Are ionic fluxes of pancreatic beta cells a target for gastric inhibitory polypeptide?

Acute D-Serine Co-Agonism of β-Cell NMDA Receptors Potentiates Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion and Excitatory β-Cell Membrane Activity

Insulin-secreting pancreatic β-cells express proteins characteristic of D-serine regulated synapses, but the acute effect of D-serine co-agonism on its presumptive β-cell target, N-methyl D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), is unclear. We used multiple models to evaluate glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion in mice with a systemic increase in D-serine (intraperitoneal injection or DAAO mutants without D-serine catabolism) or tissue-specific loss of Grin1-encoded GluN1, the D-serine binding NMDAR subunit. We also investigated the effects of D-serine ± NMDA on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and β-cell depolarizing membrane oscillations, using perforated patch electrophysiology, in β-cell-containing primary isolated mouse islets. In vivo models of elevated D-serine correlated to improved blood glucose and insulin levels. In vitro, D-serine potentiated GSIS and β-cell membrane excitation, dependent on NMDAR activating conditions including GluN1 expression (co-agonist target), simultaneous NMDA (agonist), and elevated glucose (depolarization). Pancreatic GluN1-loss females were glucose intolerant and GSIS was depressed in islets from younger, but not older, βGrin1 KO mice. Thus, D-serine is capable of acute antidiabetic effects in mice and potentiates insulin secretion through excitatory β-cell NMDAR co-agonism but strain-dependent shifts in potency and age/sex-specific Grin1-loss phenotypes suggest that context is critical to the interpretation of data on the role of D-serine and NMDARs in β-cell function.

Pancreatic β-Cell Electrical Activity and Insulin Secretion: Of Mice and Men

The pancreatic β-cell plays a key role in glucose homeostasis by secreting insulin, the only hormone capable of lowering the blood glucose concentration. Impaired insulin secretion results in the chronic hyperglycemia that characterizes type 2 diabetes (T2DM), which currently afflicts >450 million people worldwide. The healthy β-cell acts as a glucose sensor matching its output to the circulating glucose concentration. It does so via metabolically induced changes in electrical activity, which culminate in an increase in the cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration and initiation of Ca2+-dependent exocytosis of insulin-containing secretory granules. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the β-cell transcriptome, electrical activity, and insulin exocytosis. We highlight salient differences between mouse and human β-cells, provide models of how the different ion channels contribute to their electrical activity and insulin secretion, and conclude by discussing how these processes become perturbed in T2DM.

A Novel Mechanism for the Suppression of a Voltage-gated Potassium Channel by Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Polypeptide

The mechanisms involved in glucose regulation of insulin secretion by ATP-sensitive (K(ATP)) and calcium-activated (K(CA)) potassium channels have been extensively studied, but less is known about the role of voltage-gated (K(V)) potassium channels in pancreatic beta-cells. The incretin hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) stimulates insulin secretion by potentiating events underlying membrane depolarization and exerting direct effects on exocytosis. In the present study, we identified a novel role for GIP in regulating K(V)1.4 channel endocytosis. In GIP receptor-expressing HEK293 cells, GIP reduced A-type peak ionic current amplitude of K(V)1.4 via activation of protein kinase A (PKA). Using mutant forms of K(V)1.4 with Ala-Ser/Thr substitutions in a potential PKA phosphorylation site, C-terminal phosphorylation was shown to be linked to GIP-mediated current amplitude decreases. Proteinase K digestion and immunocytochemical studies on mutant K(V)1.4 localization following GIP stimulation demonstrated phosphorylation-dependent rapid endocytosis of K(V)1.4. Expression of K(V)1.4 protein was also demonstrated in human beta-cells; GIP treatment resulting in similar decreases in A-type potassium current peak amplitude to those in HEK293 cells. Transient overexpression in INS-1 beta-cells (clone 832/13) of wild-type (WT) K(V)1.4, or a T601A mutant form resistant to PKA phosphorylation, resulted in reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion; WT K(V)1.4 overexpression potentiated GIP-induced insulin secretion, whereas this response was absent in T601A cells. These results strongly support an important novel role for GIP in regulating K(V)1.4 cell surface expression and modulation of A-type potassium currents, which is likely to be critically important for its insulinotropic action.

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide stimulates thymidine incorporation in endothelial cells: role of endothelin-1

We have previously characterized the receptor for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIPR) in vascular endothelial cells (EC). Different EC types were found to contain distinct GIPR splice variants. To determine whether activation of the GIPR splice variants resulted in different cellular responses, we examined GIP effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), which contain two GIPR splice variants, and compared them with a spontaneously transformed human umbilical vein EC line, ECV 304, which contains four GIPR splice variants. GIP dose-dependently stimulated HUVEC and ECV 304 proliferation as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation. GIP increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion from HUVEC but not from ECV 304. Use of the endothelin B receptor blocker BQ-788 resulted in an inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation in HUVEC but not in ECV 304. These findings suggest that, although GIP increases [3H]thymidine incorporation in both HUVEC and ECV 304, this proliferative response is mediated by ET-1 only in HUVEC. These differences in cellular response to GIP may be related to differences in activation of GIPR splice variants.

A new pathway for glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor signaling: evidence for the involvement of phospholipase A2 in GIP-stimulated insulin secretion

The hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is an important regulator of insulin secretion. GIP has been shown to increase adenylyl cyclase activity, elevate intracellular Ca(2+) levels, and stimulate a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in the pancreatic beta-cell. In the current study we demonstrate a role for arachidonic acid in GIP-mediated signal transduction. Static incubations revealed that both GIP (100 nm) and ATP (5 microm) significantly increased [(3)H]arachidonic acid ([(3)H]AA) efflux from transfected Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells expressing the GIP receptor (basal, 128 +/- 11 cpm/well; GIP, 212 +/- 32 cpm/well; ATP, 263 +/- 35 cpm/well; n = 4; p < 0.05). In addition, GIP receptors were shown for the first time to be capable of functionally coupling to AA production through Gbetagamma dimers in Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells. In a beta-cell model (betaTC-3), GIP was found to elicit [(3)H]AA release, independent of glucose, in a concentration-dependent manner (EC(50) value of 1.4 +/- 0.62 nm; n = 3). Although GIP did not potentiate insulin release under extracellular Ca(2+)-free conditions, it was still capable of elevating intracellular cAMP and stimulating [(3)H]AA release. Our data suggest that cAMP is the proximal signaling intermediate responsible for GIP-stimulated AA release. Finally, stimulation of GIP-mediated AA production was shown to be mediated via a Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2). Arachidonic acid is therefore a new component of GIP-mediated signal transduction in the beta-cell.

Glucagon-like-peptide-1 secretion from canine L-cells is increased by glucose-dependent-insulinotropic peptide but unaffected by glucose

Glucagon-like peptide-1(7-36)amide (GLP-1) is a potent insulinotropic peptide released from the small intestine. To investigate the regulation of GLP-1 secretion, we established a GLP-1 release assay based on primary canine intestinal L-cells. The ileal mucosa was digested with collagenase/EDTA to a single cell suspension and enriched for L-cells by counterstream centrifugal elutriation. We performed release assays on the cultured cells after 36 h, and GLP-1 in the supernatant was determined by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) dose dependently stimulated the release of GLP-1 and resulted in a 2-fold increase at 100 nM GIP. This effect was fully inhibited by 10 nM somatostatin. However, neither basal or GIP stimulated GLP-1 secretion were affected by ambient glucose concentrations from 5-25 mM. The receptor-independent secretagogues beta phorbol myristate acetate and forskolin dose dependently increased the secretion of GLP-1; effects inhibited by staurosporine and H8 respectively. Costimulation with GIP and phorbol ester, but not forskolin, resulted in an additive response. Furthermore, the effect of GIP could be inhibited by H8 but not by staurosporine. These results indicate that glucose does not directly stimulate canine L-cells. It is more probable that glucose releases GIP from the upper intestine that in turn stimulates GLP-1 secretion. The ability of GIP to stimulate GLP-1 secretion is probably mediated through activation of protein kinase A.

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide activates MAP kinase through the wortmannin-sensitive and -insensitive pathways

The signal transduction pathways of a cloned human gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor have been investigated in CHO cells stably expressing this receptor. Exposure of GIP receptor expressing cells to GIP significantly increased MAP kinase activity. Time course analysis showed that a rapid and marked increase in MAP kinase activation was detected and that this activation reached maximal levels 10 min after the addition of GIP. Dose-response analysis showed that GIP activated MAP kinase activity in a dose-dependent manner with an ED50 value of 5.9 x 10(-10) M of GIP. Wortmannin, a potent inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase), partially inhibited GIP-induced MAP kinase activation, suggesting that GIP activates MAP kinase through two different, wortmannin-sensitive and -insensitive pathways. It has been demonstrated that in CHO cells cAMP attenuates MAP kinase activity by inhibiting Raf-1. Since GIP elevates intracellular cAMP, we examined the effects of cAMP on MAP kinase activation. Interestingly, forskolin, which increased intracellular cAMP levels, significantly inhibited MAP kinase activation by GIP, but did not affect MAP kinase activation by GIP in the presence of wortmannin, suggesting that the wortmannin-sensitive pathway activates an MAP kinase cascade at or above the level of Raf-1 and that the wortmannin-insensitive pathway activates an MAP kinase cascade below the level of Raf-1. These findings demonstrate that the GIP receptor is linked to the MAP kinase cascade via at least two different pathways.

A point mutation in the glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide receptor confers constitutive activity

The glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide receptor (GIP-R) is a member of the secretin and parathyroid hormone (PTH) family of seven transmembrane-spanning receptors. Point mutations of a histidine at the junction between the first intracellular loop and the second membrane-spanning domain and a threonine in the sixth membrane-spanning domain of the human PTH-receptor have been reported to be associated with constitutive activation of the PTH receptor in Jansen-type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia. In this study, we explored whether such mutations in the GIP-R might similarly induce constitutive, ligand-independent activation of the receptor. Single amino acid substitutions in the GIP receptor were made by site-directed mutagenesis and receptor binding and cAMP levels were measured in transfected human embryonal kidney cell line (L293). Mutation of the threonine at position 340 in the sixth transmembrane spanning domain to proline (T340P) led to agonist-independent constitutive activity and exhibited a four-fold increase in basal cAMP level as compared to the wild-type GIP-R. The increase in cAMP level in T340P mutant was proportional to the amount of transfected plasmid and corresponded to the receptor number on the cell surface. Despite its high basal cAMP level, the T340P mutant could be further stimulated by GIP, with maximal cAMP generation comparable to the wild-type receptor. The change of amino acid histidine at position 169 to arginine (H169R), however, behaved like the wild type receptor and did not possess constitutive activity. These results illustrate that a point mutation of threonine to proline at position 340 results in constitutive activation of the GIP receptor, without affecting its sensitivity to agonist stimulation.

Gastric inhibitory polypeptide and splanchnic blood perfusion: augmentation of the islet blood flow increase in hyperglycemic rats

The aim of the study was to investigate how the incretin candidate hormone gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) affects splanchnic blood flow, especially pancreatic islet blood flow. For this purpose, male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intravenously with either saline or GIP (5 or 15 micrograms/kg body weight) 10 min before blood flow measurements by a microsphere technique. Furthermore, 3 min before the blood flow measurements, 1 ml of either saline or 30% D-glucose was given intravenously. All glucose-injected animals were markedly hyperglycemic (> 20 mmol/liter) at the time of the blood flow measurements. Both doses of GIP potentiated basal and glucose-stimulated insulin release. In the normoglycemic rats, the lowest dose of GIP did not affect the blood perfusion to any of the investigated organs. The highest dose of GIP decreased whole pancreatic and duodenal blood flow, whereas islet blood flow was unaffected. As a result, fractional islet blood flow was increased. In the hyperglycemic rats, where the islet blood flow was increased compared with control animals, both doses of GIP further enhanced islet blood flow. No effect on pancreatic, fractional islet, or duodenal blood flow was seen after GIP administration to hyperglycemic animals. It is concluded that administration of GIP can further augment the glucose-induced stimulation of islet blood flow. This may contribute to facilitating release of insulin from the islets.

DBI mRNA is expressed in endocrine pancreas and its post-translational product DBI(33-50) inhibits insulin release

It has been previously demonstrated that DBI is present in endocrine pancreas and it is able to inhibit insulin release in isolated rat islets. Its mechanism of action has been investigated, demonstrating the possible involvement of cAMP and ATP-dependent K(+) channels. DB1(33-50), a post-translational product of DBI, is also able to inhibit insulin release, but its action has not been characterized. In the present study, we have investigated the presence of DBI mRNA in pancreas, islets and cultured ß cells. The possible mechanism of action of DBI(33-50) and the involvement of BZ/GABA(A) receptors has been studied.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-augmented insulin release: actions on ionic fluxes and electrical activity of mouse islets

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide is a pancreatic neurotransmitter which augments insulin release. To obtain more detailed information on its mode of action on the pancreatic beta cell we studied the effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide on 86Rb+ efflux, 45Ca2+ uptake, electrical activity and second messenger systems of isolated mouse islets. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide enhanced insulin release and 45Ca2+ uptake in a concentration-dependent manner, and was effective at non-stimulatory and stimulatory glucose levels. It increased glucose-induced electrical activity but was without effect on either glucose-mediated changes of 86Rb+ efflux, cAMP or inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate content. It is suggested that vasoactive intestinal polypeptide augments insulin release by increasing the uptake of Ca2+ into the cell by as yet undefined mechanisms.