Identification of a small molecule that stimulates human β-cell proliferation and insulin secretion, and protects against cytotoxic stress in rat insulinoma cells

AbstractA key event in the development of both major forms of diabetes is the loss of functional pancreatic islet β-cell mass. Strategies aimed at enhancing β-cell regeneration have long been pursued, but methods for reliably inducing human β-cell proliferation with full retention of key functions such as glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) are still very limited. We have previously reported that overexpression of the homeobox transcription factor Nkx6.1 stimulates β-cell proliferation, while also enhancing GSIS and providing protection against β-cell cytotoxicity through induction of the VGF prohormone. We developed an Nkx6.1 pathway screen by stably transfecting 832/13 rat insulinoma cells with a VGF promoter-luciferase reporter construct, using the resultant cell line to screen a 630,000 compound chemical library. We isolated three compounds with consistent effects to stimulate human islet cell proliferation. Further studies of the most potent of these compounds, GNF-9228, revealed that it selectively activates human β-cell relative to α-cell proliferation and has no effect on δ-cell replication. In addition, pre-treatment, but not short term exposure of human islets to GNF-9228 enhances GSIS. GNF-9228 also protects 832/13 insulinoma cells against ER stress- and inflammatory cytokine-induced cytotoxicity. In contrast to recently emergent Dyrk1a inhibitors that stimulate human islet cell proliferation, GNF-9228 does not activate NFAT translocation. These studies have led to identification of a small molecule with pleiotropic positive effects on islet biology, including stimulation of human β-cell proliferation and insulin secretion, and protection against multiple agents of cytotoxic stress.

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Orexin A Affects INS-1 Rat Insulinoma Cell Proliferation via Orexin Receptor 1 and the AKT Signaling Pathway

International Journal of Endocrinology ◽

10.1155/2013/854623 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Li Chen ◽

Yuyan Zhao ◽

Delu Zheng ◽

Shujing Ju ◽

Yang Shen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Insulin Secretion ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Caspase 3 ◽

Apoptotic Cell ◽

Orexin A ◽

Beta Cell Line ◽

Insulinoma Cells ◽

Rat Insulinoma

Our aim is to investigate the role of the AKT/PKB (protein kinase B) signaling pathway acting via orexin receptor 1 (OX1R) and the effects of orexin A (OXA) on cell proliferation in the insulin-secreting beta-cell line (INS-1 cells). Rat INS-1 cells were exposed to different concentrations of OXAin vitroand treated with OX1R antagonist (SB334867), PI3K antagonist (wortmannin), AKT antagonist (PF-04691502), or negative control. INS-1 amount of cell proliferation, viability and apoptosis, insulin secretion, OX1R protein expression, caspase-3 activity, and AKT protein levels were determined. We report that OXA (10-10to10-6 M) stimulates INS-1 cell proliferation and viability, reduces the proapoptotic activity of caspase-3 to protect against apoptotic cell death, and increases insulin secretion. Additionally, AKT phosphorylation was stimulated by OXA (10-10to10-6 M). However, the OX1R antagonist SB334867 (10-6 M), the PI3K antagonist wortmannin (10-8 M), the AKT antagonist PF-04691502 (10-6 M), or the combination of both abolished the effects of OXA to a certain extent. These results suggest that the upregulation of OXA-OX1R mediated by AKT activation may inhibit cell apoptosis and promote cell proliferation in INS-1 cells. This finding provides functional evidence of the biological actions of OXA in rat insulinoma cells.

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Vitamin B6 deficiency disrupts serotonin signaling in pancreatic islets and induces gestational diabetes in mice

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-01900-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ashley M. Fields ◽

Kevin Welle ◽

Elaine S. Ho ◽

Clementina Mesaros ◽

Martha Susiarjo

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Insulin Secretion ◽

Pancreatic Islets ◽

Glucose Intolerance ◽

Vitamin B6 ◽

Serotonin Receptor ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Β Cell ◽

Vitamin B6 Deficiency ◽

Maternal Glucose

AbstractIn pancreatic islets, catabolism of tryptophan into serotonin and serotonin receptor 2B (HTR2B) activation is crucial for β-cell proliferation and maternal glucose regulation during pregnancy. Factors that reduce serotonin synthesis and perturb HTR2B signaling are associated with decreased β-cell number, impaired insulin secretion, and gestational glucose intolerance in mice. Albeit the tryptophan-serotonin pathway is dependent on vitamin B6 bioavailability, how vitamin B6 deficiency impacts β-cell proliferation during pregnancy has not been investigated. In this study, we created a vitamin B6 deficient mouse model and investigated how gestational deficiency influences maternal glucose tolerance. Our studies show that gestational vitamin B6 deficiency decreases serotonin levels in maternal pancreatic islets and reduces β-cell proliferation in an HTR2B-dependent manner. These changes were associated with glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, however insulin secretion remained intact. Our findings suggest that vitamin B6 deficiency-induced gestational glucose intolerance involves additional mechanisms that are complex and insulin independent.

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Ontology of the apelinergic system in mouse pancreas during pregnancy and relationship with β-cell mass

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-94725-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Brenda Strutt ◽

Sandra Szlapinski ◽

Thineesha Gnaneswaran ◽

Sarah Donegan ◽

Jessica Hill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Insulin Secretion ◽

Glucose Transporter ◽

Cell Mass ◽

Elevated Serum ◽

Pancreatic Β Cell ◽

Β Cells ◽

Β Cell ◽

Glucose Transporter 2 ◽

Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion

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.

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Deficiency of VCP-Interacting Membrane Selenoprotein (VIMP) Leads to G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Cell Death in MIN6 Insulinoma Cells

Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1159/000495865 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 2185-2197 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lili Men ◽

Juan Sun ◽

Decheng Ren

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cell Death ◽

Insulin Secretion ◽

Cell Apoptosis ◽

Β Cells ◽

Β Cell ◽

Cycle Arrest ◽

G1 Cell Cycle Arrest ◽

Insulinoma Cells

Background/Aims: VCP-interacting membrane selenoprotein (VIMP), an ER resident selenoprotein, is highly expressed in β-cells, however, the role of VIMP in β-cells has not been characterized. In this study, we studied the relationship between VIMP deficiency and β-cell survival in MIN6 insulinoma cells. Methods: To determine the role of VIMP in β-cells, lentiviral VIMP shRNAs were used to knock down (KD) expression of VIMP in MIN6 cells. Cell death was quantified by propidium iodide (PI) staining followed by flow cytometric analyses using a FACS Caliber and FlowJo software. Cell apoptosis and proliferation were determined by TUNEL assay and Ki67 staining, respectively. Cell cycle was analyzed after PI staining. Results: The results show that 1) VIMP suppression induces β-cell apoptosis, which is associated with a decrease in Bcl-xL, and the β-cell apoptosis induced by VIMP suppression can be inhibited by overexpression of Bcl-xL; 2) VIMP knockdown (KD) decreases cell proliferation and G1 cell cycle arrest by accumulating p27 and decreasing E2F1; 3) VIMP KD suppresses unfolded protein response (UPR) activation by regulating the IRE1α and PERK pathways; 4) VIMP KD increases insulin secretion. Conclusion: These results suggest that VIMP may function as a novel regulator to modulate β-cell survival, proliferation, cell cycle, UPR and insulin secretion in MIN6 cells.

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The regulator of G-protein signaling RGS16 promotes insulin secretion and β-cell proliferation in rodent and human islets

Molecular Metabolism ◽

10.1016/j.molmet.2016.08.010 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (10) ◽

pp. 988-996 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Kevin Vivot ◽

Valentine S. Moullé ◽

Bader Zarrouki ◽

Caroline Tremblay ◽

Arturo D. Mancini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Insulin Secretion ◽

G Protein ◽

Human Islets ◽

G Protein Signaling ◽

Protein Signaling ◽

Β Cell

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MiR-190b impedes pancreatic β cell proliferation and insulin secretion by targeting NKX6-1 and may associate to gestational diabetes mellitus

Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction ◽

10.1080/10799893.2020.1810705 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Shuping Wang ◽

Dongyang Wei ◽

Xiaofeng Sun ◽

Yanfang Li ◽

Daocheng Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Insulin Secretion ◽

Gestational Diabetes ◽

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Pancreatic Β Cell ◽

Β Cell

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Effects of the Antitumor Drug OSI-906, a Dual Inhibitor of IGF-1 Receptor and Insulin Receptor, on the Glycemic Control, β-Cell Functions, and β-Cell Proliferation in Male Mice

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2013-2032 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 155 (6) ◽

pp. 2102-2111 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Jun Shirakawa ◽

Tomoko Okuyama ◽

Eiko Yoshida ◽

Mari Shimizu ◽

Yuka Horigome ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Insulin Resistance ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Insulin Secretion ◽

Glycemic Control ◽

Insulin Receptor ◽

Cell Mass ◽

Male Mice ◽

Β Cell ◽

Dual Inhibitor ◽

Cell Functions

The IGF-1 receptor has become a therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer. The efficacy of OSI-906 (linstinib), a dual inhibitor of IGF-1 receptor and insulin receptor, for solid cancers has been examined in clinical trials. The effects of OSI-906, however, on the blood glucose levels and pancreatic β-cell functions have not yet been reported. We investigated the impact of OSI-906 on glycemic control, insulin secretion, β-cell mass, and β-cell proliferation in male mice. Oral administration of OSI-906 worsened glucose tolerance in a dose-dependent manner in the wild-type mice. OSI-906 at a dose equivalent to the clinical daily dose (7.5 mg/kg) transiently evoked glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia. Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-2-deficient mice and mice with diet-induced obesity, both models of peripheral insulin resistance, exhibited more severe glucose intolerance after OSI-906 administration than glucokinase-haploinsufficient mice, a model of impaired insulin secretion. Phloridzin improved the hyperglycemia induced by OSI-906 in mice. In vitro, OSI-906 showed no effect on insulin secretion from isolated islets. After daily administration of OSI-906 for a week to mice, the β-cell mass and β-cell proliferation rate were significantly increased. The insulin signals in the β-cells were apparently unaffected in those mice. Taken together, the results suggest that OSI-906 could exacerbate diabetes, especially in patients with insulin resistance. On the other hand, the results suggest that the β-cell mass may expand in response to chemotherapy with this drug.

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