TIGER: The gene expression regulatory variation landscape of human pancreatic islets

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) identified hundreds of signals associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). To gain insight into their underlying molecular mechanisms, we have created the translational human pancreatic islet genotype tissue-expression resource (TIGER), aggregating >500 human islet genomic datasets from five cohorts in the Horizon 2020 consortium T2DSystems. We impute genotypes using four reference panels and meta-analyze cohorts to improve the coverage of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and develop a method to combine allele-specific expression across samples (cASE). We identify >1 million islet eQTLs, 53 of which colocalize with T2D signals. Among them, a low-frequency allele that reduces T2D risk by half increases CCND2 expression. We identify eight cASE colocalizations, among which we found a T2D-associated SLC30A8 variant. We make all data available through the TIGER portal (http://tiger.bsc.es), which represents a comprehensive human islet genomic data resource to elucidate how genetic variation affects islet function and translates into therapeutic insight and precision medicine for T2D.

A functional genomic approach to identify reference genes for human pancreatic beta cell real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis

Exposure of human pancreatic beta cells to pro-inflammatory cytokines or metabolic stressors is used to model events related to type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR is commonly used to quantify changes in gene expression. The selection of the most adequate reference gene(s) for gene expression normalization is an important pre-requisite to obtain accurate and reliable results. There are no universally applicable reference genes, and the human beta cell expression of commonly used reference genes can be altered by different stressors. Here we aimed to identify the most stably expressed genes in human beta cells to normalize quantitative real-time PCR gene expression.We used comprehensive RNA-sequencing data from the human pancreatic beta cell line EndoC-βH1, human islets exposed to cytokines or the free fatty acid palmitate in order to identify the most stably expressed genes. Genes were filtered based on their level of significance (adjusted P-value >0.05), fold-change (|fold-change| <1.5) and a coefficient of variation <10%. Candidate reference genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR in independent samples.We identified a total of 264 genes stably expressed in EndoC-βH1 cells and human islets following cytokines - or palmitate-induced stress, displaying a low coefficient of variation. Validation by quantitative real-time PCR of the top five genes ARF1, CWC15, RAB7A, SIAH1 and VAPA corroborated their expression stability under most of the tested conditions. Further validation in independent samples indicated that the geometric mean of ACTB and VAPA expression can be used as a reliable normalizing factor in human beta cells.

Prebiotic effect on mood in obese patients is determined by the initial gut microbiota composition: A randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Metabolic and behavioural diseases, which are often related to obesity, have been associated to alterations of the gut microbiota considered as an interesting therapeutic target. We have analyzed in a cohort of obese patients treated with prebiotic inulin versus placebo the potential link between gut microbiota changes occurring upon intervention and their effect on psychological parameters (mood and cognition).

METHODS

A randomized, single-blinded, multicentric, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 106 obese patients assigned to two groups: prebiotic versus placebo, who received respectively 16 g/d of native inulin or maltodextrin combined with dietary advice to consume inulin-rich or -poor vegetables for 3 months as well as to restrict caloric intake. Anthropometric measurements, food intake, psychological questionnaires, serum measures, and fecal microbiome sequencing were performed before and after the intervention.

RESULTS

Inulin supplementation in obese subjects had moderate beneficial effect on emotional competence and cognitive flexibility. However, an exploratory analysis revealed that some patients exhibiting specific microbial signature -elevated Coprococcus levels at baseline- were more prone to benefit from prebiotic supplementation in terms of mood. Positive responders toward inulin intervention in term of mood also displayed worse metabolic and inflammatory profiles at baseline (increased levels of IL-8, insulin resistance and adiposity).

CONCLUSION

This study shows that inulin intake can be helpful to improve mood in obese subjects exhibiting a specific microbial profile. The present work highlights some microbial, metabolic and inflammatory features (IL-8, insulin resistance) which can predict or mediate the beneficial effects of inulin on behaviour in obesity. Food4gut, clinicaltrial.gov: NCT03852069, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03852069.

The position of single-base deletions in the VNTR sequence of the carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) gene determines proteotoxicity

Variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) sequences in the genome can have functional consequences that contribute to human disease. This is the case for the CEL gene, which is specifically expressed in pancreatic acinar cells and encodes the digestive enzyme carboxyl ester lipase. Rare single-base deletions (DELs) within the first (DEL1) or fourth (DEL4) VNTR segment of CEL cause maturity-onset diabetes of the young, type 8 (MODY8), an inherited disorder characterized by exocrine pancreatic dysfunction and diabetes. Studies on the DEL1 variant have suggested that MODY8 is initiated by CEL protein misfolding and aggregation. However, it is unclear how the position of single-base deletions within the CEL VNTR affects pathogenic properties of the protein. Here, we investigated four naturally occurring CEL variants, arising from single-base deletions in different VNTR segments (DEL1, DEL4, DEL9, and DEL13). When the four variants were expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, only DEL1 and DEL4 led to significantly reduced secretion, increased intracellular aggregation, and increased endoplasmic reticulum stress compared with normal CEL protein. The level of O-glycosylation was affected in all DEL variants. Moreover, all variants had enzymatic activity comparable with that of normal CEL. We conclude that the longest aberrant protein tails, resulting from single-base deletions in the proximal VNTR segments, have highest pathogenic potential, explaining why DEL1 and DEL4 but not DEL9 and DEL13 have been observed in patients with MODY8. These findings further support the view that CEL mutations cause pancreatic disease through protein misfolding and proteotoxicity, leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress and activation of the unfolded protein response.

DNAJC3 deficiency induces β-cell mitochondrial apoptosis and causes syndromic young-onset diabetes

OBJECTIVE

DNAJC3, also known as P58IPK, is an Hsp40 family member that interacts with and inhibits PKR-like ER-localized eIF2α kinase (PERK). Dnajc3 deficiency in mice causes pancreatic β-cell loss and diabetes. Loss-of-function mutations in DNAJC3 cause early-onset diabetes and multisystemic neurodegeneration. The aim of our study was to investigate the genetic cause of early-onset syndromic diabetes in two unrelated patients, and elucidate the mechanisms of β-cell failure in this syndrome.

METHODS

Whole exome sequencing was performed and identified variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. DNAJC3 was silenced by RNAi in INS-1E cells, primary rat β-cells, human islets, and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived β-cells. β-cell function and apoptosis were assessed, and potential mediators of apoptosis examined.

RESULTS

The two patients presented with juvenile-onset diabetes, short stature, hypothyroidism, neurodegeneration, facial dysmorphism, hypoacusis, microcephaly and skeletal bone deformities. They were heterozygous compound and homozygous for novel loss-of-function mutations in DNAJC3. DNAJC3 silencing did not impair insulin content or secretion. Instead, the knockdown induced rat and human β-cell apoptosis and further sensitized cells to endoplasmic reticulum stress, triggering mitochondrial apoptosis via the pro-apoptototic Bcl-2 proteins BIM and PUMA.

CONCLUSIONS

This report confirms previously described features and expands the clinical spectrum of syndromic DNAJC3 diabetes, one of the five monogenic forms of diabetes pertaining to the PERK pathway of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. DNAJC3 deficiency may lead to β-cell loss through BIM- and PUMA-dependent activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.

YIPF5 mutations cause neonatal diabetes and microcephaly through endoplasmic reticulum stress

Neonatal diabetes is caused by single gene mutations reducing pancreatic β cell number or impairing β cell function. Understanding the genetic basis of rare diabetes subtypes highlights fundamental biological processes in β cells. We identified 6 patients from 5 families with homozygous mutations in the YIPF5 gene, which is involved in trafficking between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi. All patients had neonatal/early-onset diabetes, severe microcephaly, and epilepsy. YIPF5 is expressed during human brain development, in adult brain and pancreatic islets. We used 3 human β cell models (YIPF5 silencing in EndoC-βH1 cells, YIPF5 knockout and mutation knockin in embryonic stem cells, and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells) to investigate the mechanism through which YIPF5 loss of function affects β cells. Loss of YIPF5 function in stem cell–derived islet cells resulted in proinsulin retention in the ER, marked ER stress, and β cell failure. Partial YIPF5 silencing in EndoC-βH1 cells and a patient mutation in stem cells increased the β cell sensitivity to ER stress–induced apoptosis. We report recessive YIPF5 mutations as the genetic cause of a congenital syndrome of microcephaly, epilepsy, and neonatal/early-onset diabetes, highlighting a critical role of YIPF5 in β cells and neurons. We believe this is the first report of mutations disrupting the ER-to-Golgi trafficking, resulting in diabetes.

Prebiotic dietary fibre intervention improves fecal markers related to inflammation in obese patients: results from the Food4Gut randomized placebo-controlled trial

Purpose

Inulin-type fructans (ITF) are prebiotic dietary fibre (DF) that may confer beneficial health effects, by interacting with the gut microbiota. We have tested the hypothesis that a dietary intervention promoting inulin intake versus placebo influences fecal microbial-derived metabolites and markers related to gut integrity and inflammation in obese patients.

Methods

Microbiota (16S rRNA sequencing), long- and short-chain fatty acids (LCFA, SCFA), bile acids, zonulin, and calprotectin were analyzed in fecal samples obtained from obese patients included in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Participants received either 16 g/d native inulin (prebiotic n = 12) versus maltodextrin (placebo n = 12), coupled to dietary advice to consume inulin-rich versus inulin-poor vegetables for 3 months, in addition to dietary caloric restriction.

Results

Both placebo and prebiotic interventions lowered energy and protein intake. A substantial increase in Bifidobacterium was detected after ITF treatment (q = 0.049) supporting our recent data obtained in a larger cohort. Interestingly, fecal calprotectin, a marker of gut inflammation, was reduced upon ITF treatment. Both prebiotic and placebo interventions increased the ratio of tauro-conjugated/free bile acids in feces. Prebiotic treatment did not significantly modify fecal SCFA content but it increased fecal rumenic acid, a conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 CLA) with immunomodulatory properties, that correlated notably to the expansion of Bifidobacterium (p = 0.031; r = 0.052).

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that ITF-prebiotic intake during 3 months decreases a fecal marker of intestinal inflammation in obese patients. Our data point to a potential contribution of microbial lipid-derived metabolites in gastro-intestinal dysfunction related to obesity.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier

NCT03852069 (February 22, 2019 retrospectively, registered).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00394-021-02484-5.

Towards a Functional Cure for Diabetes Using Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells: Are We There Yet?

Diabetes mellitus is a pandemic metabolic disorder that results from either the autoimmune destruction or the dysfunction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. A promising cure is beta cell replacement through the transplantation of islets of Langerhans. However, donor shortage hinders the widespread implementation of this therapy. Human pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, represent an attractive alternative beta cell source for transplantation. Although major advances over the past two decades have led to the generation of stem cell-derived beta-like cells that share many features with genuine beta cells, producing fully mature beta cells remains challenging. Here, we review the current status of beta cell differentiation protocols and highlight specific challenges that are associated with producing mature beta cells. We address the challenges and opportunities that are offered by monogenic forms of diabetes. Finally, we discuss the remaining hurdles for clinical application of stem cell-derived beta cells and the status of ongoing clinical trials.

Pathological β-Cell Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Type 2 Diabetes: Current Evidence

The notion that in diabetes pancreatic β-cells express endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers indicative of increased unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling is no longer in doubt. However, what remains controversial is whether this increase in ER stress response actually contributes importantly to the β-cell failure of type 2 diabetes (akin to 'terminal UPR'), or whether it represents a coping mechanism that represents the best attempt of β-cells to adapt to changes in metabolic demands as presented by disease progression. Here an intercontinental group of experts review evidence for the role of ER stress in monogenic and type 2 diabetes in an attempt to reconcile these disparate views. Current evidence implies that pancreatic β-cells require a regulated UPR for their development, function and survival, as well as to maintain cellular homeostasis in response to protein misfolding stress. Prolonged ER stress signaling, however, can be detrimental to β-cells, highlighting the importance of "optimal" UPR for ER homeostasis, β-cell function and survival.

Persistent or Transient Human β Cell Dysfunction Induced by Metabolic Stress: Specific Signatures and Shared Gene Expression with Type 2 Diabetes

Pancreatic β cell failure is key to type 2 diabetes (T2D) onset and progression. Here, we assess whether human β cell dysfunction induced by metabolic stress is reversible, evaluate the molecular pathways underlying persistent or transient damage, and explore the relationships with T2D islet traits. Twenty-six islet preparations are exposed to several lipotoxic/glucotoxic conditions, some of which impair insulin release, depending on stressor type, concentration, and combination. The reversal of dysfunction occurs after washout for some, although not all, of the lipoglucotoxic insults. Islet transcriptomes assessed by RNA sequencing and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis identify specific pathways underlying β cell failure and recovery. Comparison of a large number of human T2D islet transcriptomes with those of persistent or reversible β cell lipoglucotoxicity show shared gene expression signatures. The identification of mechanisms associated with human β cell dysfunction and recovery and their overlap with T2D islet traits provide insights into T2D pathogenesis, fostering the development of improved β cell-targeted therapeutic strategies.

The KINGS Ins2 +/G32S Mouse: A Novel Model of β-Cell Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Human Diabetes

Animal models are important tools in diabetes research because ethical and logistical constraints limit access to human tissue. β-Cell dysfunction is a common contributor to the pathogenesis of most types of diabetes. Spontaneous hyperglycemia was developed in a colony of C57BL/6J mice at King's College London (KCL). Sequencing identified a mutation in the Ins2 gene, causing a glycine-to-serine substitution at position 32 on the B chain of the preproinsulin 2 molecule. Mice with the Ins2 +/G32S mutation were named KCL Ins2 G32S (KINGS) mice. The same mutation in humans (rs80356664) causes dominantly inherited neonatal diabetes. Mice were characterized, and β-cell function was investigated. Male mice became overtly diabetic at ∼5 weeks of age, whereas female mice had only slightly elevated nonfasting glycemia. Islets showed decreased insulin content and impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion, which was more severe in males. Transmission electron microscopy and studies of gene and protein expression showed β-cell endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in both sexes. Despite this, β-cell numbers were only slightly reduced in older animals. In conclusion, the KINGS mouse is a novel model of a human form of diabetes that may be useful to study β-cell responses to ER stress.

Integration of single-cell datasets reveals novel transcriptomic signatures of β-cells in human type 2 diabetes

Pancreatic islet β-cell failure is key to the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has opened the possibility to determine transcriptional signatures specifically relevant for T2D at the β-cell level. Yet, applications of this technique have been underwhelming, as three independent studies failed to show shared differentially expressed genes in T2D β-cells. We performed an integrative analysis of the available datasets from these studies to overcome confounding sources of variability and better highlight common T2D β-cell transcriptomic signatures. After removing low-quality transcriptomes, we retained 3046 single cells expressing 27 931 genes. Cells were integrated to attenuate dataset-specific biases, and clustered into cell type groups. In T2D β-cells (n = 801), we found 210 upregulated and 16 downregulated genes, identifying key pathways for T2D pathogenesis, including defective insulin secretion, SREBP signaling and oxidative stress. We also compared these results with previous data of human T2D β-cells from laser capture microdissection and diabetic rat islets, revealing shared β-cell genes. Overall, the present study encourages the pursuit of single β-cell RNA-seq analysis, preventing presently identified sources of variability, to identify transcriptomic changes associated with human T2D and underscores specific traits of dysfunctional β-cells across different models and techniques.

Discovery of the gut microbial signature driving the efficacy of prebiotic intervention in obese patients

OBJECTIVE

The gut microbiota has been proposed as an interesting therapeutic target for metabolic disorders. Inulin as a prebiotic has been shown to lessen obesity and related diseases. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether preintervention gut microbiota characteristics determine the physiological response to inulin.

DESIGN

The stools from four obese donors differing by microbial diversity and composition were sampled before the dietary intervention and inoculated to antibiotic-pretreated mice (hum-ob mice; humanised obese mice). Hum-ob mice were fed with a high-fat diet and treated with inulin. Metabolic and microbiota changes on inulin treatment in hum-ob mice were compared with those obtained in a cohort of obese individuals supplemented with inulin for 3 months.

RESULTS

We show that hum-ob mice colonised with the faecal microbiota from different obese individuals differentially respond to inulin supplementation on a high-fat diet. Among several bacterial genera, Barnesiella, Bilophila, Butyricimonas, Victivallis, Clostridium XIVa, Akkermansia, Raoultella and Blautia correlated with the observed metabolic outcomes (decrease in adiposity and hepatic steatosis) in hum-ob mice. In addition, in obese individuals, the preintervention levels of Anaerostipes, Akkermansia and Butyricicoccus drive the decrease of body mass index in response to inulin.

CONCLUSION

These findings support that characterising the gut microbiota prior to nutritional intervention with prebiotics is important to increase the positive outcome in the context of obesity and metabolic disorders.

Specific gut microbial, biological, and psychiatric profiling related to binge eating disorders: A cross-sectional study in obese patients

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Binge eating disorder (BED) is a frequent eating disorder associated with obesity and co-morbidities including psychiatric pathologies, which represent a big health burden on the society. The biological processes related to BED remain unknown. Based on psychological testing, anthropometry, clinical biology, gut microbiota analysis and metabolomic assessment, we aimed to examine the complex biological and psychiatric profile of obese patients with and without BED.

METHODS

Psychological and biological characteristics (anthropometry, plasma biology, gut microbiota, blood pressure) of 101 obese subjects from the Food4Gut cohort were analysed to decipher the differences between BED and Non BED patients, classified based on the Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnosis (Q-EDD). Microbial 16S rDNA sequencing and plasma non-targeted metabolomics (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) were performed in a subcohort of 91 and 39 patients respectively.

RESULTS

BED subjects exhibited an impaired affect balance, deficits in inhibition and self-regulation together with marked alterations of eating behaviour (increased emotional and external eating). BED subjects displayed a lower blood pressure and hip circumference. A decrease in Akkermansia and Intestimonas as well as an increase in Bifidobacterium and Anaerostipes characterized BED subjects. Interestingly, metabolomics analysis revealed that BED subjects displayed a higher level of one food contaminants, Bisphenol A bis(2,3-dihydroxypropyl) ether (BADGE.2H(2)O) and a food derived-metabolite the Isovalerylcarnitine.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-targeted omics approaches allow to select specific microbial genera and two plasma metabolites that characterize BED obese patients. Further studies are needed to confirm their potential role as drivers or biomarkers of binge eating disorder. Food4gut, clinicaltrial.gov:NCT03852069, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03852069.

Combined transcriptome and proteome profiling of the pancreatic β-cell response to palmitate unveils key pathways of β-cell lipotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Prolonged exposure to elevated free fatty acids induces β-cell failure (lipotoxicity) and contributes to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. In vitro exposure of β-cells to the saturated free fatty acid palmitate is a valuable model of lipotoxicity, reproducing features of β-cell failure observed in type 2 diabetes. In order to map the β-cell response to lipotoxicity, we combined RNA-sequencing of palmitate-treated human islets with iTRAQ proteomics of insulin-secreting INS-1E cells following a time course exposure to palmitate.

RESULTS

Crossing transcriptome and proteome of palmitate-treated β-cells revealed 85 upregulated and 122 downregulated genes at both transcript and protein level. Pathway analysis identified lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, amino-acid metabolism and cell cycle pathways among the most enriched palmitate-modified pathways. Palmitate induced gene expression changes compatible with increased free fatty acid mitochondrial import and β-oxidation, decreased lipogenesis and modified cholesterol transport. Palmitate modified genes regulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function, ER-to-Golgi transport and ER stress pathways. Furthermore, palmitate modulated cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling, inhibiting expression of PKA anchoring proteins and downregulating the GLP-1 receptor. SLC7 family amino-acid transporters were upregulated in response to palmitate but this induction did not contribute to β-cell demise. To unravel critical mediators of lipotoxicity upstream of the palmitate-modified genes, we identified overrepresented transcription factor binding sites and performed network inference analysis. These identified LXR, PPARα, FOXO1 and BACH1 as key transcription factors orchestrating the metabolic and oxidative stress responses to palmitate.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to combine transcriptomic and sensitive time course proteomic profiling of palmitate-exposed β-cells. Our results provide comprehensive insight into gene and protein expression changes, corroborating and expanding beyond previous findings. The identification of critical drivers and pathways of the β-cell lipotoxic response points to novel therapeutic targets for type 2 diabetes.

Perioperative Management of Oral Glucose-lowering Drugs in the Patient with Type 2 Diabetes

The right management of oral glucose-lowering drugs aims to identify, assess, and follow patients with diabetes and avoid unnecessary interruptions of the chronic treatment.

Circulating unmethylated CHTOP and INS DNA fragments provide evidence of possible islet cell death in youth with obesity and diabetes

BACKGROUND

Identification of islet β cell death prior to the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) might allow for interventions to protect β cells and reduce diabetes risk. Circulating unmethylated DNA fragments arising from the human INS gene have been proposed as biomarkers of β cell death, but this gene alone may not be sufficiently specific to report β cell death.

RESULTS

To identify new candidate genes whose CpG sites may show greater specificity for β cells, we performed unbiased DNA methylation analysis using the Infinium HumanMethylation 450 array on 64 human islet preparations and 27 non-islet human tissues. For verification of array results, bisulfite DNA sequencing of human β cells and 11 non-β cell tissues was performed on 5 of the top 10 CpG sites that were found to be differentially methylated. We identified the CHTOP gene as a candidate whose CpGs show a greater frequency of unmethylation in human islets. A digital PCR strategy was used to determine the methylation pattern of CHTOP and INS CpG sites in primary human tissues. Although both INS and CHTOP contained unmethylated CpG sites in non-islet tissues, they occurred in a non-overlapping pattern. Based on Naïve Bayes classifier analysis, the two genes together report 100% specificity for islet damage. Digital PCR was then performed on cell-free DNA from serum from human subjects. Compared to healthy controls (N = 10), differentially methylated CHTOP and INS levels were higher in youth with new onset T1D (N = 43) and, unexpectedly, in healthy autoantibody-negative youth who have first-degree relatives with T1D (N = 23). When tested in lean (N = 32) and obese (N = 118) youth, increased levels of unmethylated INS and CHTOP were observed in obese individuals.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that concurrent measurement of circulating unmethylated INS and CHTOP has the potential to detect islet death in youth at risk for both T1D and T2D. Our data also support the use of multiple parameters to increase the confidence of detecting islet damage in individuals at risk for developing diabetes.

Pancreatic β-cells in type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: different pathways to failure

Loss of functional β-cell mass is the key mechanism leading to the two main forms of diabetes mellitus - type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Understanding the mechanisms behind β-cell failure is critical to prevent or revert disease. Basic pathogenic differences exist in the two forms of diabetes mellitus; T1DM is immune mediated and T2DM is mediated by metabolic mechanisms. These mechanisms differentially affect early β-cell dysfunction and eventual fate. Over the past decade, major advances have been made in the field, mostly delivered by studies on β-cells in human disease. These advances include studies of islet morphology and human β-cell gene expression in T1DM and T2DM, the identification and characterization of the role of T1DM and T2DM candidate genes at the β-cell level and the endoplasmic reticulum stress signalling that contributes to β-cell failure in T1DM (mostly IRE1 driven) and T2DM (mostly PERK-eIF2α dependent). Here, we review these new findings, focusing on studies performed on human β-cells or on samples obtained from patients with diabetes mellitus.

Interindividual Heterogeneity of SGLT2 Expression and Function in Human Pancreatic Islets

Studies implicating sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in glucagon secretion by pancreatic α-cells reported controversial results. We hypothesized that interindividual heterogeneity in SGLT2 expression and regulation may affect glucagon secretion by human α-cells in response to SGLT2 inhibitors. An unbiased RNA-sequencing analysis of 207 donors revealed an unprecedented level of heterogeneity of SLC5A2 expression. To determine heterogeneity of SGLT2 expression at the protein level, the anti-SGLT2 antibody was first rigorously evaluated for specificity, followed by Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis on islets from 10 and 12 donors, respectively. The results revealed a high interdonor variability of SGLT2 protein expression. Quantitative analysis of 665 human islets showed a significant SGLT2 protein colocalization with glucagon but not with insulin or somatostatin. Moreover, glucagon secretion by islets from 31 donors at low glucose (1 mmol/L) was also heterogeneous and correlated with dapagliflozin-induced glucagon secretion at 6 mmol/L glucose. Intriguingly, islets from three donors did not secrete glucagon in response to either 1 mmol/L glucose or dapagliflozin, indicating a functional impairment of the islets of these donors to glucose sensing and SGLT2 inhibition. Collectively, these data suggest that heterogeneous expression of SGLT2 protein and variability in glucagon secretory responses contribute to interindividual differences in response to SGLT2 inhibitors.

Stearoyl CoA desaturase is a gatekeeper that protects human beta cells against lipotoxicity and maintains their identity

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

During the onset of type 2 diabetes, excessive dietary intake of saturated NEFA and fructose lead to impaired insulin production and secretion by insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. The majority of data on the deleterious effects of lipids on functional beta cell mass were obtained either in vivo in rodent models or in vitro using rodent islets and beta cell lines. Translating data from rodent to human beta cells remains challenging. Here, we used the human beta cell line EndoC-βH1 and analysed its sensitivity to a lipotoxic and glucolipotoxic (high palmitate with or without high glucose) insult, as a way to model human beta cells in a type 2 diabetes environment.

METHODS

EndoC-βH1 cells were exposed to palmitate after knockdown of genes related to saturated NEFA metabolism. We analysed whether and how palmitate induces apoptosis, stress and inflammation and modulates beta cell identity.

RESULTS

EndoC-βH1 cells were insensitive to the deleterious effects of saturated NEFA (palmitate and stearate) unless stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD) was silenced. SCD was abundantly expressed in EndoC-βH1 cells, as well as in human islets and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived beta cells. SCD silencing induced markers of inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress and also IAPP mRNA. Treatment with the SCD products oleate or palmitoleate reversed inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Upon SCD knockdown, palmitate induced expression of dedifferentiation markers such as SOX9, MYC and HES1. Interestingly, SCD knockdown by itself disrupted beta cell identity with a decrease in mature beta cell markers INS, MAFA and SLC30A8 and decreased insulin content and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The present study delineates an important role for SCD in the protection against lipotoxicity and in the maintenance of human beta cell identity.

DATA AVAILABILITY

Microarray data and all experimental details that support the findings of this study have been deposited in in the GEO database with the GSE130208 accession code.

Exenatide induces frataxin expression and improves mitochondrial function in Friedreich ataxia

Friedreich ataxia is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease associated with a high diabetes prevalence. No treatment is available to prevent or delay disease progression. Friedreich ataxia is caused by intronic GAA trinucleotide repeat expansions in the frataxin-encoding FXN gene that reduce frataxin expression, impair iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis, cause oxidative stress, and result in mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Here we examined the metabolic, neuroprotective, and frataxin-inducing effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs in in vivo and in vitro models and in patients with Friedreich ataxia. The GLP-1 analog exenatide improved glucose homeostasis of frataxin-deficient mice through enhanced insulin content and secretion in pancreatic β cells. Exenatide induced frataxin and iron-sulfur cluster-containing proteins in β cells and brain and was protective to sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia. GLP-1 analogs also induced frataxin expression, reduced oxidative stress, and improved mitochondrial function in Friedreich ataxia patients' induced pluripotent stem cell-derived β cells and sensory neurons. The frataxin-inducing effect of exenatide was confirmed in a pilot trial in Friedreich ataxia patients, showing modest frataxin induction in platelets over a 5-week treatment course. Taken together, GLP-1 analogs improve mitochondrial function in frataxin-deficient cells and induce frataxin expression. Our findings identify incretin receptors as a therapeutic target in Friedreich ataxia.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines induce cell death, inflammatory responses, and endoplasmic reticulum stress in human iPSC-derived beta cells

Background

Adult human pancreatic beta cells are the “gold standard” for studies on diabetes pathogenesis, but their use is limited by insufficient availability and variable quality. An important effort has recently taken place to differentiate beta cells from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and validate their use for diabetes research. We presently used a 7-stage protocol to generate beta cells from human iPSC and evaluated whether these cells are responsive to the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFNγ, IL-1β, or IFNα) that play a role in type 1 diabetes.

Methods

The iPSC-derived islet-like cell clusters contained 40–50% beta and 10–15% alpha cells and expressed the receptors for IFNγ, IL-1β, or IFNα. Cells were exposed to either IFNγ (1000 U/mL) + IL-1β (50 U/mL) or IFNα alone (2000 U/mL) for 24/48 h. Apoptosis was quantified using Hoechst/propidium iodide staining or the RealTime Glo Apoptosis Kit (Promega). After treatment, CXCL10 secretion was quantified by ELISA. The expression of multiples genes (Ins, Gcg, Nkx2.2, Nkx6.1, Pdx1, Mafa, BiP, Chop, Atf3, CXCL10, CXCL9, CCL5, and HLA-ABC) was quantified by RT-qPCR. Phosphorylation state and total expression of STAT1/STAT2, as well as expression of PDL1 and of the ER chaperone BiP, were quantified by Western blotting. The co-localization of HLA-ABC or cleaved caspase-3 and Ins/Gcg expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The presence of HLA-ABC at the plasma membrane was measured by flow cytometry.

Results

IFNγ + IL-1β and IFNα induced apoptosis of the cells after 48 h of exposure. Cleaved caspase-3 co-localized mostly but not exclusively with Ins+ cells. Exposure to IFNγ + IL-1β induced a pro-inflammatory phenotype, including increased CXCL10, CXCL9, and CCL5 expression; CXCL10 secretion; and HLA-ABC expression. HLA overexpression was confirmed at the protein level by Western blotting and flow cytometry. Exposure to IFNγ + IL-1β (but not IFNα) also induced beta cell dedifferentiation and endoplasmic reticulum stress (increase in BiP, Chop, and Atf3 mRNA expression). Phosphorylation of STAT1 was stimulated already after 1 h by IFNγ + IL-1β and IFNα, while phosphorylation of STAT2 was only activated by IFNα at 1–4 h. PDL1 expression was increased by both IFNγ + IL-1β and IFNα.

Conclusions

Our data show that human iPSC-derived beta cells respond to pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β + IFNγ and IFNα, by activating the same pathogenic processes as adult human primary beta cells. These cells thus represent a valuable tool for future research on the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.

Modulation of adiponectin receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 by phage display-derived peptides in in vitro and in vivo models

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is often linked to metabolic syndrome, which assembles various risk factors related to obesity. Plasma levels of adiponectin are decreased in T2D and obese subjects. Aiming to develop a peptide able to bind adiponectin receptors and modulate their signalling pathways, a 12-amino acid sequence homologous in AdipoR1/R2 has been targeted by phage display with a linear 12-mer peptide library. The selected peptide P17 recognises AdipoR1/R2 expressed by skeletal muscle, liver and pancreatic islets. In HepaRG and C2C12 cells, P17 induced the activation of AMPK (AMPKα-pT172) and the expression of succinate dehydrogenase and glucokinase; no cytotoxic effects were observed on HepaRG cells. In db/db mice, P17 promoted body weight and glycaemia stabilisation, decreased plasma triglycerides to the range of healthy mice and increased adiponectin (in high fat-fed mice) and insulin (in chow-fed mice) levels. It restored to the range of healthy mice the tissue levels and subcellular distribution of AdipoR1/R2, AMPKα-pT172 and PPARα-pS12. In liver, P17 reduced steatosis and apoptosis. The docking of P17 to AdipoR is reminiscent of the binding mechanism of adiponectin. To conclude, we have developed an AdipoR1/AdipoR2-targeted peptide that modulates adiponectin signalling pathways and has therapeutic relevance for T2D and obesity associated pathologies.