Impaired cyclic AMP response to stimuli in glucose-desensitized rat pancreatic islets

Islet β cell mass in diabetes and how it relates to function, birth, and death

In type 1 diabetes (T1D) β cell mass is markedly reduced by autoimmunity. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) results from inadequate β cell mass and function that can no longer compensate for insulin resistance. The reduction of β cell mass in T2D may result from increased cell death and/or inadequate birth through replication and neogenesis. Reduction in mass allows glucose levels to rise, which places β cells in an unfamiliar hyperglycemic environment, leading to marked changes in their phenotype and a dramatic loss of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), which worsens as glucose levels climb. Toxic effects of glucose on β cells (glucotoxicity) appear to be the culprit. This dysfunctional insulin secretion can be reversed when glucose levels are lowered by treatment, a finding with therapeutic significance. Restoration of β cell mass in both types of diabetes could be accomplished by either β cell regeneration or transplantation. Learning more about the relationships between β cell mass, turnover, and function and finding ways to restore β cell mass are among the most urgent priorities for diabetes research.

ATP-independent glucose stimulation of sphingosine kinase in rat pancreatic islets

Sphingosine kinase (SPHK) catalyzes sphingosine 1-phosphate production, promoting cell survival and reducing apoptosis in isolated rat pancreatic islets. Glucose, the primary islet beta-cell growth factor and insulin secretagogue, increased islet SPHK activity by 3- to 5-fold following acute (1 h) or prolonged (7 days) stimulation. Prolonged stimulation of islets with glucose induced SPHK1a and SPHK2 mRNA levels; there were no changes in SPHK protein expression. To isolate the metabolic effects of glucose on SPHK activation, islets were stimulated with glucose analogs or metabolites. 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), an analog phosphorylated by glucokinase but not an effective energy source, activated SPHK similarly to glucose. In contrast, 3-o-methylglucose (3-oMeG), which is transported but neither phosphorylated nor metabolized, did not increase islet SPHK activity. Glyceraldehyde and alpha-ketoisocaproic acid (KIC), metabolites that stimulate glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, respectively, did not activate islet SPHK. Moreover, inorganic phosphate blocked glucose-induced SPHK activation. A role for SPHK activity in beta-cell growth was confirmed when small interfering (si)SPHK2 RNA transfection reduced rat insulinoma INS-1e cell SPHK levels and activity and cell growth. Glucose induced an early and sustained increase in islet SPHK activity that was dependent on glucose phosphorylation, but independent of ATP generation or new protein biosynthesis. Glucose-supported beta-cell growth appears to be in part mediated by SPHK activity.

Restitution of defective glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in diabetic GK rat by acetylcholine uncovers paradoxical stimulatory effect of beta-cell muscarinic receptor activation on cAMP production

Because acetylcholine (ACh) is a recognized potentiator of glucose-stimulated insulin release in the normal beta-cell, we have studied ACh's effect on islets of the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat, a spontaneous model of type 2 diabetes. We first verified that ACh was able to restore the insulin secretory glucose competence of the GK beta-cell. Then, we demonstrated that in GK islets 1) ACh elicited a first-phase insulin release at low glucose, whereas it had no effect in Wistar; 2) total phospholipase C activity, ACh-induced inositol phosphate production, and intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) elevation were normal; 3) ACh triggered insulin release, even in the presence of thapsigargin, which induced a reduction of the ACh-induced [Ca2+]i response (suggesting that ACh produces amplification signals that augment the efficacy of elevated [Ca2+]i on GK exocytosis); 4) inhibition of protein kinase C did not affect [Ca2+]i nor the insulin release responses to ACh; and 5) inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinases (PKAs), adenylyl cyclases, or cAMP generation, while not affecting the [Ca2+]i response, significantly lowered the insulinotropic response to ACh (at low and high glucose). In conclusion, ACh acts mainly through activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway to potently enhance Ca2+-stimulated insulin release in the GK beta-cell and, in doing so, normalizes its defective glucose responsiveness.

Endothelial differentiation gene receptors in pancreatic islets and INS-1 cells

The endothelial differentiation gene (EDG) receptors are a class of G protein-coupled receptors. EDG-1, -3, -5, -6, and -8 bind the bioactive lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (SPP) as the primary signaling ligand. EDG-2, -4, and -7 bind the ligand lysophosphatidic acid. EDG-1, -2, -3, -5, -6, and -7, but not -8, mRNAs were expressed in isolated rat pancreatic islets, whereas INS-1 insulinoma cells expressed only EDG-1, -2, -3, and -5 mRNAs. EDG-4 mRNA was expressed in mouse islets. EDG-1 mRNA but not EDG-3 mRNA was rapidly induced relative to 18S rRNA after stimulation of isolated islets with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or cholecystokinin-8S for 2 h. The protein kinase C inhibitor GF 109203X blocked the EDG-1 induction by PMA. Similarly, in islets stimulated for 2 h with 17 mmol/l glucose, the relative EDG-1 mRNA levels increased almost twofold compared with levels in control islets at 5.5 mmol/l glucose. In contrast, after 11 mmol/l glucose stimulation for 7 days, the relative levels of rat islet EDG-1 mRNA were significantly reduced to 54% below that of islets cultured at 5.5 mmol/l glucose. There was no change in relative EDG-3 mRNA levels. Stimulation of EDG receptors in islets and INS-1 cells with SPP inhibited glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)-stimulated cAMP production and insulin secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. Pertussis toxin antagonized the SPP effects on insulin release. Thus, EDG receptors are expressed in pancreatic islet beta-cells and G(i) seems to mediate the inhibition by SPP of adenylyl cyclase and cAMP formation and inhibition of the stimulation of insulin secretion by GLP-1.

Prolactin regulates adenylyl cyclase and insulin secretion in rat pancreatic islets

A role for prolactin (PRL) in the regulation of adenylyl cyclase (AC), cyclic AMP (cAMP) formation and insulin secretion was studied in isolated rat pancreatic islets cultured for 4 days at 5.5 mM glucose in the absence (control) or presence of PRL (500 ng/ml). In PRL-treated islets, stimulation by glucose (8 mM), carbamylcholine chloride (CCh) and phorbol dibutyrate increased cAMP levels 40, 89, and 151%, respectively, above similarly stimulated control islets without PRL. Moreover, insulin secretion in PRL-treated islets was more than doubled in response to 8 mM glucose plus glucagon-like peptide 1 compared with control islets. PRL also increased protein kinase C (PKC) activity in cultured islets. When islets were cultured at an insulin secretion desensitizing concentration of glucose (11 mM) for 4 days, there was a decrease in forskolin-stimulated cAMP production. However, the presence of PRL with 11 mM glucose prevented the glucose-induced decrease in cAMP production. Insulin secretion in response to 17 mM glucose was also higher (P<0.02) in islets cultured with 11 mM glucose plus PRL compared with islets cultured with 11 mM glucose alone. Islet AC types -III, -V, and -VI mRNA levels increased relative to 18s rRNA following PRL treatment. In contrast, culture at 11 mM glucose decreased relative AC-III, -V and -VI mRNA levels by as much as 50%. Culture with PRL prevented the decrease in AC expression during islet culture with 11 mM glucose, and the mRNA levels remained similar to control islets cultured at 5.5 mM glucose. Thus, PRL not only increased islet AC expression and activity and insulin secretory responsiveness, but also protected islets from chronic glucose-induced inhibition of these beta-cell activation parameters.

Role of nerve growth factor in the regulation of parotid cell differentiation induced by rat serum

The present study was undertaken to examine the factors that regulate rat serum (RS)- and nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced differentiation in a rat parotid acinar cell line. RS elicited extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/ERK2) activation within 5min, while cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels transiently rose after 6hr. RS also elicited a rise in amylase mRNA levels within 30min, which preceded the rise in amylase protein levels. A possible role for NGF was suggested by the findings that parotid cells express both TrkA and p75 receptors. The immunoreactivity of these NGF receptors was reduced during exposure to RS. Following prolonged incubation in RS when ERK activity subsided to near basal levels, NGF restored ERK1/ERK2 activity to the elevated level initially observed in RS. NGF was ineffective when cells were incubated in fetal bovine serum. NGF, when incubated in combination with the cAMP-generating neuropeptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide, markedly enhanced the cellular amylase content produced by RS. We conclude that parotid cell differentiation arises from an activation of cell surface receptors by humoral factors in combination with NGF and cAMP-generating neuropeptides.

Differential activation mechanisms of Erk-1/2 and p70(S6K) by glucose in pancreatic beta-cells

Glucose can activate the mitogen-activated kinases, Erk-1/2, and the ribosomal-S6 kinase, p70(S6K), in beta-cells, contributing to an increase in mitogenesis. However, the signaling mechanism by which glucose induces Erk-1/2 and p70(S6K) phosphorylation activation is undefined. Increased glucose metabolism increases [Ca(2+)](i) and [cAMP], and it was investigated if these secondary signals were linked to glucose-induced Erk-1/2 and p70(S6K) activation in pancreatic beta-cells. Blocking Ca(2+) influx with verapamil, or inhibiting protein kinase A (PKA) with H89, prevented glucose-induced Erk-1/2 phosphorylation. Increasing cAMP levels by GLP-1 potentiated glucose-induced Erk-1/2 phosphorylation via PKA activation. Elevation of [Ca(2+)](i) by glyburide potentiated Erk-1/2 phosphorylation, which was also inhibited by H89, suggesting increased [Ca(2+)](i) preceded PKA for glucose-induced Erk-1/2 activation. Adenoviral-mediated expression of dominant negative Ras in INS-1 cells decreased IGF-1-induced Erk-1/2 phosphorylation but had no effect on that by glucose. Collectively, our study indicates that a glucose-induced rise in [Ca(2+)](i) leads to cAMP-induced activation of PKA that acts downstream of Ras and upstream of the MAP/Erk kinase, MEK, to mediate Erk-1/2 phosphorylation via phosphorylation activation of Raf-1. In contrast, glucose-induced p70(S6K) activation, in the same beta-cells, was mediated by a distinct signaling pathway independent of Ca(2+)/cAMP, most likely via mTOR-kinase acting as an "ATP-sensor."

Protein kinase C and calcium regulation of adenylyl cyclase in isolated rat pancreatic islets

Rat islets express several isoforms of adenylyl cyclase (AC), and the regulation of AC activity in isolated islets by Ca(2+) and protein kinase C (PKC) was investigated. At basal 2.8 mmol/l glucose, the muscarinic receptor agonist carbamylcholine chloride (CCh) evoked a concentration-dependent increase in cAMP generation with a maximum increase at least 4.5-fold above control. In contrast, forskolin and glucagon-like peptide 1 fragment 7-36 amide increased cAMP accumulation 23-fold and almost 10-fold, respectively. Cholecystokinin 26-33 sulfated amide (CCK) also stimulated cAMP production by up to eightfold, as did the phorbol ester, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu). PDBu and CCh or CCK responses were not additive. The effects of phorbol ester, CCh, and CCK were inhibited by as much as 75% by the PKC inhibitors GF 109203X and Ro-32-0432 and after PKC downregulation. In the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), PDBu-, CCh-, and CCK-induced cAMP production was inhibited by approximately 50% in each case. Chelation of intracellular Ca(2+) with 1,2-bis(o-amino-5-fluorophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetraacetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM) inhibited CCh- and CCK-stimulated cAMP generation by approximately 50% but did not inhibit the stimulatory effect of PDBu. Stringent Ca(2+) depletion by removal of extracellular Ca(2+) and inclusion of BAPTA/AM allowed for increased cAMP production in response to CCh and CCK; PKC inhibitors and PKC downregulation prevented this stimulation. Glucose stimulation also increased islet cAMP production, but PDBu did not potentiate the glucose response. The results suggest that Ca(2+) influx, Ca(2+) mobilization, and PKC activation play important roles in the modulation of AC activity in pancreatic islets.

The role of cyclic AMP in the pathogenesis of glucose desensitization in rat pancreatic islets

Adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) promotes exocytosis of insulin in pancreatic beta cells. This study was performed to investigate the role of cyclic AMP in the pathogenesis of glucose desensitization in rat pancreatic islets. In islets cultured with high glucose for 48 hours, 27 mmol/L glucose-induced insulin release was markedly impaired, while 3.3 mmol/L glucose-or arginine-induced insulin release was enhanced, indicating glucose desensitization. Islet cyclic AMP content was 190% enhanced in high glucose-culture islets for 48 hours. In islets cultured with dibutyryl-cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) or 3-isobutyl methy-xanthine (IBMX), islet insulin content or 27 mmol/L glucose-induced insulin release was deteriorated. In contrast, 3.3 mmol/L glucose- or arginine-induced insulin release was increased, which was similar to glucose-desensitized islets. Wash-out of dbc AMP for the last 24 hours of the 48-hour culture period restored impaired high glucose-induced insulin release in the same manner as wash-out of high glucose. Diazoxide, the KATP channel opener, also restored impaired high glucose-induced insulin release from dbcAMP-cultured islets. The data suggest that enhancement of cyclic AMP in high glucose-culture islets may be one of the pathogenesis of glucose desensitization.

Regulation of inositol trisphosphate receptor isoform expression in glucose-desensitized rat pancreatic islets: role of cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and calcium

The regulation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression was investigated in glucose-desensitized rat isolated pancreatic islets. Islets were cultured for 4 days with glucose (11 mM; G-treated) to induce desensitization; IP3R-I mRNA levels were similar to basal (5.5 mM glucose) values, whereas IP3R-II mRNA levels were increased and IP3R-III levels were reduced compared with basal levels. Somatostatin increased the expression of IP3R-II mRNA and reduced the expression of IP3R-III mRNA compared with basal values, but did not significantly affect G-treated islet IP3R expression. When forskolin (FSK), 8-bromo-cAMP, and glucagon-like peptide 1-(7-36) amide were added to G-treated islets after 4 days of culture, IP3R-II mRNA levels were reduced, whereas IP3R-III mRNA levels increased, to levels observed in control islets, within 3 h. The levels of IP3R-I mRNA were unaffected by either somatostatin or FSK. The protein kinase A inhibitor. H-89, and actinomycin D prevented the effects of FSK. A Ca2+ ionophore mimicked the effects of FSK on IP3R mRNA expression, whereas blockade of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels or chelation of intracellular Ca2+ inhibited the actions of FSK. cAMP also increased IP3R-III mRNA in insulinoma cells. In G-treated islets, FSK slowed IP3R-III mRNA degradation. FSK, but not glucose, stimulated protein kinase A activation in G-treated islets. Thus, cAMP mediates changes in IP3R-II and -III mRNA transcription and stability in glucose-desensitized islets. The regulated expression of IP3R-II and -III mRNA is mediated in part by intracellular Ca2+ availability.