scholarly journals The Placental Secretome: Identifying Potential Cross-Talk Between Placenta and Islet β-Cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 1165-1171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Drynda ◽  
Shanta J. Persaud ◽  
James E. Bowe ◽  
Peter M Jones

Background/Aims: Insulin-secreting islet β-cells adapt to the insulin resistance associated with pregnancy by increasing functional β-cell mass, but the placental signals involved in this process are not well defined. In the current study, we analysed expression of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) mRNAs in mouse islets and islet GPCR ligand mRNAs in placenta during pregnancy to generate an atlas of potential interactions between the placenta and β-cells to inform future functional studies of islet adaptive responses to pregnancy. Methods: Quantative RT-PCR arrays were used to measure mRNA expression levels of: (i) 342 GPCRs in islets from non-pregnant mice, and in islets isolated from mice on gestational days 12 and 18; (ii) 126 islet GPCR ligands in mouse placenta at gestational days 12 and 18. Results: At gestational day 12, a time of rapid expansion of the β-cell mass, 189 islet GPCR mRNAs were quantifiable, while 79 of the 126 known islet GPCR ligand mRNAs were detectable in placental extracts. Approximately half of the quantifiable placental GPCR ligand genes were of unknown function in β-cells. The expression of some islet GPCR and placental ligand mRNAs varied during pregnancy, with altered expression of both GPCR and ligand mRNAs by gestational day 18. Conclusion: The current study has revealed numerous potential routes for interaction between the placenta and islets, and offers an atlas to inform further functional studies of their roles in adaptive responses to pregnancy, and in the regulation of the β-cell mass.

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romano Regazzi ◽  
Adriana Rodriguez-Trejo ◽  
Cécile Jacovetti

Insulin is a key hormone controlling metabolic homeostasis. Loss or dysfunction of pancreatic β-cells lead to the release of insufficient insulin to cover the organism needs, promoting diabetes development. Since dietary nutrients influence the activity of β-cells, their inadequate intake, absorption and/or utilisation can be detrimental. This review will highlight the physiological and pathological effects of nutrients on insulin secretion and discuss the underlying mechanisms. Glucose uptake and metabolism in β-cells trigger insulin secretion. This effect of glucose is potentiated by amino acids and fatty acids, as well as by entero-endocrine hormones and neuropeptides released by the digestive tract in response to nutrients. Glucose controls also basal and compensatory β-cell proliferation and, along with fatty acids, regulates insulin biosynthesis. If in the short-term nutrients promote β-cell activities, chronic exposure to nutrients can be detrimental to β-cells and causes reduced insulin transcription, increased basal secretion and impaired insulin release in response to stimulatory glucose concentrations, with a consequent increase in diabetes risk. Likewise, suboptimal early-life nutrition (e.g. parental high-fat or low-protein diet) causes altered β-cell mass and function in adulthood. The mechanisms mediating nutrient-induced β-cell dysfunction include transcriptional, post-transcriptional and translational modifications of genes involved in insulin biosynthesis and secretion, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. Altered expression of these genes is partly caused by changes in non-coding RNA transcripts induced by unbalanced nutrient uptake. A better understanding of the mechanisms leading to β-cell dysfunction will be critical to improve treatment and find a cure for diabetes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 245 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-257
Author(s):  
Sian J S Simpson ◽  
Lorna I F Smith ◽  
Peter M Jones ◽  
James E Bowe

The corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family of peptides, including urocortin (UCN) 1, 2 and 3, are established hypothalamic neuroendocrine peptides, regulating the physiological and behaviour responses to stress indirectly, via the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. More recently, these peptides have been implicated in diverse roles in peripheral organs through direct signalling, including in placental and pancreatic islet physiology. CRH has been shown to stimulate insulin release through activation of its cognate receptors, CRH receptor 1 (CRHR1) and 2. However, the physiological significance of this is unknown. We have previously reported that during mouse pregnancy, expression of CRH peptides increase in mouse placenta suggesting that these peptides may play a role in various biological functions associated with pregnancy, particularly the pancreatic islet adaptations that occur in the pregnant state to compensate for the physiological increase in maternal insulin resistance. In the current study, we show that mouse pregnancy is associated with increased circulating levels of UCN2 and that when we pharmacologically block endogenous CRHR signalling in pregnant mice, impairment of glucose tolerance is observed. This effect on glucose tolerance was comparable to that displayed with specific CRHR2 blockade and not with specific CRHR1 blockade. No effects on insulin sensitivity or the proliferative capacity of β-cells were detected. Thus, CRHR2 signalling appears to be involved in β-cell adaptive responses to pregnancy in the mouse, with endogenous placental UCN2 being the likely signal mediating this.


2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1355-1366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Huang ◽  
Kaiyuan Yang ◽  
Rennian Wang ◽  
Woo Hyun Han ◽  
Sharee Kuny ◽  
...  

Insulin-secreting pancreatic β-cells adapt to obesity-related insulin resistance via increases in insulin secretion and β-cell mass. Failed β-cell compensation predicts the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the mechanisms of β-cell compensation are not fully understood. Our previous study reported changes in β-cell mass during the progression of T2D in the Nile rat (NR; Arvicanthis niloticus) fed standard chow. In the present study, we measured other β-cell adaptive responses, including glucose metabolism and β-cell insulin secretion in NRs at different ages, thus characterizing NR at 2 months as a model of β-cell compensation followed by decompensation at 6 months. We observed increased proinsulin secretion in the transition from compensation to decompensation, which is indicative of impaired insulin processing. Subsequently, we compared adaptive unfolded protein response in β-cells and demonstrated a positive role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones in insulin secretion. In addition, the incidence of insulin-positive neogenic but not proliferative cells increased during the compensation phase, suggesting nonproliferative β-cell growth as a mechanism of β-cell mass adaptation. In contrast, decreased neogenesis and β-cell dedifferentiation were observed in β-cell dysfunction. Furthermore, the progression of T2D and pathophysiological changes of β-cells were prevented by increasing fibre content of the diet. Novelty Our study characterized a novel model for β-cell compensation with adaptive responses in cell function and mass. The temporal association of adaptive ER chaperones with blood insulin and glucose suggests upregulated chaperone capacity as an adaptive mechanism. β-Cell neogenesis but not proliferation contributes to β-cell mass adaptation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 399 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawood Khan ◽  
Srividya Vasu ◽  
R. Charlotte Moffett ◽  
Victor A. Gault ◽  
Peter R. Flatt ◽  
...  

AbstractModulation of neuropeptide receptors is important for pancreatic β-cell function. Here, islet distribution and effects of the neurotensin (NT) receptor modulators, xenin and NT, was examined. Xenin, but not NT, significantly improved glucose disposal and insulin secretion, in mice. However, both peptides stimulated insulin secretion from rodent β-cells at 5.6 mmglucose, with xenin having similar insulinotropic actions at 16.7 mmglucose. In contrast, NT inhibited glucose-induced insulin secretion. Similar observations were made in human 1.1B4 β-cells and isolated mouse islets. Interestingly, similar xenin levels were recorded in pancreatic and small intestinal tissue. Arginine and glucose stimulated xenin release from islets. Streptozotocin treatment decreased and hydrocortisone treatment increased β-cell mass in mice. Xenin co-localisation with glucagon was increased by streptozotocin, but unaltered in hydrocortisone mice. This corresponded to elevated plasma xenin levels in streptozotocin mice. In addition, co-localisation of xenin with insulin was increased by hydrocortisone, and decreased by streptozotocin. Furtherin vitroinvestigations revealed that xenin and NT protected β-cells against streptozotocin-induced cytotoxicity. Xenin augmented rodent and human β-cell proliferation, whereas NT displayed proliferative actions only in human β-cells. These data highlight the involvement of NT signalling pathways for the possible modulation of β-cell function.


2020 ◽  
Vol 246 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijuan Shao ◽  
Wenjuan Liu ◽  
Ping Liang ◽  
Zhuolun Song ◽  
Odisho Israel ◽  
...  

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration attenuates streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rodent models with unclear underlying mechanisms. We found that GABA and Sitagliptin possess additive effect on pancreatic β-cells, which prompted us to ask the existence of common or unique targets of GLP-1 and GABA in pancreatic β-cells. Effect of GABA on expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TxNIP) was assessed in the INS-1 832/13 (INS-1) cell line, WT and GLP-1R–/– mouse islets. GABA was also orally administrated in STZ-challenged WT or GLP-1R–/– mice, followed by immunohistochemistry assessment of pancreatic islets. Effect of GABA on Wnt pathway effector β-catenin (β-cat) was examined in INS-1 cells, WT and GLP-1R–/– islets. We found that GABA shares a common feature with GLP-1 on inhibiting TxNIP, while this function was attenuated in GLP-1R–/– islets. In WT mice with STZ challenge, GABA alleviated several ‘diabetic syndromes’, associated with increased β-cell mass. These features were virtually absent in GLP-1R–/– mice. Knockdown TxNIP in INS-1 cells increased GLP-1R, Pdx1, Nkx6.1 and Mafa levels, associated with increased responses to GABA or GLP-1 on stimulating insulin secretion. Cleaved caspase-3 level can be induced by high-glucose, dexamethasone, or STZ in INS-1 cell, while GABA treatment blocked the induction. Finally, GABA treatment increased cellular cAMP level and β-cat S675 phosphorylation in WT but not GLP-1R–/– islets. We, hence, identified TxNIP as a common target of GABA and GLP-1 and suggest that, upon STZ or other stress challenge, the GLP-1R-cAMP-β-cat signaling cascade also mediates beneficial effects of GABA in pancreatic β-cell, involving TxNIP reduction.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joao Pedro Werneck-de-Castro ◽  
Flavia Leticia Martins Peçanha ◽  
Diego Henrique Silvestre ◽  
Ernesto Bernal-Mizrachi

AbstractMechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) deficiency or chronic hyperactivation in pancreatic β-cells leads to diabetes. mTORC1 complexes with La-related protein 1 (LARP1) to specifically regulate the expression of 5′ terminal oligopyrimidine tract (5′TOP) mRNAs which encode proteins of the translation machinery and ribosome biogenesis. Here we show that LARP1 is the most expressed LARP in mouse islets and human β-cells, being 2–4-fold more abundant than LARP1B, a member of the family that also interacts with mTORC1. Interestingly, β-cells from diabetic patients have higher LARP1 and LARP1B expression. However, specific deletion of Larp1 gene in β-cells (β-Larp1KO mice) did not impair insulin secretion and glucose metabolism in male and female mice. High fat or high branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) diets did not disturb glucose homeostasis compared to control littermates up to 8 weeks; BCAA diet slightly impaired glucose tolerance in the β-Larp1KO mice at 16 weeks. However, no differences in plasma insulin levels, non-fasting glycemia and β-cell mass were observed in the β-Larp1KO mice. In conclusion, LARP1 is the most abundant LARP in mouse islets and human β-cells, and it is upregulated in diabetic subjects. However, genetically disruption of Larp1 gene did not impact glucose homeostasis in basal and diabetogenic conditions, suggesting no major role for LARP1 in β-cells.


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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 6713
Author(s):  
Romana Bohuslavova ◽  
Ondrej Smolik ◽  
Jessica Malfatti ◽  
Zuzana Berkova ◽  
Zaneta Novakova ◽  
...  

Diabetes is a metabolic disease that involves the death or dysfunction of the insulin-secreting β cells in the pancreas. Consequently, most diabetes research is aimed at understanding the molecular and cellular bases of pancreatic development, islet formation, β-cell survival, and insulin secretion. Complex interactions of signaling pathways and transcription factor networks regulate the specification, growth, and differentiation of cell types in the developing pancreas. Many of the same regulators continue to modulate gene expression and cell fate of the adult pancreas. The transcription factor NEUROD1 is essential for the maturation of β cells and the expansion of the pancreatic islet cell mass. Mutations of the Neurod1 gene cause diabetes in humans and mice. However, the different aspects of the requirement of NEUROD1 for pancreas development are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the role of NEUROD1 during the primary and secondary transitions of mouse pancreas development. We determined that the elimination of Neurod1 impairs the expression of key transcription factors for α- and β-cell differentiation, β-cell proliferation, insulin production, and islets of Langerhans formation. These findings demonstrate that the Neurod1 deletion altered the properties of α and β endocrine cells, resulting in severe neonatal diabetes, and thus, NEUROD1 is required for proper activation of the transcriptional network and differentiation of functional α and β cells.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dror Sever ◽  
Anat Hershko-Moshe ◽  
Rohit Srivastava ◽  
Roy Eldor ◽  
Daniel Hibsher ◽  
...  

AbstractNF-κB is a well-characterized transcription factor, widely known for its roles in inflammation and immune responses, as well as in control of cell division and apoptosis. However, its function in β-cells is still being debated, as it appears to depend on the timing and kinetics of its activation. To elucidate the temporal role of NF-κB in vivo, we have generated two transgenic mouse models, the ToIβ and NOD/ToIβ mice, in which NF-κB activation is specifically and conditionally inhibited in β-cells. In this study, we present a novel function of the canonical NF-κB pathway during murine islet β-cell development. Interestingly, inhibiting the NF-κB pathway in β-cells during embryogenesis, but not after birth, in both ToIβ and NOD/ToIβ mice, increased β-cell turnover, ultimately resulting in a reduced β-cell mass. On the NOD background, this was associated with a marked increase in insulitis and diabetes incidence. While a robust nuclear immunoreactivity of the NF-κB p65-subunit was found in neonatal β-cells, significant activation was not detected in β-cells of either adult NOD/ToIβ mice or in the pancreata of recently diagnosed adult T1D patients. Moreover, in NOD/ToIβ mice, inhibiting NF-κB post-weaning had no effect on the development of diabetes or β-cell dysfunction. In conclusion, our data point to NF-κB as an important component of the physiological regulatory circuit that controls the balance of β-cell proliferation and apoptosis in the early developmental stages of insulin-producing cells, thus modulating β-cell mass and the development of diabetes in the mouse model of T1D.


2006 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 4553-4563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seon-Yong Yeom ◽  
Geun Hyang Kim ◽  
Chan Hee Kim ◽  
Heun Don Jung ◽  
So-Yeon Kim ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Activating signal cointegrator 2 (ASC-2) is a transcriptional coactivator of many nuclear receptors (NRs) and other transcription factors and contains two NR-interacting LXXLL motifs (NR boxes). In the pancreas, ASC-2 is expressed only in the endocrine cells of the islets of Langerhans, but not in the exocrine cells. Thus, we examined the potential role of ASC-2 in insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. Overexpressed ASC-2 increased glucose-elicited insulin secretion, whereas insulin secretion was decreased in islets from ASC-2+/− mice. DN1 and DN2 are two dominant-negative fragments of ASC-2 that contain NR boxes 1 and 2, respectively, and block the interactions of cognate NRs with the endogenous ASC-2. Primary rat islets ectopically expressing DN1 or DN2 exhibited decreased insulin secretion. Furthermore, relative to the wild type, ASC-2+/− mice showed reduced islet mass and number, which correlated with increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation of ASC-2+/− islets. These results suggest that ASC-2 regulates insulin secretion and β-cell survival and that the regulatory role of ASC-2 in insulin secretion appears to involve, at least in part, its interaction with NRs via its two NR boxes.


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