scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms of Apoptosis Induction and Its Regulation by Fatty Acids in Pancreatic β-Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4285
Author(s):  
Jan Šrámek ◽  
Vlasta Němcová-Fürstová ◽  
Jan Kovář
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Membrane Fluidity ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mitochondrial Pathway ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
Apoptosis Induction ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells

Pancreatic β-cell failure and death contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. One of the main factors responsible for β-cell dysfunction and subsequent cell death is chronic exposure to increased concentrations of FAs (fatty acids). The effect of FAs seems to depend particularly on the degree of their saturation. Saturated FAs induce apoptosis in pancreatic β-cells, whereas unsaturated FAs are well tolerated and are even capable of inhibiting the pro-apoptotic effect of saturated FAs. Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis induction by saturated FAs in β-cells are not completely elucidated. Saturated FAs induce ER stress, which in turn leads to activation of all ER stress pathways. When ER stress is severe or prolonged, apoptosis is induced. The main mediator seems to be the CHOP transcription factor. Via regulation of expression/activity of pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, and potentially also through the increase in ROS production, CHOP switches on the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis induction. ER stress signalling also possibly leads to autophagy signalling, which may activate caspase-8. Saturated FAs activate or inhibit various signalling pathways, i.e., p38 MAPK signalling, ERK signalling, ceramide signalling, Akt signalling and PKCδ signalling. This may lead to the activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, as well. Particularly, the inhibition of the pro-survival Akt signalling seems to play an important role. This inhibition may be mediated by multiple pathways (e.g., ER stress signalling, PKCδ and ceramide) and could also consequence in autophagy signalling. Experimental evidence indicates the involvement of certain miRNAs in mechanisms of FA-induced β-cell apoptosis, as well. In the rather rare situations when unsaturated FAs are also shown to be pro-apoptotic, the mechanisms mediating this effect in β-cells seem to be the same as for saturated FAs. To conclude, FA-induced apoptosis rather appears to be preceded by complex cross talks of multiple signalling pathways. Some of these pathways may be regulated by decreased membrane fluidity due to saturated FA incorporation. Few data are available concerning molecular mechanisms mediating the protective effect of unsaturated FAs on the effect of saturated FAs. It seems that the main possible mechanism represents a rather inhibitory intervention into saturated FA-induced pro-apoptotic signalling than activation of some pro-survival signalling pathway(s) or metabolic interference in β-cells. This inhibitory intervention may be due to an increase of membrane fluidity.

scholarly journals Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) Mediates Glucolipotoxicity-Induced Apoptosis in β-Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 8016
Author(s):  
Tina Dahlby ◽  
Christian Simon ◽  
Marie Balslev Backe ◽  
Mattias Salling Dahllöf ◽  
Edward Holson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Er Stress ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
Human Islets ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Enhancer Of Zeste ◽  
Cell Gene Expression ◽  
Nfκb Pathway ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

Selective inhibition of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) prevents glucolipotoxicity-induced β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis by alleviation of proapoptotic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-signaling, but the precise molecular mechanisms of alleviation are unexplored. By unbiased microarray analysis of the β-cell gene expression profile of insulin-producing cells exposed to glucolipotoxicity in the presence or absence of a selective HDAC3 inhibitor, we identified Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) as the sole target candidate. β-Cells were protected against glucolipotoxicity-induced ER stress and apoptosis by EZH2 attenuation. Small molecule inhibitors of EZH2 histone methyltransferase activity rescued human islets from glucolipotoxicity-induced apoptosis. Moreover, EZH2 knockdown cells were protected against glucolipotoxicity-induced downregulation of the protective non-canonical Nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells (NFκB) pathway. We conclude that EZH2 deficiency protects from glucolipotoxicity-induced ER stress, apoptosis and downregulation of the non-canonical NFκB pathway, but not from insulin secretory dysfunction. The mechanism likely involves transcriptional regulation via EZH2 functioning as a methyltransferase and/or as a methylation-dependent transcription factor.

scholarly journals The Orphan Nuclear Receptor NR4A1 Protects Pancreatic β-Cells from Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress-mediated Apoptosis

2015 ◽  
Vol 290 (34) ◽  
pp. 20687-20699 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Yu ◽  
Shang Cui ◽  
Chen Zong ◽  
Weina Gao ◽  
Tongfu Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells ◽  
Survivin Promoter ◽  
Min6 Cells ◽  
Chop Expression ◽  
Mouse Islets

The role of NR4A1 in apoptosis is controversial. Pancreatic β-cells often face endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress under adverse conditions such as high free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations and sustained hyperglycemia. Severe ER stress results in β-cell apoptosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of NR4A1 in ER stress-mediated β-cell apoptosis and to characterize the related mechanisms. We confirmed that upon treatment with the ER stress inducers thapsigargin (TG) or palmitic acid (PA), the mRNA and protein levels of NR4A1 rapidly increased in both MIN6 cells and mouse islets. NR4A1 overexpression in MIN6 cells conferred resistance to cell loss induced by TG or PA, as assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, and TUNEL assays indicated that NR4A1 overexpression also protected against ER stress-induced apoptosis. This conclusion was further confirmed by experiments exploiting siRNA to knockdown NR4A1 expression in MIN6 cells or exploiting NR4A1 knock-out mice. NR4A1 overexpression in MIN6 cells reduced C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression and Caspase3 activation induced by TG or PA. NR4A1 overexpression in MIN6 cells or mouse islets resulted in Survivin up-regulation. A critical regulatory element was identified in Survivin promoter (−1872 bp to −1866 bp) with a putative NR4A1 binding site; ChIP assays demonstrated that NR4A1 physically associates with the Survivin promoter. In conclusion, NR4A1 protects pancreatic β-cells against ER stress-mediated apoptosis by up-regulating Survivin expression and down-regulating CHOP expression, which we termed as “positive and negative regulation.”

scholarly journals Optical control of GPR40 signalling in pancreatic β-cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 7604-7610 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Allen Frank ◽  
Dmytro A. Yushchenko ◽  
Nicholas H. F. Fine ◽  
Margherita Duca ◽  
Mevlut Citir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Optical Control ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell Function

Fatty acids activate GPR40 and K+ channels to modulate β-cell function.

scholarly journals Calcium channel blockers do not protect against saturated fatty acid-induced ER stress and apoptosis in human pancreatic β-cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Šrámek ◽  
Vlasta Němcová ◽  
Jan Kovář
Keyword(s):  
Er Stress ◽  
Calcium Channel ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Calcium Channel Blockers ◽  
Calcium Influx ◽  
Saturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Channel Blockers ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells

AbstractIt was evidenced that saturated fatty acids (FAs) have a detrimental effect on pancreatic β-cells function and survival, leading to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium release, ER stress, and apoptosis. In the present study, we have tested the effect of three calcium influx inhibitors, i.e., diazoxide, nifedipine, and verapamil, on the apoptosis-inducing effect of saturated stearic acid (SA) in the human pancreatic β-cell lines NES2Y and 1.1B4. We have demonstrated that the application of all three calcium influx inhibitors tested has no inhibitory effect on SA-induced ER stress and apoptosis in both tested cell lines. Moreover, these inhibitors have pro-apoptotic potential per se at higher concentrations. Interestingly, these findings are in contradiction with those obtained with rodent cell lines and islets. Thus our data obtained with human β-cell lines suggest that the prospective usage of calcium channel blockers for prevention and therapy of type 2 diabetes mellitus, developed with the contribution of the saturated FA-induced apoptosis of β-cells, seems rather unlikely.

scholarly journals Chronic activation of GPR40 does not negatively impact upon BRIN-BD11 pancreatic β-cell physiology and function

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 1725-1737
Author(s):  
Eloisa Aparecida Vilas-Boas ◽  
Noémie Karabacz ◽  
Gabriela Nunes Marsiglio-Librais ◽  
Maíra Melo Rezende Valle ◽  
Lisa Nalbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Secretion ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Cell Physiology ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cell ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells ◽  
Chronic Activation ◽  
And Function

Abstract Background Free fatty acids (FFAs) are known for their dual effects on insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell survival. Short-term exposure to FFAs, such as palmitate, increases insulin secretion. On the contrary, long-term exposure to saturated FFAs results in decreased insulin secretion, as well as triggering oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, culminating in cell death. The effects of FFAs can be mediated either via their intracellular oxidation and consequent effects on cellular metabolism or via activation of the membrane receptor GPR40. Both pathways are likely to be activated upon both short- and long-term exposure to FFAs. However, the precise role of GPR40 in β-cell physiology, especially upon chronic exposure to FFAs, remains unclear. Methods We used the GPR40 agonist (GW9508) and antagonist (GW1100) to investigate the impact of chronically modulating GPR40 activity on BRIN-BD11 pancreatic β-cells physiology and function. Results We observed that chronic activation of GPR40 did not lead to increased apoptosis, and both proliferation and glucose-induced calcium entry were unchanged compared to control conditions. We also observed no increase in H2O2 or superoxide levels and no increase in the ER stress markers p-eIF2α, CHOP and BIP. As expected, palmitate led to increased H2O2 levels, decreased cell viability and proliferation, as well as decreased metabolism and calcium entry. These changes were not counteracted by the co-treatment of palmitate-exposed cells with the GPR40 antagonist GW1100. Conclusions Chronic activation of GPR40 using GW9508 does not negatively impact upon BRIN-BD11 pancreatic β-cells physiology and function. The GPR40 antagonist GW1100 does not protect against the deleterious effects of chronic palmitate exposure. We conclude that GPR40 is probably not involved in mediating the toxicity associated with chronic palmitate exposure.

scholarly journals Protection of pancreatic β-cells by exendin-4 may involve the reduction of endoplasmic reticulum stress; in vivo and in vitro studies

2007 ◽  
Vol 193 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin Tsunekawa ◽  
Naoki Yamamoto ◽  
Katsura Tsukamoto ◽  
Yuji Itoh ◽  
Yukiko Kaneko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Islet Cells ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vivo and in vitro effects of exendin-4, a potent glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist, on the protection of the pancreatic β-cells against their cell death. In in vivo experiments, we used β-cell-specific calmodulin-overexpressing mice where massive apoptosis takes place in their β-cells, and we examined the effects of chronic treatment with exendin-4. Chronic and s.c. administration of exendin-4 reduced hyperglycemia. The treatment caused significant increases of the insulin contents of the pancreas and islets, and retained the insulin-positive area. Dispersed transgenic islet cells lived only shortly, and several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related molecules such as immunoglobulin-binding protein (Bip), inositol-requiring enzyme-1α, X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP-1), RNA-activated protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, activating transcription factor-4, and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) were more expressed in the transgenic islets. We also found that the spliced form of XBP-1, a marker of ER stress, was also increased in β-cell-specific calmodulin-overexpressing transgenic islets. In the quantitative real-time PCR analyses, the expression levels of Bip and CHOP were reduced in the islets from the transgenic mice treated with exendin-4. These findings suggest that excess of ER stress occurs in the transgenic β-cells, and the suppression of ER stress and resultant protection against cell death may be involved in the anti-diabetic effects of exendin-4.

scholarly journals γ-Oryzanol Protects Pancreatic β-Cells Against Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Male Mice

Endocrinology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 156 (4) ◽  
pp. 1242-1250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chisayo Kozuka ◽  
Sumito Sunagawa ◽  
Rei Ueda ◽  
Moritake Higa ◽  
Hideaki Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Insulin Secretion ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Diabetic Mice ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells ◽  
Glucose Stimulated Insulin Secretion

Abstract Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is profoundly involved in dysfunction of β-cells under high-fat diet and hyperglycemia. Our recent study in mice showed that γ-oryzanol, a unique component of brown rice, acts as a chemical chaperone in the hypothalamus and improves feeding behavior and diet-induced dysmetabolism. However, the entire mechanism whereby γ-oryzanol improves glucose metabolism throughout the body still remains unclear. In this context, we tested whether γ-oryzanol reduces ER stress and improves function and survival of pancreatic β-cells using murine β-cell line MIN6. In MIN6 cells with augmented ER stress by tunicamycin, γ-oryzanol decreased exaggerated expression of ER stress-related genes and phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2α, resulting in restoration of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and prevention of apoptosis. In islets from high-fat diet-fed diabetic mice, oral administration of γ-oryzanol improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion on following reduction of exaggerated ER stress and apoptosis. Furthermore, we examined the impact of γ-oryzanol on low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, where exaggerated ER stress and resultant apoptosis in β-cells were observed. Also in this model, γ-oryzanol attenuated mRNA level of genes involved in ER stress and apoptotic signaling in islets, leading to amelioration of glucose dysmetabolism. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that γ-oryzanol directly ameliorates ER stress-induced β-cell dysfunction and subsequent apoptosis, highlighting usefulness of γ-oryzanol for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

scholarly journals AKT1 Regulates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Mediates the Adaptive Response of Pancreatic β Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhechu Peng ◽  
Richa Aggarwal ◽  
Ni Zeng ◽  
Lina He ◽  
Eileen X. Stiles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Adaptive Response ◽  
Metabolic Stress ◽  
Cell Phenotype ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Pancreatic Β Cells ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Growth And Survival

ABSTRACT Isoforms of protein kinase B (also known as AKT) play important roles in mediating insulin and growth factor signals. Previous studies have suggested that the AKT2 isoform is critical for insulin-regulated glucose metabolism, while the role of the AKT1 isoform remains less clear. This study focuses on the effects of AKT1 on the adaptive response of pancreatic β cells. Using a mouse model with inducible β-cell-specific deletion of the Akt1 gene (βA1KO mice), we showed that AKT1 is involved in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced growth and survival of β cells but is unnecessary for them to maintain a population in the absence of metabolic stress. When unchallenged, βA1KO mice presented the same metabolic profile and β-cell phenotype as the control mice with an intact Akt1 gene. When metabolic stress was induced by HFD, β cells in control mice with intact Akt1 proliferated as a compensatory mechanism for metabolic overload. Similar effects were not observed in βA1KO mice. We further demonstrated that AKT1 protein deficiency caused endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and potentiated β cells to undergo apoptosis. Our results revealed that AKT1 protein loss led to the induction of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 α subunit (eIF2α) signaling and ER stress markers under normal-chow-fed conditions, indicating chronic low-level ER stress. Together, these data established a role for AKT1 as a growth and survival factor for adaptive β-cell response and suggest that ER stress induction is responsible for this effect of AKT1.

scholarly journals Neuromedin U uses Gαi2 and Gαo to suppress glucose-stimulated Ca2+ signaling and insulin secretion in pancreatic β cells

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250232
Author(s):  
Weidong Zhang ◽  
Hideyuki Sakoda ◽  
Yuki Nakazato ◽  
Md Nurul Islam ◽  
François Pattou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Secretion ◽  
Er Stress ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Intracellular Camp ◽  
Β Cells ◽  
Β Cell ◽  
Signaling Mechanism

Neuromedin U (NMU), a highly conserved peptide in mammals, is involved in a wide variety of physiological processes, including impairment of pancreatic β-cell function via induction of mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, ultimately suppressing insulin secretion. NMU has two receptors, NMU receptor 1 (NMUR1) and NMUR2, both of which are G-protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). Only NMUR1 is expressed in mouse islets and β cell–derived MIN6-K8 cells. The molecular mechanisms underlying the insulinostatic action mediated by NMUR1 in β cells have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we explored the molecular mechanism driving impairment of insulin secretion in β cells by the NMU–NMUR1 axis. Pretreatment with the Gαi/o inhibitor Bordetella pertussis toxin (PTX), but not the Gαq inhibitor YM254890, abolished NMU-induced suppression of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and calcium response in β cells. Knockdown of Gαi2 and Gαo in β cells counteracted NMU-induced suppression of insulin secretion and gene alterations related to mitochondrial fusion (Mfn1, Mfn2), fission (Fis1, Drp1), mitophagy (Pink1, Park2), mitochondrial dynamics (Pgc-1α, Nrf1, and Tfam), ER stress (Chop, Atp2a3, Ryr2, and Itpr2), intracellular ATP level, and mitochondrial membrane potential. NMU decreased forskolin-stimulated intracellular cAMP in both mouse and human islets. We concluded that NMUR1 coupled to PTX-sensitive Gαi2 and Gαo proteins in β cells reduced intracellular Ca2+ influx and cAMP level, thereby causing β-cell dysfunction and impairment. These results highlight a novel signaling mechanism of NMU and provide valuable insights into the further investigation of NMU functions in β-cell biology.

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