scholarly journals Targeting β-Cell Mass in Type 2 Diabetes: Promise and Limitations of New Drugs Based on Incretins

2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 367-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzieh Salehi ◽  
Benedikt A. Aulinger ◽  
David A. D'Alessio

Abstract Progressive insulin secretory defects, due to either functional abnormalities of the pancreatic β-cells or a reduction in β-cell mass, are the cornerstone of type 2 diabetes. Incretin-based drugs hold the potential to improve glucose tolerance by immediate favorable effect on β-cell physiology as well as by expanding or at least maintaining β-cell mass, which may delay the progression of the disease. Long-term studies in humans are needed to elaborate on these effects.

2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 37-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thierry Brun ◽  
Benoit R Gauthier

Blood glucose homeostasis is achieved by the regulation of insulin and glucagon secretion from the pancreatic islet β- and α-cells. Diabetes mellitus, which comprises a heterogeneous group of hyperglycaemic disorders, results mainly from inadequate mass and function of islet β-cells. Autoimmune destruction of β-cells causes type 1 diabetes, while type 2 is characterized by impaired insulin secretion and is often associated with diminished insulin action on its target tissues. Interestingly, similar to type 1 diabetes, a gradual loss of β-cell mass is observed in type 2 diabetes often requiring insulin therapy. Understanding the molecular mechanism that governs β-cell mass plasticity may provide a means to develop strategies to countera,ct β-cell death while increasing replication. Of particular interest is the islet-specific transcription factor paired box4 (Pax4) that was previously shown to be indispensable for the establishment of the β-cell lineage during development. However, recent accumulating evidence now suggest that Pax4 is also crucial for mature β-cell expansion and survival in response to physiological cues and that mutations or polymorphisms are associated with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In contrast, aberrant expression of Pax4 confers protection against apoptosis to insulinomas, whereas it promotes cell growth in lymphocytes. This review summarizes promising new published results supporting the important function of Pax4 in mature islet β-cell physiology and its contribution to pathophysiology when deregulated.


Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Schaid ◽  
Yanlong Zhu ◽  
Nicole E. Richardson ◽  
Chinmai Patibandla ◽  
Irene M. Ong ◽  
...  

The transition from β-cell compensation to β-cell failure is not well understood. Previous works by our group and others have demonstrated a role for Prostaglandin EP3 receptor (EP3), encoded by the Ptger3 gene, in the loss of functional β-cell mass in Type 2 diabetes (T2D). The primary endogenous EP3 ligand is the arachidonic acid metabolite prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Expression of the pancreatic islet EP3 and PGE2 synthetic enzymes and/or PGE2 excretion itself have all been shown to be upregulated in primary mouse and human islets isolated from animals or human organ donors with established T2D compared to nondiabetic controls. In this study, we took advantage of a rare and fleeting phenotype in which a subset of Black and Tan BRachyury (BTBR) mice homozygous for the Leptinob/ob mutation—a strong genetic model of T2D—were entirely protected from fasting hyperglycemia even with equal obesity and insulin resistance as their hyperglycemic littermates. Utilizing this model, we found numerous alterations in full-body metabolic parameters in T2D-protected mice (e.g., gut microbiome composition, circulating pancreatic and incretin hormones, and markers of systemic inflammation) that correlate with improvements in EP3-mediated β-cell dysfunction.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R. Gilbert ◽  
Zhuo Fu ◽  
Dongmin Liu

Insulin resistance and loss of β-cell mass cause Type 2 diabetes (T2D). The objective of this study was to generate a nongenetic mouse model of T2D. Ninety-six 6-month-old C57BL/6N males were assigned to 1 of 12 groups including (1) low-fat diet (LFD; low-fat control; LFC), (2) LFD with 1 i.p. 40 mg/kg BW streptozotocin (STZ) injection, (3), (4), (5), (6) LFD with 2, 3, 4, or 5 STZ injections on consecutive days, respectively, (7) high-fat diet (HFD), (8) HFD with 1 STZ injection, (9), (10), (11), (12) HFD with 2, 3, 4, or 5 STZ injections on consecutive days, respectively. After 4 weeks, serum insulin levels were reduced in HFD mice administered at least 2 STZ injections as compared with HFC. Glucose tolerance was impaired in mice that consumed HFD and received 2, 3, or 4 injections of STZ. Insulin sensitivity in HFD mice was lower than that of LFD mice, regardless of STZ treatment. Islet mass was not affected by diet but was reduced by 50% in mice that received 3 STZ injections. The combination of HFD and three 40 mg/kg STZ injections induced a model with metabolic characteristics of T2D, including peripheral insulin resistance and reduced β-cell mass.


2008 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
pp. 3703-3716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chee W. Chia ◽  
Josephine M. Egan

Context: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide are incretins secreted from enteroendocrine cells postprandially in part to regulate glucose homeostasis. Dysregulation of these hormones is evident in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Two new drugs, exenatide (GLP-1 mimetic) and sitagliptin [dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) 4 inhibitor], have been approved by regulatory agencies for treating T2DM. Liraglutide (GLP-1 mimetic) and vildagliptin (DPP 4 inhibitor) are expected to arrive on the market soon. Evidence Acquisition: The background of incretin-based therapy and selected clinical trials of these four drugs are reviewed. A MEDLINE search was conducted for published articles using the key words incretin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, GLP-1, exendin-4, exenatide, DPP 4, liraglutide, sitagliptin, and vildagliptin. Evidence Synthesis: Exenatide and liraglutide are injection based. Three-year follow-up data on exenatide showed a sustained weight loss and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) reduction of 1%. Nausea and vomiting are common. Results from phase 3 studies are pending on liraglutide. Sitagliptin and vildagliptin are orally active. In 24-wk studies, sitagliptin reduces HbA1c by 0.6–0.8% as monotherapy, 1.8% as initial combination therapy with metformin, and 0.7% as add-on therapy to metformin. Vildagliptin monotherapy lowered HbA1c by 1.0–1.4% after 24 wk. Their major side effects are urinary tract and nasopharyngeal infections and headaches. Exenatide and liraglutide cause weight loss, whereas sitagliptin and vildagliptin do not. Conclusions: The availability of GLP-1 mimetics and DPP 4 inhibitors has increased our armamentarium for treating T2DM. Unresolved issues such as the effects of GLP-1 mimetics and DPP 4 inhibitors on β-cell mass, the mechanism by which GLP-1 mimetics lowers glucagon levels, and exactly how DPP 4 inhibitors lead to a decline in plasma glucose levels without an increase in insulin secretion, need further research.


2007 ◽  
Vol 292 (6) ◽  
pp. E1694-E1701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane J. Kim ◽  
Yoshiaki Kido ◽  
Philipp E. Scherer ◽  
Morris F. White ◽  
Domenico Accili

Type 2 diabetes results from impaired insulin action and β-cell dysfunction. There are at least two components to β-cell dysfunction: impaired insulin secretion and decreased β-cell mass. To analyze how these two variables contribute to the progressive deterioration of metabolic control seen in diabetes, we asked whether mice with impaired β-cell growth due to Irs2 ablation would be able to mount a compensatory response in the background of insulin resistance caused by Insr haploinsufficiency. As previously reported, ∼70% of mice with combined Insr and Irs2 mutations developed diabetes as a consequence of markedly decreased β-cell mass. In the initial phases of the disease, we observed a robust increase in circulating insulin levels, even as β-cell mass gradually declined, indicating that replication-defective β-cells compensate for insulin resistance by increasing insulin secretion. These data provide further evidence for a heterogeneous β-cell response to insulin resistance, in which compensation can be temporarily achieved by increasing function when mass is limited. The eventual failure of compensatory insulin secretion suggests that a comprehensive treatment of β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes should positively affect both aspects of β-cell physiology.


2015 ◽  
Vol 228 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinrong Zhou ◽  
Bangguo Qian ◽  
Ning Ji ◽  
Conghui Lui ◽  
Zhiyuan Liu ◽  
...  

Gastric bypass surgery produces clear antidiabetic effects in a substantial proportion of morbidly obese patients. In view of the recent trend away from ‘bariatric’ surgery and toward ‘metabolic’ surgery, it is important to elucidate the enhancing effect of bypass surgery on pancreatic β-cell mass, which is related to diabetes remission in non-obese patients. We investigated the effects of gastric bypass surgery on glycemic control and other pancreatic changes in a spontaneous non-obese type 2 diabetes Goto-Kakizaki rat model. Significant improvements in postprandial hyperglycemia and plasma c-peptide level were observed when glucose was administered orally post-surgery. Other important events observed after surgery were enhanced first phase insulin secretion in a in site pancreatic perfusion experiment, pancreatic hyperplasia, improved islet structure (revealed by immunohistochemical analysis), striking increase in β-cell mass, slight increase in ratio of β-cell area to total pancreas area, and increased number of small islets closely related to exocrine ducts. No notable changes were observed in ratio of β-cell to non-β endocrine cell area, β-cell apoptosis, or β-cell proliferation. These findings demonstrate that gastric bypass surgery in this rat model increases endocrine cells and pancreatic hyperplasia, and reflect the important role of the gastrointestinal system in regulation of metabolism.


Physiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 325-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Y. Donath ◽  
Marianne Böni-Schnetzler ◽  
Helga Ellingsgaard ◽  
Jan A. Ehses

Onset of Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreatic β-cell fails to adapt to the increased insulin demand caused by insulin resistance. Morphological and therapeutic intervention studies have uncovered an inflammatory process in islets of patients with Type 2 diabetes characterized by the presence of cytokines, immune cells, β-cell apoptosis, amyloid deposits, and fibrosis. This insulitis is due to a pathological activation of the innate immune system by metabolic stress and governed by IL-1 signaling. We propose that this insulitis contributes to the decrease in β-cell mass and the impaired insulin secretion observed in patients with Type 2 diabetes.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2475
Author(s):  
Melvin R. Hayden

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was declared a pandemic by the WHO on 19 March 2020. This pandemic is associated with markedly elevated blood glucose levels and a remarkable degree of insulin resistance, which suggests pancreatic islet β-cell dysfunction or apoptosis and insulin’s inability to dispose of glucose into cellular tissues. Diabetes is known to be one of the top pre-existing co-morbidities associated with the severity of COVID-19 along with hypertension, cardiocerebrovascular disease, advanced age, male gender, and recently obesity. This review focuses on how COVID-19 may be responsible for the accelerated development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as one of its acute and suspected long-term complications. These observations implicate an active role of metabolic syndrome, systemic and tissue islet renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, redox stress, inflammation, islet fibrosis, amyloid deposition along with β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis in those who develop T2DM. Utilizing light and electron microscopy in preclinical rodent models and human islets may help to better understand how COVID-19 accelerates islet and β-cell injury and remodeling to result in the long-term complications of T2DM.


Endocrinology ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 151 (12) ◽  
pp. 5647-5656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksey V. Matveyenko ◽  
Inderroop Singh ◽  
Bo-Chul Shin ◽  
Senta Georgia ◽  
Sherin U. Devaskar

Fetal nutrient and growth restriction is associated with development of type 2 diabetes. Although the exact mechanisms responsible for this association remain debated, intrauterine and/or postnatal maldevelopment of β-cell mass has been proposed as a potential mechanism. To address this hypothesis, β-cell mass development and turnover was assessed in rats exposed to either intrauterine and/or postnatal caloric/growth restriction. In total, four groups of male and female Sprague Dawley rats (n = 69) were developed and studied: 1) control rats, i.e. control mothers rearing control pups; 2) intrauterine calorically and growth-restricted rats, i.e. 50% prenatal calorically restricted pups cross-fostered to control mothers; 3) postnatal calorically and growth-restricted rats, i.e. 50% calorically restricted mothers rearing pups born to control mothers; and 4) prenatal and postnatal calorically and growth restricted rats, i.e. 50% calorically restricted mothers rearing intrauterine 50% calorically restricted pups. Intrauterine growth restriction resulted in approximately 45% reduction of postnatal β-cell fractional area and mass characterized by reduced rate of β-cell replication and decreased evidence of neogenesis. In contrast, β-cell fractional area and weight-adjusted β-cell mass in postnatal growth restriction was approximately 30% higher than in control rats. Rats exposed to both intrauterine and postnatal caloric and growth restriction demonstrated approximately 80% decrease in β-cell mass, reduction in β-cell replication, and decreased evidence of neogenesis compared with control. Neither intrauterine nor postnatal caloric restriction significantly affected the rate of β-cell apoptosis. These data support the hypothesis that intrauterine maldevelopment of β-cell mass may predict the increased risk of type 2 diabetes in adult life.


Endocrinology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 158 (11) ◽  
pp. 3900-3913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Ting Huang ◽  
Shao-Jie Yue ◽  
Chen Li ◽  
Yan-Hong Huang ◽  
Qing-Mei Cheng ◽  
...  

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.


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