 vs. 8.9 ± 0.4 mmol/l) and the area above basal of glucose (927 ± 77 vs. 546 ± 112 mmol ⋅ l−1 ⋅ 6 h) because of impaired ( P < 0.001) suppression of glucose production. In contrast, during the “nondiabetic” insulin profile, lack of suppression of glucagon resulted in only a slight increase ( P< 0.02) in the peak glucose concentration (9.1 ± 0.4 vs. 8.4 ± 0.3 mmol/l) and the area above basal of glucose (654 ± 146 vs. 488 ± 118 mmol ⋅ l−1 ⋅ 6 h). Of interest, when glucagon was suppressed, glucose concentrations differed only minimally during the nondiabetic and diabetic insulin profiles. These data indicate that lack of suppression of glucagon can cause substantial hyperglycemia when insulin availability is limited, therefore implying that inhibitors of glucagon secretion and/or glucagon action are likely to be useful therapeutic agents in such individuals.


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