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Delgadillo-Silva LF, Tasöz E, Singh SP, Chawla P, Georgiadou E, Gompf A, Rutter GA, Ninov N. Optogenetic β cell interrogation in vivo reveals a functional hierarchy directing the Ca 2+ response to glucose supported by vitamin B6. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eado4513. [PMID: 38924394 PMCID: PMC11204215 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado4513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Coordination of cellular activity through Ca2+ enables β cells to secrete precise quantities of insulin. To explore how the Ca2+ response is orchestrated in space and time, we implement optogenetic systems to probe the role of individual β cells in the glucose response. By targeted β cell activation/inactivation in zebrafish, we reveal a hierarchy of cells, each with a different level of influence over islet-wide Ca2+ dynamics. First-responder β cells lie at the top of the hierarchy, essential for initiating the first-phase Ca2+ response. Silencing first responders impairs the Ca2+ response to glucose. Conversely, selective activation of first responders demonstrates their increased capability to raise pan-islet Ca2+ levels compared to followers. By photolabeling and transcriptionally profiling β cells that differ in their thresholds to a glucose-stimulated Ca2+ response, we highlight vitamin B6 production as a signature pathway of first responders. We further define an evolutionarily conserved requirement for vitamin B6 in enabling the Ca2+ response to glucose in mammalian systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Fernando Delgadillo-Silva
- Centre for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Dresden 01307, Germany
- Cardiometabolic Axis, CR-CHUM, and University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; 1IRIBHM, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emirhan Tasöz
- Centre for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Dresden 01307, Germany
| | | | - Prateek Chawla
- Centre for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Eleni Georgiadou
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 ONN, UK
| | - Anne Gompf
- Centre for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Guy A. Rutter
- Cardiometabolic Axis, CR-CHUM, and University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; 1IRIBHM, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 ONN, UK
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological College, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nikolay Ninov
- Centre for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Dresden 01307, Germany
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2
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Yu V, Yong F, Marta A, Khadayate S, Osakwe A, Bhattacharya S, Varghese SS, Chabosseau P, Tabibi SM, Chen K, Georgiadou E, Parveen N, Suleiman M, Stamoulis Z, Marselli L, De Luca C, Tesi M, Ostinelli G, Delgadillo-Silva L, Wu X, Hatanaka Y, Montoya A, Elliott J, Patel B, Demchenko N, Whilding C, Hajkova P, Shliaha P, Kramer H, Ali Y, Marchetti P, Sladek R, Dhawan S, Withers DJ, Rutter GA, Millership SJ. Differential CpG methylation at Nnat in the early establishment of beta cell heterogeneity. Diabetologia 2024; 67:1079-1094. [PMID: 38512414 PMCID: PMC11058053 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-024-06123-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Beta cells within the pancreatic islet represent a heterogenous population wherein individual sub-groups of cells make distinct contributions to the overall control of insulin secretion. These include a subpopulation of highly connected 'hub' cells, important for the propagation of intercellular Ca2+ waves. Functional subpopulations have also been demonstrated in human beta cells, with an altered subtype distribution apparent in type 2 diabetes. At present, the molecular mechanisms through which beta cell hierarchy is established are poorly understood. Changes at the level of the epigenome provide one such possibility, which we explore here by focusing on the imprinted gene Nnat (encoding neuronatin [NNAT]), which is required for normal insulin synthesis and secretion. METHODS Single-cell RNA-seq datasets were examined using Seurat 4.0 and ClusterProfiler running under R. Transgenic mice expressing enhanced GFP under the control of the Nnat enhancer/promoter regions were generated for FACS of beta cells and downstream analysis of CpG methylation by bisulphite sequencing and RNA-seq, respectively. Animals deleted for the de novo methyltransferase DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A) from the pancreatic progenitor stage were used to explore control of promoter methylation. Proteomics was performed using affinity purification mass spectrometry and Ca2+ dynamics explored by rapid confocal imaging of Cal-520 AM and Cal-590 AM. Insulin secretion was measured using homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence imaging. RESULTS Nnat mRNA was differentially expressed in a discrete beta cell population in a developmental stage- and DNA methylation (DNMT3A)-dependent manner. Thus, pseudo-time analysis of embryonic datasets demonstrated the early establishment of Nnat-positive and -negative subpopulations during embryogenesis. NNAT expression is also restricted to a subset of beta cells across the human islet that is maintained throughout adult life. NNAT+ beta cells also displayed a discrete transcriptome at adult stages, representing a subpopulation specialised for insulin production, and were diminished in db/db mice. 'Hub' cells were less abundant in the NNAT+ population, consistent with epigenetic control of this functional specialisation. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION These findings demonstrate that differential DNA methylation at Nnat represents a novel means through which beta cell heterogeneity is established during development. We therefore hypothesise that changes in methylation at this locus may contribute to a loss of beta cell hierarchy and connectivity, potentially contributing to defective insulin secretion in some forms of diabetes. DATA AVAILABILITY The mass spectrometry proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium via the PRIDE partner repository with the dataset identifier PXD048465.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Yu
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Fiona Yong
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Angellica Marta
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Adrien Osakwe
- Quantitative Life Sciences Program, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Supriyo Bhattacharya
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Sneha S Varghese
- Department of Translational Research and Cellular Therapeutics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Pauline Chabosseau
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sayed M Tabibi
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Keran Chen
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Biomedical Research Centre, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Eleni Georgiadou
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Nazia Parveen
- Department of Translational Research and Cellular Therapeutics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Mara Suleiman
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Zoe Stamoulis
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lorella Marselli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Carmela De Luca
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marta Tesi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giada Ostinelli
- CHUM Research Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Luis Delgadillo-Silva
- CHUM Research Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Xiwei Wu
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Yuki Hatanaka
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Nikita Demchenko
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Imaging Resource Facility, Research Operations, St George's, University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Petra Hajkova
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Yusuf Ali
- Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Programme & Centre for Microbiome Medicine, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
- Clinical Research Unit, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, National Healthcare Group, Singapore, Republic of Singapore
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Robert Sladek
- Quantitative Life Sciences Program, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Departments of Medicine and Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Sangeeta Dhawan
- Department of Translational Research and Cellular Therapeutics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Dominic J Withers
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, London, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Guy A Rutter
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
- CHUM Research Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
| | - Steven J Millership
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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3
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Visa M, Berggren PO. Sex-dependent intra-islet structural rearrangements affecting alpha-to-beta cell interactions lead to adaptive enhancements of Ca 2+ dynamics in prediabetic beta cells. Diabetologia 2024:10.1007/s00125-024-06173-w. [PMID: 38814444 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-024-06173-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Prediabetic pancreatic beta cells can adapt their function to maintain normoglycaemia for a limited period of time, after which diabetes mellitus will manifest upon beta cell exhaustion. Understanding sex-specific beta cell compensatory mechanisms and their failure in prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) is crucial for early disease diagnosis and individualised treatment. Our aims were as follows: (1) to determine the key time points of the progression from beta cells' functional adaptations to their failure in vivo; and (2) to mechanistically explain in vivo sex-specific beta cell compensatory mechanisms and their failure in prediabetes. METHODS Islets from male and female transgenic Ins1CreERT2-GCaMP3 mice were transplanted into the anterior chamber of the eye of 10- to 12-week-old sex-matched C57BL/6J mice. Recipient mice were fed either a control diet (CD) or western diet (WD) for a maximum of 4 months. Metabolic variables were evaluated monthly. Beta cell cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) dynamics were monitored in vivo longitudinally by image fluorescence of the GCaMP3 reporter islets. Global islet beta cell [Ca2+]i dynamics in line with single beta cell [Ca2+]i analysis were used for beta cell coordination studies. The glucagon receptor antagonist L-168,049 (4 mmol/l) was applied topically to the transplanted eyes to evaluate in vivo the effect of glucagon on beta cell [Ca2+]idynamics. Human islets from non-diabetic women and men were cultured for 24 h in either a control medium or high-fat/high-glucose medium in the presence or absence of the glucagon receptor antagonist L-168,049. [Ca2+]i dynamics of human islets were evaluated in vitro after 1 h exposure to Fura-10. RESULTS Mice fed a WD for 1 month displayed increased beta cell [Ca2+]i dynamics linked to enhanced insulin secretion as a functional compensatory mechanism in prediabetes. Recruitment of inactive beta cells in WD-fed mice explained the improved beta cell function adaptation observed in vivo; this occurred in a sex-specific manner. Mechanistically, this was attributable to an intra-islet structural rearrangement involving alpha cells. These sex-dependent cytoarchitecture reorganisations, observed in both mice and humans, induced enhanced paracrine input from adjacent alpha cells, adjusting the glucose setpoint and amplifying the insulin secretion pathway. When WD feeding was prolonged, female mice maintained the adaptive mechanism due to their intrinsically high proportion of alpha cells. In males, [Ca2+]i dynamics progressively declined subsequent to glucose stimulation while insulin secretion continue to increase, suggesting uncoordinated beta cell function as an early sign of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION We identified increased coordination of [Ca2+]i dynamics as a beta cell functional adaptation mechanisms in prediabetes. Importantly, we uncovered the mechanisms by which sex-dependent beta cell [Ca2+]i dynamics coordination is orchestrated by an intra-islet structure reorganisation increasing the paracrine input from alpha cells on beta cell function. Moreover, we identified reduced [Ca2+]i dynamics coordination in response to glucose as an early sign of diabetes preceding beta cell secretory dysfunction, with males being more vulnerable. Alterations in coordination capacity of [Ca2+]i dynamics may thus serve as an early marker for beta cell failure in prediabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montse Visa
- The Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Per-Olof Berggren
- The Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
- Tecnológico de Monterrey, Real San Agustín, Mexico.
- West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK.
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4
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Šterk M, Zhang Y, Pohorec V, Leitgeb EP, Dolenšek J, Benninger RKP, Stožer A, Kravets V, Gosak M. Network representation of multicellular activity in pancreatic islets: Technical considerations for functional connectivity analysis. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1012130. [PMID: 38739680 PMCID: PMC11115366 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Within the islets of Langerhans, beta cells orchestrate synchronized insulin secretion, a pivotal aspect of metabolic homeostasis. Despite the inherent heterogeneity and multimodal activity of individual cells, intercellular coupling acts as a homogenizing force, enabling coordinated responses through the propagation of intercellular waves. Disruptions in this coordination are implicated in irregular insulin secretion, a hallmark of diabetes. Recently, innovative approaches, such as integrating multicellular calcium imaging with network analysis, have emerged for a quantitative assessment of the cellular activity in islets. However, different groups use distinct experimental preparations, microscopic techniques, apply different methods to process the measured signals and use various methods to derive functional connectivity patterns. This makes comparisons between findings and their integration into a bigger picture difficult and has led to disputes in functional connectivity interpretations. To address these issues, we present here a systematic analysis of how different approaches influence the network representation of islet activity. Our findings show that the choice of methods used to construct networks is not crucial, although care is needed when combining data from different islets. Conversely, the conclusions drawn from network analysis can be heavily affected by the pre-processing of the time series, the type of the oscillatory component in the signals, and by the experimental preparation. Our tutorial-like investigation aims to resolve interpretational issues, reconcile conflicting views, advance functional implications, and encourage researchers to adopt connectivity analysis. As we conclude, we outline challenges for future research, emphasizing the broader applicability of our conclusions to other tissues exhibiting complex multicellular dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Šterk
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Yaowen Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Viljem Pohorec
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | | | - Jurij Dolenšek
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Richard K. P. Benninger
- Department of Bioengineering, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Andraž Stožer
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Vira Kravets
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Marko Gosak
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor
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5
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Peng X, Ren H, Yang L, Tong S, Zhou R, Long H, Wu Y, Wang L, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Shen J, Zhang J, Qiu G, Wang J, Han C, Zhang Y, Zhou M, Zhao Y, Xu T, Tang C, Chen Z, Liu H, Chen L. Readily releasable β cells with tight Ca 2+-exocytosis coupling dictate biphasic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Nat Metab 2024; 6:238-253. [PMID: 38278946 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00962-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Biphasic glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) is essential for blood glucose regulation, but a mechanistic model incorporating the recently identified islet β cell heterogeneity remains elusive. Here, we show that insulin secretion is spatially and dynamically heterogeneous across the islet. Using a zinc-based fluorophore with spinning-disc confocal microscopy, we reveal that approximately 40% of islet cells, which we call readily releasable β cells (RRβs), are responsible for 80% of insulin exocytosis events. Although glucose up to 18.2 mM fully mobilized RRβs to release insulin synchronously (first phase), even higher glucose concentrations enhanced the sustained secretion from these cells (second phase). Release-incompetent β cells show similarities to RRβs in glucose-evoked Ca2+ transients but exhibit Ca2+-exocytosis coupling deficiency. A decreased number of RRβs and their altered secretory ability are associated with impaired GSIS progression in ob/ob mice. Our data reveal functional heterogeneity at the level of exocytosis among β cells and identify RRβs as a subpopulation of β cells that make a disproportionally large contribution to biphasic GSIS from mouse islets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohong Peng
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huixia Ren
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Center for Quantitative Biology and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Yang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- The MOE Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shiyan Tong
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Renjie Zhou
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Haochen Long
- School of Software and Microelectronics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunxiang Wu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lifen Wang
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Wu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongdeng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiayu Shen
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Junwei Zhang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Guohua Qiu
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianyong Wang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chengsheng Han
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yulin Zhang
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengxuan Zhou
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiwen Zhao
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao Tang
- Center for Quantitative Biology and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixing Chen
- National Biomedical Imaging Center, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Huisheng Liu
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, China.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Liangyi Chen
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, National Biomedical Imaging Center, State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Future Technology, Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- PKU-IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China.
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6
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Peercy BE, Hodson DJ. Synchronizing beta cells in the pancreas. eLife 2024; 13:e95103. [PMID: 38270512 PMCID: PMC10810605 DOI: 10.7554/elife.95103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The secretion of insulin from the pancreas relies on both gap junctions and subpopulations of beta cells with specific intrinsic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradford E Peercy
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)BaltimoreUnited States
| | - David J Hodson
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM), NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Churchill Hospital, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
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7
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James EA, Joglekar AV, Linnemann AK, Russ HA, Kent SC. The beta cell-immune cell interface in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Mol Metab 2023; 78:101809. [PMID: 37734713 PMCID: PMC10622886 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND T1D is an autoimmune disease in which pancreatic islets of Langerhans are infiltrated by immune cells resulting in the specific destruction of insulin-producing islet beta cells. Our understanding of the factors leading to islet infiltration and the interplay of the immune cells with target beta cells is incomplete, especially in human disease. While murine models of T1D have provided crucial information for both beta cell and autoimmune cell function, the translation of successful therapies in the murine model to human disease has been a challenge. SCOPE OF REVIEW Here, we discuss current state of the art and consider knowledge gaps concerning the interface of the islet beta cell with immune infiltrates, with a focus on T cells. We discuss pancreatic and immune cell phenotypes and their impact on cell function in health and disease, which we deem important to investigate further to attain a more comprehensive understanding of human T1D disease etiology. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS The last years have seen accelerated development of approaches that allow comprehensive study of human T1D. Critically, recent studies have contributed to our revised understanding that the pancreatic beta cell assumes an active role, rather than a passive position, during autoimmune disease progression. The T cell-beta cell interface is a critical axis that dictates beta cell fate and shapes autoimmune responses. This includes the state of the beta cell after processing internal and external cues (e.g., stress, inflammation, genetic risk) that that contributes to the breaking of tolerance by hyperexpression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I with presentation of native and neoepitopes and secretion of chemotactic factors to attract immune cells. We anticipate that emerging insights about the molecular and cellular aspects of disease initiation and progression processes will catalyze the development of novel and innovative intervention points to provide additional therapies to individuals affected by T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eddie A James
- Center for Translational Immunology, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Alok V Joglekar
- Center for Systems Immunology and Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Amelia K Linnemann
- Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, and Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Holger A Russ
- Diabetes Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sally C Kent
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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8
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Yu V, Yong F, Marta A, Khadayate S, Osakwe A, Bhattacharya S, Varghese SS, Chabosseau P, Tabibi SM, Chen K, Georgiadou E, Parveen N, Suleiman M, Stamoulis Z, Marselli L, De Luca C, Tesi M, Ostinelli G, Delgadillo-Silva L, Wu X, Hatanaka Y, Montoya A, Elliott J, Patel B, Demchenko N, Whilding C, Hajkova P, Shliaha P, Kramer H, Ali Y, Marchetti P, Sladek R, Dhawan S, Withers DJ, Rutter GA, Millership SJ. Differential CpG methylation at Nnat in the early establishment of beta cell heterogeneity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.04.527050. [PMID: 38076935 PMCID: PMC10705251 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.04.527050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Aims/hypothesis Beta cells within the pancreatic islet represent a heterogenous population wherein individual sub-groups of cells make distinct contributions to the overall control of insulin secretion. These include a subpopulation of highly-connected 'hub' cells, important for the propagation of intercellular Ca2+ waves. Functional subpopulations have also been demonstrated in human beta cells, with an altered subtype distribution apparent in type 2 diabetes. At present, the molecular mechanisms through which beta cell hierarchy is established are poorly understood. Changes at the level of the epigenome provide one such possibility which we explore here by focussing on the imprinted gene neuronatin (Nnat), which is required for normal insulin synthesis and secretion. Methods Single cell RNA-seq datasets were examined using Seurat 4.0 and ClusterProfiler running under R. Transgenic mice expressing eGFP under the control of the Nnat enhancer/promoter regions were generated for fluorescence-activated cell (FAC) sorting of beta cells and downstream analysis of CpG methylation by bisulphite and RNA sequencing, respectively. Animals deleted for the de novo methyltransferase, DNMT3A from the pancreatic progenitor stage were used to explore control of promoter methylation. Proteomics was performed using affinity purification mass spectrometry and Ca2+ dynamics explored by rapid confocal imaging of Cal-520 and Cal-590. Insulin secretion was measured using Homogeneous Time Resolved Fluorescence Imaging. Results Nnat mRNA was differentially expressed in a discrete beta cell population in a developmental stage- and DNA methylation (DNMT3A)-dependent manner. Thus, pseudo-time analysis of embryonic data sets demonstrated the early establishment of Nnat-positive and negative subpopulations during embryogenesis. NNAT expression is also restricted to a subset of beta cells across the human islet that is maintained throughout adult life. NNAT+ beta cells also displayed a discrete transcriptome at adult stages, representing a sub-population specialised for insulin production, reminiscent of recently-described "βHI" cells and were diminished in db/db mice. 'Hub' cells were less abundant in the NNAT+ population, consistent with epigenetic control of this functional specialization. Conclusions/interpretation These findings demonstrate that differential DNA methylation at Nnat represents a novel means through which beta cell heterogeneity is established during development. We therefore hypothesise that changes in methylation at this locus may thus contribute to a loss of beta cell hierarchy and connectivity, potentially contributing to defective insulin secretion in some forms of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Yu
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Fiona Yong
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 637553, Singapore
| | - Angellica Marta
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sanjay Khadayate
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Adrien Osakwe
- Departments of Medicine, Human Genetics and Quantitative Life Sciences, McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Supriyo Bhattacharya
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Sneha S. Varghese
- Department of Translational Research and Cellular Therapeutics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Pauline Chabosseau
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sayed M. Tabibi
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Keran Chen
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Eleni Georgiadou
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Nazia Parveen
- Department of Translational Research and Cellular Therapeutics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Mara Suleiman
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Zoe Stamoulis
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Lorella Marselli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Carmela De Luca
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Marta Tesi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Giada Ostinelli
- CHUM Research Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, 900 Rue St Denis, Montréal, H2X OA9, QC, Canada
| | - Luis Delgadillo-Silva
- CHUM Research Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, 900 Rue St Denis, Montréal, H2X OA9, QC, Canada
| | - Xiwei Wu
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Yuki Hatanaka
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Alex Montoya
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - James Elliott
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Bhavik Patel
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Nikita Demchenko
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Chad Whilding
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Petra Hajkova
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Pavel Shliaha
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Holger Kramer
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Yusuf Ali
- Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Programme & Centre for Microbiome Medicine, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, 308232
- Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI), Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, 168751
- Clinical Research Unit, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, National Healthcare Group, Singapore, 768828
| | - Piero Marchetti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, and AOUP Cisanello University Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Robert Sladek
- Departments of Medicine, Human Genetics and Quantitative Life Sciences, McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Sangeeta Dhawan
- Department of Translational Research and Cellular Therapeutics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, City of Hope, 1500 E Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Dominic J. Withers
- MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Guy A. Rutter
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, 637553, Singapore
- CHUM Research Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, 900 Rue St Denis, Montréal, H2X OA9, QC, Canada
| | - Steven J. Millership
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
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9
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Briggs JK, Gresch A, Marinelli I, Dwulet JM, Albers DJ, Kravets V, Benninger RKP. β-cell intrinsic dynamics rather than gap junction structure dictates subpopulations in the islet functional network. eLife 2023; 12:e83147. [PMID: 38018905 PMCID: PMC10803032 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes is caused by the inability of electrically coupled, functionally heterogeneous β-cells within the pancreatic islet to provide adequate insulin secretion. Functional networks have been used to represent synchronized oscillatory [Ca2+] dynamics and to study β-cell subpopulations, which play an important role in driving islet function. The mechanism by which highly synchronized β-cell subpopulations drive islet function is unclear. We used experimental and computational techniques to investigate the relationship between functional networks, structural (gap junction) networks, and intrinsic β-cell dynamics in slow and fast oscillating islets. Highly synchronized subpopulations in the functional network were differentiated by intrinsic dynamics, including metabolic activity and KATP channel conductance, more than structural coupling. Consistent with this, intrinsic dynamics were more predictive of high synchronization in the islet functional network as compared to high levels of structural coupling. Finally, dysfunction of gap junctions, which can occur in diabetes, caused decreases in the efficiency and clustering of the functional network. These results indicate that intrinsic dynamics rather than structure drive connections in the functional network and highly synchronized subpopulations, but gap junctions are still essential for overall network efficiency. These findings deepen our interpretation of functional networks and the formation of functional subpopulations in dynamic tissues such as the islet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer K Briggs
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Anne Gresch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Isabella Marinelli
- Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine, University of BirminghamBirminghamUnited Kingdom
| | - JaeAnn M Dwulet
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - David J Albers
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Vira Kravets
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Richard KP Benninger
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
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10
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Šterk M, Barać U, Stožer A, Gosak M. Both electrical and metabolic coupling shape the collective multimodal activity and functional connectivity patterns in beta cell collectives: A computational model perspective. Phys Rev E 2023; 108:054409. [PMID: 38115462 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.108.054409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic beta cells are coupled excitable oscillators that synchronize their activity via different communication pathways. Their oscillatory activity manifests itself on multiple timescales and consists of bursting electrical activity, subsequent oscillations in the intracellular Ca^{2+}, as well as oscillations in metabolism and exocytosis. The coordination of the intricate activity on the multicellular level plays a key role in the regulation of physiological pulsatile insulin secretion and is incompletely understood. In this paper, we investigate theoretically the principles that give rise to the synchronized activity of beta cell populations by building up a phenomenological multicellular model that incorporates the basic features of beta cell dynamics. Specifically, the model is composed of coupled slow and fast oscillatory units that reflect metabolic processes and electrical activity, respectively. Using a realistic description of the intercellular interactions, we study how the combination of electrical and metabolic coupling generates collective rhythmicity and shapes functional beta cell networks. It turns out that while electrical coupling solely can synchronize the responses, the addition of metabolic interactions further enhances coordination, the spatial range of interactions increases the number of connections in the functional beta cell networks, and ensures a better consistency with experimental findings. Moreover, our computational results provide additional insights into the relationship between beta cell heterogeneity, their activity profiles, and functional connectivity, supplementing thereby recent experimental results on endocrine networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Šterk
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Koroška cesta 160, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Taborska ulica 8, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Alma Mater Europaea, Slovenska ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Uroš Barać
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Koroška cesta 160, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Andraž Stožer
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Taborska ulica 8, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marko Gosak
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Koroška cesta 160, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Taborska ulica 8, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
- Alma Mater Europaea, Slovenska ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
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11
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Luchetti N, Filippi S, Loppini A. Multilevel synchronization of human β-cells networks. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 3:1264395. [PMID: 37808419 PMCID: PMC10557430 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2023.1264395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
β-cells within the endocrine pancreas are fundamental for glucose, lipid and protein homeostasis. Gap junctions between cells constitute the primary coupling mechanism through which cells synchronize their electrical and metabolic activities. This evidence is still only partially investigated through models and numerical simulations. In this contribution, we explore the effect of combined electrical and metabolic coupling in β-cell clusters using a detailed biophysical model. We add heterogeneity and stochasticity to realistically reproduce β-cell dynamics and study networks mimicking arrangements of β-cells within human pancreatic islets. Model simulations are performed over different couplings and heterogeneities, analyzing emerging synchronization at the membrane potential, calcium, and metabolites levels. To describe network synchronization, we use the formalism of multiplex networks and investigate functional network properties and multiplex synchronization motifs over the structural, electrical, and metabolic layers. Our results show that metabolic coupling can support slow wave propagation in human islets, that combined electrical and metabolic synchronization is realized in small aggregates, and that metabolic long-range correlation is more pronounced with respect to the electrical one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Luchetti
- Center for Life Nano and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
- Engineering Department, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Filippi
- Engineering Department, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
- National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, Florence, Italy
- International Center for Relativistic Astrophysics Network, Pescara, Italy
| | - Alessandro Loppini
- Center for Life Nano and Neuro-Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
- Engineering Department, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
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12
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Skelin Klemen M, Dolenšek J, Križančić Bombek L, Pohorec V, Gosak M, Slak Rupnik M, Stožer A. The effect of forskolin and the role of Epac2A during activation, activity, and deactivation of beta cell networks. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1225486. [PMID: 37701894 PMCID: PMC10494243 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1225486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Beta cells couple stimulation by glucose with insulin secretion and impairments in this coupling play a central role in diabetes mellitus. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) amplifies stimulus-secretion coupling via protein kinase A and guanine nucleotide exchange protein 2 (Epac2A). With the present research, we aimed to clarify the influence of cAMP-elevating diterpene forskolin on cytoplasmic calcium dynamics and intercellular network activity, which are two of the crucial elements of normal beta cell stimulus-secretion coupling, and the role of Epac2A under normal and stimulated conditions. To this end, we performed functional multicellular calcium imaging of beta cells in mouse pancreas tissue slices after stimulation with glucose and forskolin in wild-type and Epac2A knock-out mice. Forskolin evoked calcium signals in otherwise substimulatory glucose and beta cells from Epac2A knock-out mice displayed a faster activation. During the plateau phase, beta cells from Epac2A knock-out mice displayed a slightly higher active time in response to glucose compared with wild-type littermates, and stimulation with forskolin increased the active time via an increase in oscillation frequency and a decrease in oscillation duration in both Epac2A knock-out and wild-type mice. Functional network properties during stimulation with glucose did not differ in Epac2A knock-out mice, but the presence of Epac2A was crucial for the protective effect of stimulation with forskolin in preventing a decline in beta cell functional connectivity with time. Finally, stimulation with forskolin prolonged beta cell activity during deactivation, especially in Epac2A knock-out mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maša Skelin Klemen
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Jurij Dolenšek
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | | | - Viljem Pohorec
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marko Gosak
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Alma Mater Europaea, European Center Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marjan Slak Rupnik
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Alma Mater Europaea, European Center Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andraž Stožer
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
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13
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Aldous N, Moin ASM, Abdelalim EM. Pancreatic β-cell heterogeneity in adult human islets and stem cell-derived islets. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:176. [PMID: 37270452 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04815-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies reported that pancreatic β-cells are heterogeneous in terms of their transcriptional profiles and their abilities for insulin secretion. Sub-populations of pancreatic β-cells have been identified based on the functionality and expression of specific surface markers. Under diabetes condition, β-cell identity is altered leading to different β-cell sub-populations. Furthermore, cell-cell contact between β-cells and other endocrine cells within the islet play an important role in regulating insulin secretion. This highlights the significance of generating a cell product derived from stem cells containing β-cells along with other major islet cells for treating patients with diabetes, instead of transplanting a purified population of β-cells. Another key question is how close in terms of heterogeneity are the islet cells derived from stem cells? In this review, we summarize the heterogeneity in islet cells of the adult pancreas and those generated from stem cells. In addition, we highlight the significance of this heterogeneity in health and disease conditions and how this can be used to design a stem cell-derived product for diabetes cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noura Aldous
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar
- Diabetes Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Education City, PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Abu Saleh Md Moin
- Diabetes Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Education City, PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
- Research Department, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Bahrain, Adliya, Kingdom of Bahrain
| | - Essam M Abdelalim
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Education City, Doha, Qatar.
- Diabetes Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Education City, PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar.
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14
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Choi J, Shin E, Lee J, Devarasou S, Kim D, Shin JH, Choi JH, Heo WD, Han YM. Light-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic islet-like organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells. Mol Ther 2023; 31:1480-1495. [PMID: 36932674 PMCID: PMC10188912 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetic techniques permit non-invasive, spatiotemporal, and reversible modulation of cellular activities. Here, we report a novel optogenetic regulatory system for insulin secretion in human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived pancreatic islet-like organoids using monSTIM1 (monster-opto-Stromal interaction molecule 1), an ultra-light-sensitive OptoSTIM1 variant. The monSTIM1 transgene was incorporated at the AAVS1 locus in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing. Not only were we able to elicit light-induced intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) transients from the resulting homozygous monSTIM1+/+-hESCs, but we also successfully differentiated them into pancreatic islet-like organoids (PIOs). Upon light stimulation, the β-cells in these monSTIM1+/+-PIOs displayed reversible and reproducible [Ca2+]i transient dynamics. Furthermore, in response to photoexcitation, they secreted human insulin. Light-responsive insulin secretion was similarly observed in monSTIM1+/+-PIOs produced from neonatal diabetes (ND) patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Under LED illumination, monSTIM1+/+-PIO-transplanted diabetic mice produced human c-peptide. Collectively, we developed a cellular model for the optogenetic control of insulin secretion using hPSCs, with the potential to be applied to the amelioration of hyperglycemic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieun Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunji Shin
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsu Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Dongkyu Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jennifer H Shin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Ho Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Do Heo
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong-Mahn Han
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea; Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Galvis D, Hodson DJ, Wedgwood KC. Spatial distribution of heterogeneity as a modulator of collective dynamics in pancreatic beta-cell networks and beyond. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 3:fnetp.2023.1170930. [PMID: 36987428 PMCID: PMC7614376 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2023.1170930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
We study the impact of spatial distribution of heterogeneity on collective dynamics in gap-junction coupled beta-cell networks comprised on cells from two populations that differ in their intrinsic excitability. Initially, these populations are uniformly and randomly distributed throughout the networks. We develop and apply an iterative algorithm for perturbing the arrangement of the network such that cells from the same population are increasingly likely to be adjacent to one another. We find that the global input strength, or network drive, necessary to transition the network from a state of quiescence to a state of synchronised and oscillatory activity decreases as network sortedness increases. Moreover, for weak coupling, we find that regimes of partial synchronisation and wave propagation arise, which depend both on network drive and network sortedness. We then demonstrate the utility of this algorithm for studying the distribution of heterogeneity in general networks, for which we use Watts-Strogatz networks as a case study. This work highlights the importance of heterogeneity in node dynamics in establishing collective rhythms in complex, excitable networks and has implications for a wide range of real-world systems that exhibit such heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Galvis
- Centre for Systems Modelling and Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Correspondence: Daniel Galvis,
| | - David J. Hodson
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism (OCDEM), Churchill Hospital, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Churchill Hospital, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kyle C.A. Wedgwood
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- EPSRC Hub for Quantitative Modelling in Healthcare, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
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16
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Šterk M, Dolenšek J, Skelin Klemen M, Križančić Bombek L, Paradiž Leitgeb E, Kerčmar J, Perc M, Slak Rupnik M, Stožer A, Gosak M. Functional characteristics of hub and wave-initiator cells in β cell networks. Biophys J 2023; 122:784-801. [PMID: 36738106 PMCID: PMC10027448 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Islets of Langerhans operate as multicellular networks in which several hundred β cells work in synchrony to produce secretory pulses of insulin, a hormone crucial for controlling metabolic homeostasis. Their collective rhythmic activity is facilitated by gap junctional coupling and affected by their functional heterogeneity, but the details of this robust and coordinated behavior are still not fully understood. Recent advances in multicellular imaging and optogenetic and photopharmacological strategies, as well as in network science, have led to the discovery of specialized β cell subpopulations that were suggested to critically determine the collective dynamics in the islets. In particular hubs, i.e., β cells with many functional connections, are believed to significantly enhance communication capacities of the intercellular network and facilitate an efficient spreading of intercellular Ca2+ waves, whereas wave-initiator cells trigger intercellular signals in their cohorts. Here, we determined Ca2+ signaling characteristics of these two β cell subpopulations and the relationship between them by means of functional multicellular Ca2+ imaging in mouse pancreatic tissue slices in combination with methods of complex network theory. We constructed network layers based on individual Ca2+ waves to identify wave initiators, and functional correlation-based networks to detect hubs. We found that both cell types exhibit a higher-than-average active time under both physiological and supraphysiological glucose concentrations, but also that they differ significantly in many other functional characteristics. Specifically, Ca2+ oscillations in hubs are more regular, and their role appears to be much more stable over time than for initiator cells. Moreover, in contrast to wave initiators, hubs transmit intercellular signals faster than other cells, which implies a stronger intercellular coupling. Our research indicates that hubs and wave-initiator cell subpopulations are both natural features of healthy pancreatic islets, but their functional roles in principle do not overlap and should thus not be considered equal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Šterk
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Jurij Dolenšek
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | | | | | | | - Jasmina Kerčmar
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Perc
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor, Slovenia; Complexity Science Hub Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Physics, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Marjan Slak Rupnik
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor, Slovenia; Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andraž Stožer
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia.
| | - Marko Gosak
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia; Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor, Slovenia.
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17
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Chabosseau P, Yong F, Delgadillo-Silva LF, Lee EY, Melhem R, Li S, Gandhi N, Wastin J, Noriega LL, Leclerc I, Ali Y, Hughes JW, Sladek R, Martinez-Sanchez A, Rutter GA. Molecular phenotyping of single pancreatic islet leader beta cells by "Flash-Seq". Life Sci 2023; 316:121436. [PMID: 36706832 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Spatially-organized increases in cytosolic Ca2+ within pancreatic beta cells in the pancreatic islet underlie the stimulation of insulin secretion by high glucose. Recent data have revealed the existence of subpopulations of beta cells including "leaders" which initiate Ca2+ waves. Whether leader cells possess unique molecular features, or localisation, is unknown. MAIN METHODS High speed confocal Ca2+ imaging was used to identify leader cells and connectivity analysis, running under MATLAB and Python, to identify highly connected "hub" cells. To explore transcriptomic differences between beta cell sub-groups, individual leaders or followers were labelled by photo-activation of the cryptic fluorescent protein PA-mCherry and subjected to single cell RNA sequencing ("Flash-Seq"). KEY FINDINGS Distinct Ca2+ wave types were identified in individual islets, with leader cells present in 73 % (28 of 38 islets imaged). Scale-free, power law-adherent behaviour was also observed in 29 % of islets, though "hub" cells in these islets did not overlap with leaders. Transcripts differentially expressed (295; padj < 0.05) between leader and follower cells included genes involved in cilium biogenesis and transcriptional regulation. Providing some support for these findings, ADCY6 immunoreactivity tended to be higher in leader than follower cells, whereas cilia number and length tended to be lower in the former. Finally, leader cells were located significantly closer to delta, but not alpha, cells in Euclidian space than were follower cells. SIGNIFICANCE The existence of both a discrete transcriptome and unique localisation implies a role for these features in defining the specialized function of leaders. These data also raise the possibility that localised signalling between delta and leader cells contributes to the initiation and propagation of islet Ca2+ waves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Chabosseau
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Fiona Yong
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom; Lee Kong Chian Imperial Medical School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Luis F Delgadillo-Silva
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Eun Young Lee
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Rana Melhem
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Shiying Li
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Nidhi Gandhi
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Jules Wastin
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Livia Lopez Noriega
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Isabelle Leclerc
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Yusuf Ali
- Lee Kong Chian Imperial Medical School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Jing W Hughes
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Robert Sladek
- Departments of Medicine and Human Genetics, McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Aida Martinez-Sanchez
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Guy A Rutter
- Centre de Recherche du CHUM, Faculté de Médicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada; Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom; Lee Kong Chian Imperial Medical School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
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18
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Duan K, Zhou M, Wang Y, Oberholzer J, Lo JF. Visualizing hypoxic modulation of beta cell secretions via a sensor augmented oxygen gradient. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2023; 9:14. [PMID: 36760229 PMCID: PMC9902275 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-022-00482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
One distinct advantage of microfluidic-based cell assays is their scalability for multiple concentrations or gradients. Microfluidic scaling can be extremely powerful when combining multiple parameters and modalities. Moreover, in situ stimulation and detection eliminates variability between individual bioassays. However, conventional microfluidics must combat diffusion, which limits the spatial distance and time for molecules traveling through microchannels. Here, we leveraged a multilayered microfluidic approach to integrate a novel oxygen gradient (0-20%) with an enhanced hydrogel sensor to study pancreatic beta cells. This enabled our microfluidics to achieve spatiotemporal detection that is difficult to achieve with traditional microfluidics. Using this device, we demonstrated the in situ detection of calcium, insulin, and ATP (adenosine triphosphate) in response to glucose and oxygen stimulation. Specifically, insulin was quantified at levels as low as 25 pg/mL using our imaging technique. Furthermore, by analyzing the spatial detection data dynamically over time, we uncovered a new relationship between oxygen and beta cell oscillations. We observed an optimum oxygen level between 10 and 12%, which is neither hypoxic nor normoxic in the conventional cell culture sense. These results provide evidence to support the current islet oscillator model. In future applications, this spatial microfluidic technique can be adapted for discrete protein detection in a robust platform to study numerous oxygen-dependent tissue dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Duan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering Program, University of Michigan at Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128 USA
| | - Mengyang Zhou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering Program, University of Michigan at Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128 USA
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Surgery/Transplant, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| | - Jose Oberholzer
- Department of Surgery/Transplant, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| | - Joe F. Lo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering Program, University of Michigan at Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128 USA
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19
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Abstract
The islets of Langerhans are highly organized structures that have species-specific, three-dimensional tissue architecture. Islet architecture is critical for proper hormone secretion in response to nutritional stimuli. Islet architecture is disrupted in all types of diabetes mellitus and in cadaveric islets for transplantation during isolation, culture, and perfusion, limiting patient outcomes. Moreover, recapitulating native islet architecture remains a key challenge for in vitro generation of islets from stem cells. In this review, we discuss work that has led to the current understanding of determinants of pancreatic islet architecture, and how this architecture is maintained or disrupted during tissue remodeling in response to normal and pathological metabolic changes. We further discuss both empirical and modeling data that highlight the importance of islet architecture for islet function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa T. Adams
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Barak Blum
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- CONTACT Barak Blum Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI53705, USA
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20
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Bruce N, Wei IA, Leng W, Oh Y, Chiu YC, Roper MG, Bertram R. Coordination of pancreatic islet rhythmic activity by delayed negative feedback. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 323:E492-E502. [PMID: 36223522 PMCID: PMC9722252 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00123.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Secretion of insulin from the pancreas is pulsatile, driven by intrinsic oscillations within individual islets of Langerhans. The secretions are coordinated among the many islets distributed throughout the pancreas producing a synchronized rhythm in vivo that is essential for maintaining normal glucose levels. One hypothesized mechanism for the coordination of islet activity is negative feedback, whereby sequestration of glucose in response to elevated insulin leads to a reduction in the blood glucose level that is sensed by the islet population. This global signal of glucose then coordinates the individual islets. In this study, we tested how this coordination mechanism is affected by time delays in the negative feedback, using a microfluidic system to monitor Ca2+ levels in a small population of islets and implementing glucose control through a negative feedback system. We found that islet synchronization occurs even with time delays in the feedback of up to 7 min. We also found that a second, slower closed-loop oscillation period is produced during delayed feedback in which islet oscillations are clustered into episodes. The period of this second oscillatory mode increases with the time delay and appears to be a second stable behavior that coexists with the faster synchronized oscillation. The general conclusion is that islet coordination through negative feedback is a viable means of islet coordination that is robust to delays in the timing of the feedback, and could complement other potential coordination mechanisms such as entrainment by pancreatic ganglia.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Insulin secretion from islets of Langerhans is rhythmic, and these rhythms are coordinated to produce oscillatory plasma insulin levels. Using a combination of microfluidics and computational modeling, we demonstrate that coordination can occur through negative feedback of the type provided by the liver, even if that feedback is delayed by several minutes. We also demonstrate that a second, slower, mode of oscillations can occur when feedback is delayed where faster oscillations are grouped into episodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Bruce
- Department of Mathematics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - I.-A. Wei
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - W. Leng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Y. Oh
- Department of Mathematics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Y.-C. Chiu
- Department of Physics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - M. G. Roper
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - R. Bertram
- Department of Mathematics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
- Programs in Molecular Biophysics and Neuroscience, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
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21
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Melena I, Hughes JW. Islet cilia and glucose homeostasis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1082193. [PMID: 36531945 PMCID: PMC9751591 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1082193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes is a growing pandemic affecting over ten percent of the U.S. population. Individuals with all types of diabetes exhibit glucose dysregulation due to altered function and coordination of pancreatic islets. Within the critical intercellular space in pancreatic islets, the primary cilium emerges as an important physical structure mediating cell-cell crosstalk and signal transduction. Many events leading to hormone secretion, including GPCR and second-messenger signaling, are spatiotemporally regulated at the level of the cilium. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of cilia action in islet hormone regulation and glucose homeostasis, focusing on newly implicated ciliary pathways that regulate insulin exocytosis and intercellular communication. We present evidence of key signaling proteins on islet cilia and discuss ways in which cilia might functionally connect islet endocrine cells with the non-endocrine compartments. These discussions aim to stimulate conversations regarding the extent of cilia-controlled glucose homeostasis in health and in metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jing W. Hughes
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Lipid Research, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
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22
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Gosak M, Yan-Do R, Lin H, MacDonald PE, Stožer A. Ca2+ Oscillations, Waves, and Networks in Islets From Human Donors With and Without Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes 2022; 71:2584-2596. [PMID: 36084321 PMCID: PMC9750953 DOI: 10.2337/db22-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic islets are highly interconnected structures that produce pulses of insulin and other hormones, maintaining normal homeostasis of glucose and other nutrients. Normal stimulus-secretion and intercellular coupling are essential to regulated secretory responses, and these hallmarks are known to be altered in diabetes. In the current study, we used calcium imaging of isolated human islets to assess their collective behavior. The activity occurred in the form of calcium oscillations, was synchronized across different regions of islets through calcium waves, and was glucose dependent: higher glucose enhanced the activity, elicited a greater proportion of global calcium waves, and led to denser and less fragmented functional networks. Hub regions were identified in stimulatory conditions, and they were characterized by long active times. Moreover, calcium waves were found to be initiated in different subregions and the roles of initiators and hubs did not overlap. In type 2 diabetes, glucose dependence was retained, but reduced activity, locally restricted waves, and more segregated networks were detected compared with control islets. Interestingly, hub regions seemed to suffer the most by losing a disproportionately large fraction of connections. These changes affected islets from donors with diabetes in a heterogeneous manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Gosak
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Richard Yan-Do
- Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-Cardiovascular Health Engineering, Hong Kong Science Park, Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Department of Pharmacology and Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Haopeng Lin
- Department of Pharmacology and Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Patrick E. MacDonald
- Department of Pharmacology and Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Andraž Stožer
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
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23
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Functional architecture of pancreatic islets identifies a population of first responder cells that drive the first-phase calcium response. PLoS Biol 2022; 20:e3001761. [PMID: 36099294 PMCID: PMC9506623 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Insulin-secreting β-cells are functionally heterogeneous. Whether there exist cells driving the first-phase calcium response in individual islets, has not been examined. We examine “first responder” cells, defined by the earliest [Ca2+] response during first-phase [Ca2+] elevation, distinct from previously identified “hub” and “leader” cells. We used islets isolated from Mip-CreER; Rosa-Stop-Lox-Stop-GCamP6s mice (β-GCamP6s) that show β-cell-specific GCamP6s expression following tamoxifen-induced CreER-mediated recombination. First responder cells showed characteristics of high membrane excitability and lower electrical coupling to their neighbors. The first-phase response time of β-cells in the islet was spatially organized, dependent on the cell’s distance to the first responder cell, and consistent over time up to approximately 24 h. When first responder cells were laser ablated, the first-phase [Ca2+] was slowed down, diminished, and discoordinated compared to random cell ablation. Cells that were next earliest to respond often took over the role of the first responder upon ablation. In summary, we discover and characterize a distinct first responder β-cell state, critical for the islet first-phase response to glucose. A hallmark of the early stages in diabetes is the disruption of the first-phase peak of insulin secretion. This study reveals a state of beta cells that drives the first-phase calcium response (a precursor to insulin secretion), challenging the existing paradigm that first-phase calcium response to glucose is not organized within the islet.
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24
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Guérineau NC, Campos P, Le Tissier PR, Hodson DJ, Mollard P. Cell Networks in Endocrine/Neuroendocrine Gland Function. Compr Physiol 2022; 12:3371-3415. [PMID: 35578964 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c210031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Reproduction, growth, stress, and metabolism are determined by endocrine/neuroendocrine systems that regulate circulating hormone concentrations. All these systems generate rhythms and changes in hormone pulsatility observed in a variety of pathophysiological states. Thus, the output of endocrine/neuroendocrine systems must be regulated within a narrow window of effective hormone concentrations but must also maintain a capacity for plasticity to respond to changing physiological demands. Remarkably most endocrinologists still have a "textbook" view of endocrine gland organization which has emanated from 20th century histological studies on thin 2D tissue sections. However, 21st -century technological advances, including in-depth 3D imaging of specific cell types have vastly changed our knowledge. We now know that various levels of multicellular organization can be found across different glands, that organizational motifs can vary between species and can be modified to enhance or decrease hormonal release. This article focuses on how the organization of cells regulates hormone output using three endocrine/neuroendocrine glands that present different levels of organization and complexity: the adrenal medulla, with a single neuroendocrine cell type; the anterior pituitary, with multiple intermingled cell types; and the pancreas with multiple intermingled cell types organized into distinct functional units. We give an overview of recent methodologies that allow the study of the different components within endocrine systems, particularly their temporal and spatial relationships. We believe the emerging findings about network organization, and its impact on hormone secretion, are crucial to understanding how homeostatic regulation of endocrine axes is carried out within endocrine organs themselves. © 2022 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 12:3371-3415, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pauline Campos
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Paul R Le Tissier
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - David J Hodson
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK.,COMPARE University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham Midlands, UK.,Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism (OCDEM), NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Churchill Hospital, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Patrice Mollard
- IGF, University of Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
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25
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Miranda JG, Schleicher WE, Wells KL, Ramirez DG, Landgrave SP, Benninger RKP. Dynamic changes in β-cell [Ca 2+] regulate NFAT activation, gene transcription, and islet gap junction communication. Mol Metab 2022; 57:101430. [PMID: 34979329 PMCID: PMC8804269 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Diabetes occurs because of insufficient insulin secretion due to β-cell dysfunction within the islet of Langerhans. Elevated glucose levels trigger β-cell membrane depolarization, action potential generation, and slow sustained free-Ca2+ ([Ca2+]) oscillations, which trigger insulin release. Nuclear factor of activated T-cell (NFAT) is a transcription factor, which is regulated by the increases in [Ca2+] and calceineurin (CaN) activation. NFAT regulation links cell activity with gene transcription in many systems and regulates proliferation and insulin granule biogenesis within the β-cell. However, the link between the regulation of β-cell electrical activity and oscillatory [Ca2+] dynamics with NFAT activation and downstream transcription is poorly understood. Here, we tested whether dynamic changes to β-cell electrical activity and [Ca2+] regulate NFAT activation and downstream transcription. METHODS In cell lines, mouse islets, and human islets, including those from donors with type 2 diabetes, we applied both agonists/antagonists of ion channels together with optogenetics to modulate β-cell electrical activity. We measured the dynamics of [Ca2+] and NFAT activation as well as performed whole transcriptome and functional analyses. RESULTS Both glucose-induced membrane depolarization and optogenetic stimulation triggered NFAT activation as well as increased the transcription of NFAT targets and intermediate early genes (IEGs). Importantly, slow, sustained [Ca2+] oscillation conditions led to NFAT activation and downstream transcription. In contrast, in human islets from donors with type2 diabetes, NFAT activation by glucose was diminished, but rescued upon pharmacological stimulation of electrical activity. NFAT activation regulated GJD2 expression and increased Cx36 gap junction permeability upon elevated oscillatory [Ca2+] dynamics. However, it is unclear if NFAT directly binds the GJD2 gene to regulate expression. CONCLUSIONS This study provides an insight into the specific patterns of electrical activity that regulate NFAT activation, gene transcription, and islet function. In addition, it provides information on how these factors are disrupted in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose G Miranda
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO, 80045, USA
| | - Wolfgang E Schleicher
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO, 80045, USA
| | - Kristen L Wells
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - David G Ramirez
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO, 80045, USA
| | - Samantha P Landgrave
- Program in Cell Biology, Stem Cell and Development, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
| | - Richard K P Benninger
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora CO, 80045, USA; Program in Cell Biology, Stem Cell and Development, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA; Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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26
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Cefalu WT, Andersen DK, Arreaza-Rubín G, Pin CL, Sato S, Verchere CB, Woo M, Rosenblum ND. Heterogeneity of Diabetes: β-Cells, Phenotypes, and Precision Medicine: Proceedings of an International Symposium of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes and the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes Care 2022; 45:3-22. [PMID: 34782355 PMCID: PMC8753760 DOI: 10.2337/dci21-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
One hundred years have passed since the discovery of insulin-an achievement that transformed diabetes from a fatal illness into a manageable chronic condition. The decades since that momentous achievement have brought ever more rapid innovation and advancement in diabetes research and clinical care. To celebrate the important work of the past century and help to chart a course for its continuation into the next, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes and the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recently held a joint international symposium, bringing together a cohort of researchers with diverse interests and backgrounds from both countries and beyond to discuss their collective quest to better understand the heterogeneity of diabetes and thus gain insights to inform new directions in diabetes treatment and prevention. This article summarizes the proceedings of that symposium, which spanned cutting-edge research into various aspects of islet biology, the heterogeneity of diabetic phenotypes, and the current state of and future prospects for precision medicine in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T. Cefalu
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Dana K. Andersen
- Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Guillermo Arreaza-Rubín
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Christopher L. Pin
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Paediatrics, and Oncology, University of Western Ontario, and Genetics and Development Division, Children’s Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sheryl Sato
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - C. Bruce Verchere
- Departments of Surgery and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- UBC Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Minna Woo
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University Health Network and Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Norman D. Rosenblum
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program in Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Pohorec V, Križančić Bombek L, Skelin Klemen M, Dolenšek J, Stožer A. Glucose-Stimulated Calcium Dynamics in Beta Cells From Male C57BL/6J, C57BL/6N, and NMRI Mice: A Comparison of Activation, Activity, and Deactivation Properties in Tissue Slices. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:867663. [PMID: 35399951 PMCID: PMC8988149 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.867663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although mice are a very instrumental model in islet beta cell research, possible phenotypic differences between strains and substrains are largely neglected in the scientific community. In this study, we show important phenotypic differences in beta cell responses to glucose between C57BL/6J, C57BL/6N, and NMRI mice, i.e., the three most commonly used strains. High-resolution multicellular confocal imaging of beta cells in acute pancreas tissue slices was used to measure and quantitatively compare the calcium dynamics in response to a wide range of glucose concentrations. Strain- and substrain-specific features were found in all three phases of beta cell responses to glucose: a shift in the dose-response curve characterizing the delay to activation and deactivation in response to stimulus onset and termination, respectively, and distinct concentration-encoding principles during the plateau phase in terms of frequency, duration, and active time changes with increasing glucose concentrations. Our results underline the significance of carefully choosing and reporting the strain to enable comparison and increase reproducibility, emphasize the importance of analyzing a number of different beta cell physiological parameters characterizing the response to glucose, and provide a valuable standard for future studies on beta cell calcium dynamics in health and disease in tissue slices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viljem Pohorec
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | | | - Maša Skelin Klemen
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Jurij Dolenšek
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- *Correspondence: Andraž Stožer, ; Jurij Dolenšek,
| | - Andraž Stožer
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- *Correspondence: Andraž Stožer, ; Jurij Dolenšek,
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Langlois A, Dumond A, Vion J, Pinget M, Bouzakri K. Crosstalk Communications Between Islets Cells and Insulin Target Tissue: The Hidden Face of Iceberg. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:836344. [PMID: 35185804 PMCID: PMC8851682 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.836344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The regulation of insulin secretion is under control of a complex inter-organ/cells crosstalk involving various metabolites and/or physical connections. In this review, we try to illustrate with current knowledge how β-cells communicate with other cell types and organs in physiological and pathological contexts. Moreover, this review will provide a better understanding of the microenvironment and of the context in which β-cells exist and how this can influence their survival and function. Recent studies showed that β-cell insulin secretion is regulated also by a direct and indirect inter-organ/inter-cellular communication involving various factors, illustrating the idea of "the hidden face of the iceberg". Moreover, any disruption on the physiological communication between β-cells and other cells or organs can participate on diabetes onset. Therefore, for new anti-diabetic treatments' development, it is necessary to consider the entire network of cells and organs involved in the regulation of β-cellular function and no longer just β-cell or pancreatic islet alone. In this context, we discuss here the intra-islet communication, the β-cell/skeletal muscle, β-cell/adipose tissue and β-cell/liver cross talk.
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29
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Stožer A, Šterk M, Paradiž Leitgeb E, Markovič R, Skelin Klemen M, Ellis CE, Križančić Bombek L, Dolenšek J, MacDonald PE, Gosak M. From Isles of Königsberg to Islets of Langerhans: Examining the Function of the Endocrine Pancreas Through Network Science. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:922640. [PMID: 35784543 PMCID: PMC9240343 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.922640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Islets of Langerhans are multicellular microorgans located in the pancreas that play a central role in whole-body energy homeostasis. Through secretion of insulin and other hormones they regulate postprandial storage and interprandial usage of energy-rich nutrients. In these clusters of hormone-secreting endocrine cells, intricate cell-cell communication is essential for proper function. Electrical coupling between the insulin-secreting beta cells through gap junctions composed of connexin36 is particularly important, as it provides the required, most important, basis for coordinated responses of the beta cell population. The increasing evidence that gap-junctional communication and its modulation are vital to well-regulated secretion of insulin has stimulated immense interest in how subpopulations of heterogeneous beta cells are functionally arranged throughout the islets and how they mediate intercellular signals. In the last decade, several novel techniques have been proposed to assess cooperation between cells in islets, including the prosperous combination of multicellular imaging and network science. In the present contribution, we review recent advances related to the application of complex network approaches to uncover the functional connectivity patterns among cells within the islets. We first provide an accessible introduction to the basic principles of network theory, enumerating the measures characterizing the intercellular interactions and quantifying the functional integration and segregation of a multicellular system. Then we describe methodological approaches to construct functional beta cell networks, point out possible pitfalls, and specify the functional implications of beta cell network examinations. We continue by highlighting the recent findings obtained through advanced multicellular imaging techniques supported by network-based analyses, giving special emphasis to the current developments in both mouse and human islets, as well as outlining challenges offered by the multilayer network formalism in exploring the collective activity of islet cell populations. Finally, we emphasize that the combination of these imaging techniques and network-based analyses does not only represent an innovative concept that can be used to describe and interpret the physiology of islets, but also provides fertile ground for delineating normal from pathological function and for quantifying the changes in islet communication networks associated with the development of diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andraž Stožer
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marko Šterk
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Eva Paradiž Leitgeb
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Rene Markovič
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Institute of Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Maša Skelin Klemen
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Cara E. Ellis
- Department of Pharmacology and Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Jurij Dolenšek
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Patrick E. MacDonald
- Department of Pharmacology and Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Marko Gosak
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- *Correspondence: Marko Gosak,
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Benninger RKP, Kravets V. The physiological role of β-cell heterogeneity in pancreatic islet function. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2022; 18:9-22. [PMID: 34667280 PMCID: PMC8915749 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-021-00568-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine cells within the pancreatic islets of Langerhans are heterogeneous in terms of transcriptional profile, protein expression and the regulation of hormone release. Even though this heterogeneity has long been appreciated, only within the past 5 years have detailed molecular analyses led to an improved understanding of its basis. Although we are beginning to recognize why some subpopulations of endocrine cells are phenotypically different to others, arguably the most important consideration is how this heterogeneity affects the regulation of hormone release to control the homeostasis of glucose and other energy-rich nutrients. The focus of this Review is the description of how endocrine cell heterogeneity (and principally that of insulin-secreting β-cells) affects the regulation of hormone secretion within the islets of Langerhans. This discussion includes an overview of the functional characteristics of the different islet cell subpopulations and describes how they can communicate to influence islet function under basal and glucose-stimulated conditions. We further discuss how changes to the specific islet cell subpopulations or their numbers might underlie islet dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus. We conclude with a discussion of several key open questions regarding the physiological role of islet cell heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard K P Benninger
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Vira Kravets
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
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Cefalu WT, Andersen DK, Arreaza-Rubín G, Pin CL, Sato S, Verchere CB, Woo M, Rosenblum ND. Heterogeneity of Diabetes: β-Cells, Phenotypes, and Precision Medicine: Proceedings of an International Symposium of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes and the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Can J Diabetes 2021; 45:697-713. [PMID: 34794897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2021.09.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
One hundred years have passed since the discovery of insulin-an achievement that transformed diabetes from a fatal illness into a manageable chronic condition. The decades since that momentous achievement have brought ever more rapid innovation and advancement in diabetes research and clinical care. To celebrate the important work of the past century and help to chart a course for its continuation into the next, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes and the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recently held a joint international symposium, bringing together a cohort of researchers with diverse interests and backgrounds from both countries and beyond to discuss their collective quest to better understand the heterogeneity of diabetes and thus gain insights to inform new directions in diabetes treatment and prevention. This article summarizes the proceedings of that symposium, which spanned cutting-edge research into various aspects of islet biology, the heterogeneity of diabetic phenotypes, and the current state of and future prospects for precision medicine in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T Cefalu
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.
| | - Dana K Andersen
- Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Guillermo Arreaza-Rubín
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - Christopher L Pin
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Paediatrics, and Oncology, University of Western Ontario, and Genetics and Development Division, Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sheryl Sato
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
| | - C Bruce Verchere
- Departments of Surgery and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; UBC Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Minna Woo
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University Health Network and Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Norman D Rosenblum
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Nephrology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Program in Stem Cell and Developmental Biology, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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32
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Cefalu WT, Andersen DK, Arreaza-Rubín G, Pin CL, Sato S, Verchere CB, Woo M, Rosenblum ND. Heterogeneity of Diabetes: β-Cells, Phenotypes, and Precision Medicine: Proceedings of an International Symposium of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes and the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes 2021; 71:db210777. [PMID: 34782351 PMCID: PMC8763877 DOI: 10.2337/db21-0777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
One hundred years have passed since the discovery of insulin-an achievement that transformed diabetes from a fatal illness into a manageable chronic condition. The decades since that momentous achievement have brought ever more rapid innovation and advancement in diabetes research and clinical care. To celebrate the important work of the past century and help to chart a course for its continuation into the next, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes and the U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases recently held a joint international symposium, bringing together a cohort of researchers with diverse interests and backgrounds from both countries and beyond to discuss their collective quest to better understand the heterogeneity of diabetes and thus gain insights to inform new directions in diabetes treatment and prevention. This article summarizes the proceedings of that symposium, which spanned cutting-edge research into various aspects of islet biology, the heterogeneity of diabetic phenotypes, and the current state of and future prospects for precision medicine in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William T Cefalu
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Dana K Andersen
- Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Guillermo Arreaza-Rubín
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Christopher L Pin
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, Paediatrics, and Oncology, University of Western Ontario, and Genetics and Development Division, Children's Health Research Institute, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sheryl Sato
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - C Bruce Verchere
- Departments of Surgery and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- UBC Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Minna Woo
- Departments of Medicine and Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University Health Network and Sinai Health System, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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33
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Joglekar MV, Dong CX, Wong WKM, Dalgaard LT, Hardikar AA. A bird's eye view of the dynamics of pancreatic β-cell heterogeneity. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2021; 233:e13664. [PMID: 33884752 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mugdha V. Joglekar
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown NSW Australia
| | - Charlotte X. Dong
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown NSW Australia
| | - Wilson K. M. Wong
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown NSW Australia
| | | | - Anandwardhan A. Hardikar
- Diabetes and Islet Biology Group, School of Medicine Western Sydney University Campbelltown NSW Australia
- Department of Science and Environment Roskilde University Roskilde Denmark
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Stožer A, Skelin Klemen M, Gosak M, Križančić Bombek L, Pohorec V, Slak Rupnik M, Dolenšek J. Glucose-dependent activation, activity, and deactivation of beta cell networks in acute mouse pancreas tissue slices. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2021; 321:E305-E323. [PMID: 34280052 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00043.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Many details of glucose-stimulated intracellular calcium changes in β cells during activation, activity, and deactivation, as well as their concentration-dependence, remain to be analyzed. Classical physiological experiments indicated that in islets, functional differences between individual cells are largely attenuated, but recent findings suggest considerable intercellular heterogeneity, with some cells possibly coordinating the collective responses. To address the above with an emphasis on heterogeneity and describing the relations between classical physiological and functional network properties, we performed functional multicellular calcium imaging in mouse pancreas tissue slices over a wide range of glucose concentrations. During activation, delays to activation of cells and any-cell-to-first-responder delays are shortened, and the sizes of simultaneously responding clusters increased with increasing glucose concentrations. Exactly the opposite characterized deactivation. The frequency of fast calcium oscillations during activity increased with increasing glucose up to 12 mM glucose concentration, beyond which oscillation duration became longer, resulting in a homogenous increase in active time. In terms of functional connectivity, islets progressed from a very segregated network to a single large functional unit with increasing glucose concentration. A comparison between classical physiological and network parameters revealed that the first-responders during activation had longer active times during plateau and the most active cells during the plateau tended to deactivate later. Cells with the most functional connections tended to activate sooner, have longer active times, and deactivate later. Our findings provide a common ground for recent differing views on β cell heterogeneity and an important baseline for future studies of stimulus-secretion and intercellular coupling.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We assessed concentration-dependence in coupled β cells, degree of functional heterogeneity, and uncovered possible specialized subpopulations during the different phases of the response to glucose at the level of many individual cells. To this aim, we combined acute mouse pancreas tissue slices with functional multicellular calcium imaging over a wide range from threshold (7 mM) and physiological (8 and 9 mM) to supraphysiological (12 and 16 mM) glucose concentrations, classical physiological, and advanced network analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andraž Stožer
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Maša Skelin Klemen
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marko Gosak
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | | | - Viljem Pohorec
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marjan Slak Rupnik
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Alma Mater Europaea-European Center Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Jurij Dolenšek
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Physiology, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
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35
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Adams MT, Dwulet JM, Briggs JK, Reissaus CA, Jin E, Szulczewski JM, Lyman MR, Sdao SM, Kravets V, Nimkulrat SD, Ponik SM, Merrins MJ, Mirmira RG, Linnemann AK, Benninger RKP, Blum B. Reduced synchroneity of intra-islet Ca 2+ oscillations in vivo in Robo-deficient β cells. eLife 2021; 10:e61308. [PMID: 34231467 PMCID: PMC8289414 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial architecture of the islets of Langerhans is hypothesized to facilitate synchronized insulin secretion among β cells, yet testing this in vivo in the intact pancreas is challenging. Robo βKO mice, in which the genes Robo1 and Robo2 are deleted selectively in β cells, provide a unique model of altered islet spatial architecture without loss of β cell differentiation or islet damage from diabetes. Combining Robo βKO mice with intravital microscopy, we show here that Robo βKO islets have reduced synchronized intra-islet Ca2+ oscillations among β cells in vivo. We provide evidence that this loss is not due to a β cell-intrinsic function of Robo, mis-expression or mis-localization of Cx36 gap junctions, or changes in islet vascularization or innervation, suggesting that the islet architecture itself is required for synchronized Ca2+ oscillations. These results have implications for understanding structure-function relationships in the islets during progression to diabetes as well as engineering islets from stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa T Adams
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - JaeAnn M Dwulet
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Jennifer K Briggs
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Christopher A Reissaus
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research and Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Erli Jin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Joseph M Szulczewski
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Melissa R Lyman
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Sophia M Sdao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Vira Kravets
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Sutichot D Nimkulrat
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Suzanne M Ponik
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Matthew J Merrins
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
| | - Raghavendra G Mirmira
- Kovler Diabetes Center and the Department of Medicine, University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Amelia K Linnemann
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research and Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Richard KP Benninger
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Barak Blum
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadisonUnited States
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36
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Ng XW, Chung YH, Piston DW. Intercellular Communication in the Islet of Langerhans in Health and Disease. Compr Physiol 2021; 11:2191-2225. [PMID: 34190340 DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c200026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Blood glucose homeostasis requires proper function of pancreatic islets, which secrete insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin from the β-, α-, and δ-cells, respectively. Each islet cell type is equipped with intrinsic mechanisms for glucose sensing and secretory actions, but these intrinsic mechanisms alone cannot explain the observed secretory profiles from intact islets. Regulation of secretion involves interconnected mechanisms among and between islet cell types. Islet cells lose their normal functional signatures and secretory behaviors upon dispersal as compared to intact islets and in vivo. In dispersed islet cells, the glucose response of insulin secretion is attenuated from that seen from whole islets, coordinated oscillations in membrane potential and intracellular Ca2+ activity, as well as the two-phase insulin secretion profile, are missing, and glucagon secretion displays higher basal secretion profile and a reverse glucose-dependent response from that of intact islets. These observations highlight the critical roles of intercellular communication within the pancreatic islet, and how these communication pathways are crucial for proper hormonal and nonhormonal secretion and glucose homeostasis. Further, misregulated secretions of islet secretory products that arise from defective intercellular islet communication are implicated in diabetes. Intercellular communication within the islet environment comprises multiple mechanisms, including electrical synapses from gap junctional coupling, paracrine interactions among neighboring cells, and direct cell-to-cell contacts in the form of juxtacrine signaling. In this article, we describe the various mechanisms that contribute to proper islet function for each islet cell type and how intercellular islet communications are coordinated among the same and different islet cell types. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:2191-2225, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue W Ng
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yong H Chung
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - David W Piston
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, USA
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37
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Scialla S, Loppini A, Patriarca M, Heinsalu E. Hubs, diversity, and synchronization in FitzHugh-Nagumo oscillator networks: Resonance effects and biophysical implications. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:052211. [PMID: 34134340 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.052211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Using the FitzHugh-Nagumo equations to represent the oscillatory electrical behavior of β-cells, we develop a coupled oscillator network model with cubic lattice topology, showing that the emergence of pacemakers or hubs in the system can be viewed as a natural consequence of oscillator population diversity. The optimal hub to nonhub ratio is determined by the position of the diversity-induced resonance maximum for a given set of FitzHugh-Nagumo equation parameters and is predicted by the model to be in a range that is fully consistent with experimental observations. The model also suggests that hubs in a β-cell network should have the ability to "switch on" and "off" their pacemaker function. As a consequence, their relative amount in the population can vary in order to ensure an optimal oscillatory performance of the network in response to environmental changes, such as variations of an external stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Scialla
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Á. del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Loppini
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Á. del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Patriarca
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Rävala 10, Tallinn 15042, Estonia
| | - Els Heinsalu
- National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Rävala 10, Tallinn 15042, Estonia
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Small subpopulations of β-cells do not drive islet oscillatory [Ca2+] dynamics via gap junction communication. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008948. [PMID: 33939712 PMCID: PMC8118513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The islets of Langerhans exist as multicellular networks that regulate blood glucose levels. The majority of cells in the islet are excitable, insulin-producing β-cells that are electrically coupled via gap junction channels. β-cells are known to display heterogeneous functionality. However, due to gap junction coupling, β-cells show coordinated [Ca2+] oscillations when stimulated with glucose, and global quiescence when unstimulated. Small subpopulations of highly functional β-cells have been suggested to control [Ca2+] dynamics across the islet. When these populations were targeted by optogenetic silencing or photoablation, [Ca2+] dynamics across the islet were largely disrupted. In this study, we investigated the theoretical basis of these experiments and how small populations can disproportionality control islet [Ca2+] dynamics. Using a multicellular islet model, we generated normal, skewed or bimodal distributions of β-cell heterogeneity. We examined how islet [Ca2+] dynamics were disrupted when cells were targeted via hyperpolarization or populations were removed; to mimic optogenetic silencing or photoablation, respectively. Targeted cell populations were chosen based on characteristics linked to functional subpopulation, including metabolic rate of glucose oxidation or [Ca2+] oscillation frequency. Islets were susceptible to marked suppression of [Ca2+] when ~10% of cells with high metabolic activity were hyperpolarized; where hyperpolarizing cells with normal metabolic activity had little effect. However, when highly metabolic cells were removed from the model, [Ca2+] oscillations remained. Similarly, when ~10% of cells with either the highest frequency or earliest elevations in [Ca2+] were removed from the islet, the [Ca2+] oscillation frequency remained largely unchanged. Overall, these results indicate small populations of β-cells with either increased metabolic activity or increased frequency are unable to disproportionately control islet-wide [Ca2+] via gap junction coupling. Therefore, we need to reconsider the physiological basis for such small β-cell populations or the mechanism by which they may be acting to control normal islet function. Many biological systems can be studied using network theory. How heterogeneous cell subpopulations come together to create complex multicellular behavior is of great value in understanding function and dysfunction in tissues. The pancreatic islet of Langerhans is a highly coupled structure that is important for maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. β-cell electrical activity is coordinated via gap junction communication. The function of the insulin-producing β-cell within the islet is disrupted in diabetes. As such, to understand the causes of islet dysfunction we need to understand how different cells within the islet contribute to its overall function via gap junction coupling. Using a computational model of β-cell electrophysiology, we investigated how small highly functional β-cell populations within the islet contribute to its function. We found that when small populations with greater functionality were introduced into the islet, they displayed signatures of this enhanced functionality. However, when these cells were removed, the islet, retained near-normal function. Thus, in a highly coupled system, such as an islet, the heterogeneity of cells allows small subpopulations to be dispensable, and thus their absence is unable to disrupt the larger cellular network. These findings can be applied to other electrical systems that have heterogeneous cell populations.
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Šterk M, Križančić Bombek L, Skelin Klemen M, Slak Rupnik M, Marhl M, Stožer A, Gosak M. NMDA receptor inhibition increases, synchronizes, and stabilizes the collective pancreatic beta cell activity: Insights through multilayer network analysis. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009002. [PMID: 33974632 PMCID: PMC8139480 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
NMDA receptors promote repolarization in pancreatic beta cells and thereby reduce glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Therefore, NMDA receptors are a potential therapeutic target for diabetes. While the mechanism of NMDA receptor inhibition in beta cells is rather well understood at the molecular level, its possible effects on the collective cellular activity have not been addressed to date, even though proper insulin secretion patterns result from well-synchronized beta cell behavior. The latter is enabled by strong intercellular connectivity, which governs propagating calcium waves across the islets and makes the heterogeneous beta cell population work in synchrony. Since a disrupted collective activity is an important and possibly early contributor to impaired insulin secretion and glucose intolerance, it is of utmost importance to understand possible effects of NMDA receptor inhibition on beta cell functional connectivity. To address this issue, we combined confocal functional multicellular calcium imaging in mouse tissue slices with network science approaches. Our results revealed that NMDA receptor inhibition increases, synchronizes, and stabilizes beta cell activity without affecting the velocity or size of calcium waves. To explore intercellular interactions more precisely, we made use of the multilayer network formalism by regarding each calcium wave as an individual network layer, with weighted directed connections portraying the intercellular propagation. NMDA receptor inhibition stabilized both the role of wave initiators and the course of waves. The findings obtained with the experimental antagonist of NMDA receptors, MK-801, were additionally validated with dextrorphan, the active metabolite of the approved drug dextromethorphan, as well as with experiments on NMDA receptor KO mice. In sum, our results provide additional and new evidence for a possible role of NMDA receptor inhibition in treatment of type 2 diabetes and introduce the multilayer network paradigm as a general strategy to examine effects of drugs on connectivity in multicellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Šterk
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | | | | | - Marjan Slak Rupnik
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Alma Mater Europaea–ECM, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marko Marhl
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Education, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Andraž Stožer
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marko Gosak
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
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40
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Hogan JP, Peercy BE. Flipping the switch on the hub cell: Islet desynchronization through cell silencing. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248974. [PMID: 33831017 PMCID: PMC8031451 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic β cells, responsible for secreting insulin into the bloodstream and maintaining glucose homeostasis, are organized in the islets of Langerhans as clusters of electrically coupled cells. Gap junctions, connecting neighboring cells, coordinate the behavior of the islet, leading to the synchronized oscillations in the intracellular calcium and insulin secretion in healthy islets. Recent experimental work has shown that silencing special hub cells can lead to a disruption in the coordinated behavior, calling into question the democratic paradigm of islet insulin secretion with more or less equal input from each β cell. Islets were shown to have scale-free functional connectivity and a hub cell whose silencing would lead to a loss of functional connectivity and activity in the islet. A mechanistic model representing the electrical and calcium dynamics of β cells during insulin secretion was applied to a network of cells connected by gap junctions to test the hypothesis of hub cells. Functional connectivity networks were built from the simulated calcium traces, with some networks classified as scale-free, confirming experimental results. Potential hub cells were identified using previously defined centrality measures, but silencing them was unable to desynchronize the islet. Instead, switch cells, which were able to turn off the activity of the islet but were not highly functionally connected, were found via systematically silencing each cell in the network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janita P. Hogan
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bradford E. Peercy
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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41
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Zmazek J, Klemen MS, Markovič R, Dolenšek J, Marhl M, Stožer A, Gosak M. Assessing Different Temporal Scales of Calcium Dynamics in Networks of Beta Cell Populations. Front Physiol 2021; 12:612233. [PMID: 33833686 PMCID: PMC8021717 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.612233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Beta cells within the pancreatic islets of Langerhans respond to stimulation with coherent oscillations of membrane potential and intracellular calcium concentration that presumably drive the pulsatile exocytosis of insulin. Their rhythmic activity is multimodal, resulting from networked feedback interactions of various oscillatory subsystems, such as the glycolytic, mitochondrial, and electrical/calcium components. How these oscillatory modules interact and affect the collective cellular activity, which is a prerequisite for proper hormone release, is incompletely understood. In the present work, we combined advanced confocal Ca2+ imaging in fresh mouse pancreas tissue slices with time series analysis and network science approaches to unveil the glucose-dependent characteristics of different oscillatory components on both the intra- and inter-cellular level. Our results reveal an interrelationship between the metabolically driven low-frequency component and the electrically driven high-frequency component, with the latter exhibiting the highest bursting rates around the peaks of the slow component and the lowest around the nadirs. Moreover, the activity, as well as the average synchronicity of the fast component, considerably increased with increasing stimulatory glucose concentration, whereas the stimulation level did not affect any of these parameters in the slow component domain. Remarkably, in both dynamical components, the average correlation decreased similarly with intercellular distance, which implies that intercellular communication affects the synchronicity of both types of oscillations. To explore the intra-islet synchronization patterns in more detail, we constructed functional connectivity maps. The subsequent comparison of network characteristics of different oscillatory components showed more locally clustered and segregated networks of fast oscillatory activity, while the slow oscillations were more global, resulting in several long-range connections and a more cohesive structure. Besides the structural differences, we found a relatively weak relationship between the fast and slow network layer, which suggests that different synchronization mechanisms shape the collective cellular activity in islets, a finding which has to be kept in mind in future studies employing different oscillations for constructing networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Zmazek
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | | | - Rene Markovič
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Jurij Dolenšek
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marko Marhl
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Education, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Andraž Stožer
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Marko Gosak
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
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42
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Nasteska D, Fine NHF, Ashford FB, Cuozzo F, Viloria K, Smith G, Dahir A, Dawson PWJ, Lai YC, Bastidas-Ponce A, Bakhti M, Rutter GA, Fiancette R, Nano R, Piemonti L, Lickert H, Zhou Q, Akerman I, Hodson DJ. PDX1 LOW MAFA LOW β-cells contribute to islet function and insulin release. Nat Commun 2021; 12:674. [PMID: 33514698 PMCID: PMC7846747 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20632-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptionally mature and immature β-cells co-exist within the adult islet. How such diversity contributes to insulin release remains poorly understood. Here we show that subtle differences in β-cell maturity, defined using PDX1 and MAFA expression, contribute to islet operation. Functional mapping of rodent and human islets containing proportionally more PDX1HIGH and MAFAHIGH β-cells reveals defects in metabolism, ionic fluxes and insulin secretion. At the transcriptomic level, the presence of increased numbers of PDX1HIGH and MAFAHIGH β-cells leads to dysregulation of gene pathways involved in metabolic processes. Using a chemogenetic disruption strategy, differences in PDX1 and MAFA expression are shown to depend on islet Ca2+ signaling patterns. During metabolic stress, islet function can be restored by redressing the balance between PDX1 and MAFA levels across the β-cell population. Thus, preserving heterogeneity in PDX1 and MAFA expression, and more widely in β-cell maturity, might be important for the maintenance of islet function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Nasteska
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nicholas H F Fine
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK
| | - Fiona B Ashford
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK
| | - Federica Cuozzo
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK
| | - Katrina Viloria
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK
| | - Gabrielle Smith
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK
| | - Aisha Dahir
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK
| | - Peter W J Dawson
- School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Science, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.,MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK
| | - Yu-Chiang Lai
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Science, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK.,MRC-Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, UK
| | - Aimée Bastidas-Ponce
- Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany.,Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Mostafa Bakhti
- Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Guy A Rutter
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Reproduction, and Digestion, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang, Singapore
| | - Remi Fiancette
- Institute of Immunology & Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rita Nano
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale, San Raffaele, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- San Raffaele Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale, San Raffaele, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Heiko Lickert
- Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-85764, Neuherberg, Germany.,Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Qiao Zhou
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ildem Akerman
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK
| | - David J Hodson
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. .,Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, UK. .,Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, UK.
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43
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Chabosseau P, Rutter GA, Millership SJ. Importance of Both Imprinted Genes and Functional Heterogeneity in Pancreatic Beta Cells: Is There a Link? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1000. [PMID: 33498234 PMCID: PMC7863946 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus now affects more than 400 million individuals worldwide, with significant impacts on the lives of those affected and associated socio-economic costs. Although defects in insulin secretion underlie all forms of the disease, the molecular mechanisms which drive them are still poorly understood. Subsets of specialised beta cells have, in recent years, been suggested to play critical roles in "pacing" overall islet activity. The molecular nature of these cells, the means through which their identity is established and the changes which may contribute to their functional demise and "loss of influence" in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are largely unknown. Genomic imprinting involves the selective silencing of one of the two parental alleles through DNA methylation and modified imprinted gene expression is involved in a number of diseases. Loss of expression, or loss of imprinting, can be shown in mouse models to lead to defects in beta cell function and abnormal insulin secretion. In the present review we survey the evidence that altered expression of imprinted genes contribute to loss of beta cell function, the importance of beta cell heterogeneity in normal and disease states, and hypothesise whether there is a direct link between the two.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Steven J. Millership
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK; (P.C.); (G.A.R.)
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44
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Patwardhan J, Peercy BE. Network Analysis Applied to Pancreatic Islets. SYSTEMS MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-801238-3.11469-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
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45
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Weitz J, Menegaz D, Caicedo A. Deciphering the Complex Communication Networks That Orchestrate Pancreatic Islet Function. Diabetes 2021; 70:17-26. [PMID: 33355306 PMCID: PMC7881851 DOI: 10.2337/dbi19-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic islets are clusters of hormone-secreting endocrine cells that rely on intricate cell-cell communication mechanisms for proper function. The importance of multicellular cooperation in islet cell physiology was first noted nearly 30 years ago in seminal studies showing that hormone secretion from endocrine cell types is diminished when these cells are dispersed. These studies showed that reestablishing cellular contacts in so-called pseudoislets caused endocrine cells to regain hormone secretory function. This not only demonstrated that cooperation between islet cells is highly synergistic but also gave birth to the field of pancreatic islet organoids. Here we review recent advances related to the mechanisms of islet cell cross talk. We first describe new developments that revise current notions about purinergic and GABA signaling in islets. Then we comment on novel multicellular imaging studies that are revealing emergent properties of islet communication networks. We finish by highlighting and discussing recent synthetic approaches that use islet organoids of varied cellular composition to interrogate intraislet signaling mechanisms. This reverse engineering of islets not only will shed light on the mechanisms of intraislet signaling and define communication networks but also may guide efforts aimed at restoring islet function and β-cell mass in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Weitz
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Danusa Menegaz
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Alejandro Caicedo
- Department of Medicine, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
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46
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Félix-Martínez GJ, N. Mata A, Godínez-Fernández JR. Reconstructing human pancreatic islet architectures using computational optimization. Islets 2020; 12:121-133. [PMID: 33090076 PMCID: PMC7751670 DOI: 10.1080/19382014.2020.1823178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We outline a general methodology based on computational optimization and experimental data to reconstruct human pancreatic islet architectures. By using the nuclei coordinates of islet cells obtained through DAPI staining, cell types identified by immunostaining, and cell size distributions estimated from capacitance measurements, reconstructed islets composed of non-overlapping spherical cells were obtained through an iterative optimization procedure. In all cases, the reconstructed architectures included >99% of the experimental identified cells, each of them having a radius within the experimentally reported ranges. Given the wide use of mathematical modeling for the study of pancreatic cells, and recently, of cell-cell interactions within the pancreatic islets, the methodology here proposed, also capable of identifying cell-to-cell contacts, is aimed to provide with a framework for modeling and analyzing experimentally-based pancreatic islet architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo J. Félix-Martínez
- Cátedras CONACYT, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Mexico City, México
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City, México
- CONTACT Gerardo J. Félix-Martínez Laboratory of Biophysics AT-221, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana; San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Vicentina, 09340, Iztalapapa, CDMX, México
| | - Aurelio N. Mata
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City, México
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47
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Corezola do Amaral ME, Kravets V, Dwulet JM, Farnsworth NL, Piscopio R, Schleicher WE, Miranda JG, Benninger RKP. Caloric restriction recovers impaired β-cell-β-cell gap junction coupling, calcium oscillation coordination, and insulin secretion in prediabetic mice. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2020; 319:E709-E720. [PMID: 32830549 PMCID: PMC7750515 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00132.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Caloric restriction can decrease the incidence of metabolic diseases, such as obesity and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The mechanisms underlying the benefits of caloric restriction involved in insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis are not fully understood. Intercellular communication within the islets of Langerhans, mediated by Connexin36 (Cx36) gap junctions, regulates insulin secretion dynamics and glucose homeostasis. The goal of this study was to determine whether caloric restriction can protect against decreases in Cx36 gap junction coupling and altered islet function induced in models of obesity and prediabetes. C57BL6 mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD), showing indications of prediabetes after 2 mo, including weight gain, insulin resistance, and elevated fasting glucose and insulin levels. Subsequently, mice were submitted to 1 mo of 40% caloric restriction (2 g/day of HFD). Mice under 40% caloric restriction showed reversal in weight gain and recovered insulin sensitivity, fasting glucose, and insulin levels. In islets of mice fed the HFD, caloric restriction protected against obesity-induced decreases in gap junction coupling and preserved glucose-stimulated calcium signaling, including Ca2+ oscillation coordination and oscillation amplitude. Caloric restriction also promoted a slight increase in glucose metabolism, as measured by increased NAD(P)H autofluorescence, as well as recovering glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. We conclude that declines in Cx36 gap junction coupling that occur in obesity can be completely recovered by caloric restriction and obesity reversal, improving Ca2+ dynamics and insulin secretion regulation. This suggests a critical role for caloric restriction in the context of obesity to prevent islet dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vira Kravets
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Denver, Colorado
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Denver, Colorado
| | - JaeAnn M. Dwulet
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Denver, Colorado
| | - Nikki L. Farnsworth
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Denver, Colorado
| | - Robert Piscopio
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Denver, Colorado
| | - Wolfgang E. Schleicher
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Denver, Colorado
| | - Jose Guadalupe Miranda
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Denver, Colorado
| | - Richard K. P. Benninger
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Denver, Colorado
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Denver, Colorado
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Rutter GA, Georgiadou E, Martinez-Sanchez A, Pullen TJ. Metabolic and functional specialisations of the pancreatic beta cell: gene disallowance, mitochondrial metabolism and intercellular connectivity. Diabetologia 2020; 63:1990-1998. [PMID: 32894309 PMCID: PMC7476987 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-020-05205-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
All forms of diabetes mellitus involve the loss or dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells, with the former predominating in type 1 diabetes and the latter in type 2 diabetes. Deeper understanding of the coupling mechanisms that link glucose metabolism in these cells to the control of insulin secretion is therefore likely to be essential to develop new therapies. Beta cells display a remarkable metabolic specialisation, expressing high levels of metabolic sensing enzymes, including the glucose transporter GLUT2 (encoded by SLC2A2) and glucokinase (encoded by GCK). Genetic evidence flowing from both monogenic forms of diabetes and genome-wide association studies for the more common type 2 diabetes, supports the importance for normal glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of metabolic signalling via altered ATP generation, while also highlighting unsuspected roles for Zn2+ storage, intracellular lipid transfer and other processes. Intriguingly, genes involved in non-oxidative metabolic fates of the sugar, such as those for lactate dehydrogenase (LDHA) and monocarboxylate transporter-1 ([MCT-1] SLC16A1), as well as the acyl-CoA thioesterase (ACOT7) and others, are selectively repressed ('disallowed') in beta cells. Furthermore, mutations in genes critical for mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, such as TRL-CAG1-7 encoding tRNALeu, are linked to maternally inherited forms of diabetes. Correspondingly, impaired Ca2+ uptake into mitochondria, or collapse of a normally interconnected mitochondrial network, are associated with defective insulin secretion. Here, we suggest that altered mitochondrial metabolism may also impair beta cell-beta cell communication. Thus, we argue that defective oxidative glucose metabolism is central to beta cell failure in diabetes, acting both at the level of single beta cells and potentially across the whole islet to impair insulin secretion. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy A Rutter
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
| | - Eleni Georgiadou
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Aida Martinez-Sanchez
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Timothy J Pullen
- Section of Cell Biology and Functional Genomics, Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
- Department of Diabetes, School of Life Course Science, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
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Rutter GA, Ninov N, Salem V, Hodson DJ. Comment on Satin et al. "Take Me To Your Leader": An Electrophysiological Appraisal of the Role of Hub Cells in Pancreatic Islets. Diabetes 2020;69:830-836. Diabetes 2020; 69:e10-e11. [PMID: 32820056 PMCID: PMC7458040 DOI: 10.2337/db20-0501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guy A Rutter
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, U.K.
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nikolay Ninov
- Center for Regenerative Therapies at Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Dresden, Germany
| | - Victoria Salem
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, U.K
| | - David J Hodson
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (IMSR), University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, U.K.
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, U.K
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors (COMPARE), University of Birmingham and University of Nottingham, Midlands, Birmingham, U.K
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50
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Satin LS, Zhang Q, Rorsman P. "Take Me To Your Leader": An Electrophysiological Appraisal of the Role of Hub Cells in Pancreatic Islets. Diabetes 2020; 69:830-836. [PMID: 32312899 PMCID: PMC7171959 DOI: 10.2337/dbi19-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The coordinated electrical activity of β-cells within the pancreatic islet drives oscillatory insulin secretion. A recent hypothesis postulates that specially equipped "hub" or "leader" cells within the β-cell network drive islet oscillations and that electrically silencing or optically ablating these cells suppresses coordinated electrical activity (and thus insulin secretion) in the rest of the islet. In this Perspective, we discuss this hypothesis in relation to established principles of electrophysiological theory. We conclude that whereas electrical coupling between β-cells is sufficient for the propagation of excitation across the islet, there is no obvious electrophysiological mechanism that explains how hyperpolarizing a hub cell results in widespread inhibition of islet electrical activity and disruption of their coordination. Thus, intraislet diffusible factors should perhaps be considered as an alternate mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie S Satin
- Department of Pharmacology, Brehm Center for Diabetes, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Quan Zhang
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, U.K
| | - Patrik Rorsman
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, U.K
- Metabolic Physiology, Department of Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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