scholarly journals Single-Cell RNAseq Reveals That Pancreatic β-Cells From Very Old Male Mice Have a Young Gene Signature

Endocrinology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 157 (9) ◽  
pp. 3431-3438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yurong Xin ◽  
Haruka Okamoto ◽  
Jinrang Kim ◽  
Min Ni ◽  
Christina Adler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Gene Signature ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Very Old ◽  
Old Mice

Aging improves pancreatic β-cell function in mice. This is a surprising finding because aging is typically associated with functional decline. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of β-cells from 3- and 26-month-old mice to explore how changes in gene expression contribute to improved function with age. The old mice were healthy and had reduced blood glucose levels and increased β-cell mass, which correlated to their body weight. β-Cells from young and old mice had similar transcriptome profiles. In fact, only 193 genes (0.89% of all detected genes) were significantly regulated (≥2-fold; false discovery rate < 0.01; normalized counts > 5). Of these, 183 were down-regulated and mainly associated with pathways regulating gene expression, cell cycle, cell death, and survival as well as cellular movement, function, and maintenance. Collectively our data show that β-cells from very old mice have transcriptome profiles similar to those of young mice. These data support previous findings that aging is not associated with reduced β-cell mass or functional β-cell decline in mice.

scholarly journals Pericytes contribute to the islet basement membranes to promote beta-cell gene expression

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Sakhneny ◽  
Alona Epshtein ◽  
Limor Landsman
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Basement Membranes ◽  
Cell Physiology ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Cell Clustering ◽  
Β Cell Function ◽  
Cell Gene Expression ◽  
Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion

Abstractβ-Cells depend on the islet basement membrane (BM). While some islet BM components are produced by endothelial cells (ECs), the source of others remains unknown. Pancreatic pericytes directly support β-cells through mostly unidentified secreted factors. Thus, we hypothesized that pericytes regulate β-cells through the production of BM components. Here, we show that pericytes produce multiple components of the mouse pancreatic and islet interstitial and BM matrices. Several of the pericyte-produced ECM components were previously implicated in β-cell physiology, including collagen IV, laminins, proteoglycans, fibronectin, nidogen, and hyaluronan. Compared to ECs, pancreatic pericytes produce significantly higher levels of α2 and α4 laminin chains, which constitute the peri-islet and vascular BM. We further found that the pericytic laminin isoforms differentially regulate mouse β-cells. Whereas α2 laminins promoted islet cell clustering, they did not affect gene expression. In contrast, culturing on Laminin-421 induced the expression of β-cell genes, including Ins1, MafA, and Glut2, and significantly improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Thus, alongside ECs, pericytes are a significant source of the islet BM, which is essential for proper β-cell function.

scholarly journals NKX6.1 transcription factor: a crucial regulator of pancreatic β cell development, identity, and proliferation

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Idil I. Aigha ◽  
Essam M. Abdelalim
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Disease Modeling ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Development ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cell ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Β Cell Function

Abstract Understanding the biology underlying the mechanisms and pathways regulating pancreatic β cell development is necessary to understand the pathology of diabetes mellitus (DM), which is characterized by the progressive reduction in insulin-producing β cell mass. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can potentially offer an unlimited supply of functional β cells for cellular therapy and disease modeling of DM. Homeobox protein NKX6.1 is a transcription factor (TF) that plays a critical role in pancreatic β cell function and proliferation. In human pancreatic islet, NKX6.1 expression is exclusive to β cells and is undetectable in other islet cells. Several reports showed that activation of NKX6.1 in PSC-derived pancreatic progenitors (MPCs), expressing PDX1 (PDX1+/NKX6.1+), warrants their future commitment to monohormonal β cells. However, further differentiation of MPCs lacking NKX6.1 expression (PDX1+/NKX6.1−) results in an undesirable generation of non-functional polyhormonal β cells. The importance of NKX6.1 as a crucial regulator in MPC specification into functional β cells directs attentions to further investigating its mechanism and enhancing NKX6.1 expression as a means to increase β cell function and mass. Here, we shed light on the role of NKX6.1 during pancreatic β cell development and in directing the MPCs to functional monohormonal lineage. Furthermore, we address the transcriptional mechanisms and targets of NKX6.1 as well as its association with diabetes.

scholarly journals A Sustained Activation of Pancreatic NMDARs Is a Novel Factor of β-Cell Apoptosis and Dysfunction

Endocrinology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (11) ◽  
pp. 3900-3913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Ting Huang ◽  
Shao-Jie Yue ◽  
Chen Li ◽  
Yan-Hong Huang ◽  
Qing-Mei Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Nuclear Factor Κb ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Stimulation Of ◽  
Sustained Activation

Abstract Type 2 diabetes, which features β-cell failure, is caused by the decrease of β-cell mass and insulin secretory function. Current treatments fail to halt the decrease of functional β-cell mass. Strategies to prevent β-cell apoptosis and dysfunction are highly desirable. Recently, our group and others have reported that blockade of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in the islets has been proposed to prevent the progress of type 2 diabetes through improving β-cell function. It suggests that a sustained activation of the NMDARs may exhibit deleterious effect on β-cells. However, the exact functional impact and mechanism of the sustained NMDAR stimulation on islet β-cells remains unclear. Here, we identify a sustained activation of pancreatic NMDARs as a novel factor of apoptotic β-cell death and function. The sustained treatment with NMDA results in an increase of intracellular [Ca2+] and reactive oxygen species, subsequently induces mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization and a decrease of oxidative phosphorylation expression, and then impairs the mitochondrial function of β-cells. NMDA specifically induces the mitochondrial-dependent pathway of apoptosis in β-cells through upregulation of the proapoptotic Bim and Bax, and downregulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2. Furthermore, a sustained stimulation of NMDARs impairs β-cell insulin secretion through decrease of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (Pdx-1) and adenosine triphosphate synthesis. The activation of nuclear factor–κB partly contributes to the reduction of Pdx-1 expression induced by overstimulation of NMDARs. In conclusion, we show that the sustained stimulation of NMDARs is a novel mediator of apoptotic signaling and β-cell dysfunction, providing a mechanistic insight into the pathological role of NMDARs activation in diabetes.

scholarly journals Biphasic Response of Pancreatic β-Cell Mass to Ablation of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 in Mice

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 2971-2979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Shigeyama ◽  
Toshiyuki Kobayashi ◽  
Yoshiaki Kido ◽  
Naoko Hashimoto ◽  
Shun-ichiro Asahara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tuberous Sclerosis ◽  
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cell ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Islet Mass ◽  
Β Cell Function

ABSTRACT Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of insulin or insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) for regulation of pancreatic β-cell mass. Given the role of tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) as an upstream molecule of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), we examined the effect of TSC2 deficiency on β-cell function. Here, we show that mice deficient in TSC2, specifically in pancreatic β cells (βTSC2−/− mice), manifest increased IGF-1-dependent phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase and 4E-BP1 in islets as well as an initial increased islet mass attributable in large part to increases in the sizes of individual β cells. These mice also exhibit hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia at young ages (4 to 28 weeks). After 40 weeks of age, however, the βTSC2−/− mice develop progressive hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia accompanied by a reduction in islet mass due predominantly to a decrease in the number of β cells. These results thus indicate that TSC2 regulates pancreatic β-cell mass in a biphasic manner.

scholarly journals VMP1-related autophagy induced by a fructose-rich diet in β-cells: its prevention by incretins

2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (8) ◽  
pp. 673-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bárbara Maiztegui ◽  
Verónica Boggio ◽  
Carolina L. Román ◽  
Luis E. Flores ◽  
Héctor Del Zotto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Ultrastructural Changes ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Model Assessment ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Insulin Mrna

The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the role of autophagy and incretins in the fructose-induced alteration of β-cell mass and function. Normal Wistar rats were fed (3 weeks) with a commercial diet without (C) or with 10% fructose in drinking water (F) alone or plus sitagliptin (CS and FS) or exendin-4 (CE and FE). Serum levels of metabolic/endocrine parameters, β-cell mass, morphology/ultrastructure and apoptosis, vacuole membrane protein 1 (VMP1) expression and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were studied. Complementary to this, islets isolated from normal rats were cultured (3 days) without (C) or with F and F + exendin-4 or chloroquine. Expression of autophagy-related proteins [VMP1 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)], apoptotic/antiapoptotic markers (caspase-3 and Bcl-2), GSIS and insulin mRNA levels were measured. F rats developed impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and a significant increase in plasma triacylglycerols, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, insulin levels, homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA) for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-β) indices. A significant reduction in β-cell mass was associated with an increased apoptotic rate and morphological/ultrastructural changes indicative of autophagic activity. All these changes were prevented by either sitagliptin or exendin-4. In cultured islets, F significantly enhanced insulin mRNA and GSIS, decreased Bcl-2 mRNA levels and increased caspase-3 expression. Chloroquine reduced these changes, suggesting the participation of autophagy in this process. Indeed, F induced the increase of both VMP1 expression and LC3-II, suggesting that VMP1-related autophagy is activated in injured β-cells. Exendin-4 prevented islet-cell damage and autophagy development. VMP1-related autophagy is a reactive process against F-induced islet dysfunction, being prevented by exendin-4 treatment. This knowledge could help in the use of autophagy as a potential target for preventing progression from IGT to type 2 diabetes mellitus.

scholarly journals Gut Metabolite Trimethylamine N-Oxide Protects INS-1 β-Cell and Rat Islet Function under Diabetic Glucolipotoxic Conditions

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1892
Author(s):  
Emily S. Krueger ◽  
Joseph L. Beales ◽  
Kacie B. Russon ◽  
Weston S. Elison ◽  
Jordan R. Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Function ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Islet Function ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Granule Formation ◽  
Β Cell Function ◽  
Molecular Effects ◽  
And Function

Serum accumulation of the gut microbial metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is associated with high caloric intake and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Impaired pancreatic β-cell function is a hallmark of diet-induced T2D, which is linked to hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. While TMAO production via the gut microbiome-liver axis is well defined, its molecular effects on metabolic tissues are unclear, since studies in various tissues show deleterious and beneficial TMAO effects. We investigated the molecular effects of TMAO on functional β-cell mass. We hypothesized that TMAO may damage functional β-cell mass by inhibiting β-cell viability, survival, proliferation, or function to promote T2D pathogenesis. We treated INS-1 832/13 β-cells and primary rat islets with physiological TMAO concentrations and compared functional β-cell mass under healthy standard cell culture (SCC) and T2D-like glucolipotoxic (GLT) conditions. GLT significantly impeded β-cell mass and function by inducing oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. TMAO normalized GLT-mediated damage in β-cells and primary islet function. Acute 40µM TMAO recovered insulin production, insulin granule formation, and insulin secretion by upregulating the IRE1α unfolded protein response to GLT-induced ER and oxidative stress. These novel results demonstrate that TMAO protects β-cell function and suggest that TMAO may play a beneficial molecular role in diet-induced T2D conditions.

scholarly journals Imeglimin Ameliorates β-cell Apoptosis by Modulating the Endoplasmic Reticulum Homeostasis Pathway

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinghe Li ◽  
Ryota Inoue ◽  
Yu Togashi ◽  
Tomoko Okuyama ◽  
Aoi Satoh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Cell Survival ◽  
Cell Apoptosis ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Akita Mice ◽  
The Impact

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>

scholarly journals Rosiglitazone Promotes PPARγ-Dependent and -Independent Alterations in Gene Expression in Mouse Islets

Endocrinology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (10) ◽  
pp. 4593-4599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah J. Welters ◽  
Abdelfattah El Ouaamari ◽  
Dan Kawamori ◽  
John Meyer ◽  
Jiang Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Insulin Sensitivity ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Chow Diet ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Enhancer Element ◽  
Pparγ Expression

Abstract The glitazone class of insulin-sensitizing agents act, in part, by the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ in adipocytes. However, it is unclear whether the expression of PPARγ in the islets is essential for their potential β-cell-sparing properties. To investigate the in vivo effects of rosiglitazone on β-cell biology, we used an inducible, pancreatic and duodenal homeobox-1 enhancer element-driven, Cre recombinase to knockout PPARγ expression specifically in adult β-cells (PPARgKO). Subjecting the PPARgKO mice to a chow diet led to virtually undetectable changes in glucose or insulin sensitivity, which was paralleled by minimal changes in islet gene expression. Similarly, challenging the mutant mice with a high-fat diet and treatment with rosiglitazone did not alter insulin sensitivity, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, islet size, or proliferation in the knockout mice despite PPARγ-dependent and -independent changes in islet gene expression. These data suggest that PPARγ expression in the β-cells is unlikely to be directly essential for normal β-cell function or the insulin-sensitizing actions of rosiglitazone.

scholarly journals Metformin Preserves β-Cell Compensation in Insulin Secretion and Mass Expansion in Prediabetic Nile Rats

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 421
Author(s):  
Hui Huang ◽  
Bradi R. Lorenz ◽  
Paula Horn Zelmanovitz ◽  
Catherine B. Chan
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Secretion ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Metformin Treatment ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Β Cell Function ◽  
Glucose Output ◽  
Mass Expansion

Prediabetes is a high-risk condition for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Pancreatic β-cells adapt to impaired glucose regulation in prediabetes by increasing insulin secretion and β-cell mass expansion. In people with prediabetes, metformin has been shown to prevent prediabetes conversion to diabetes. However, emerging evidence indicates that metformin has negative effects on β-cell function and survival. Our previous study established the Nile rat (NR) as a model for prediabetes, recapitulating characteristics of human β-cell compensation in function and mass expansion. In this study, we investigated the action of metformin on β-cells in vivo and in vitro. A 7-week metformin treatment improved glucose tolerance by reducing hepatic glucose output and enhancing insulin secretion. Although high-dose metformin inhibited β-cell glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro, stimulation of β-cell insulin secretion was preserved in metformin-treated NRs via an indirect mechanism. Moreover, β-cells in NRs receiving metformin exhibited increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones and alleviated apoptotic unfold protein response (UPR) without changes in the expression of cell identity genes. Additionally, metformin did not suppress β-cell mass compensation or proliferation. Taken together, despite the conflicting role indicated by in vitro studies, administration of metformin does not exert a negative effect on β-cell function or cell mass and, instead, early metformin treatment may help protect β-cells from exhaustion and decompensation.

scholarly journals Lactation improves pancreatic β cell mass and function through serotonin production

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (541) ◽  
pp. eaay0455
Author(s):  
Joon Ho Moon ◽  
Hyeongseok Kim ◽  
Hyunki Kim ◽  
Jungsun Park ◽  
Wonsuk Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Serotonin Receptor ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Pregnancy imposes a substantial metabolic burden on women through weight gain and insulin resistance. Lactation reduces the risk of maternal postpartum diabetes, but the mechanisms underlying this benefit are unknown. Here, we identified long-term beneficial effects of lactation on β cell function, which last for years after the cessation of lactation. We analyzed metabolic phenotypes including β cell characteristics in lactating and non-lactating humans and mice. Lactating and non-lactating women showed comparable glucose tolerance at 2 months after delivery, but after a mean of 3.6 years, glucose tolerance in lactated women had improved compared to non-lactated women. In humans, the disposition index, a measure of insulin secretory function of β cells considering the degree of insulin sensitivity, was higher in lactated women at 3.6 years after delivery. In mice, lactation improved glucose tolerance and increased β cell mass at 3 weeks after delivery. Amelioration of glucose tolerance and insulin secretion were maintained up to 4 months after delivery in lactated mice. During lactation, prolactin induced serotonin production in β cells. Secreted serotonin stimulated β cell proliferation through serotonin receptor 2B in an autocrine and paracrine manner. In addition, intracellular serotonin acted as an antioxidant to mitigate oxidative stress and improved β cell survival. Together, our results suggest that serotonin mediates the long-term beneficial effects of lactation on female metabolic health by increasing β cell proliferation and reducing oxidative stress in β cells.

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