Functionality and antidiabetic utility of β- and L-cell containing pseudoislets

A reappraisal of the role of cyclic AMP in the physiological action of glucagon

Effects of the metabolic hormone glucagon can be physiological or supraphysiological, based on agonist concentration and the mediating cellular signal. The threshold concentration (TC) for activating the AC/cAMP signal pathway in liver is ≥ 100 pM. By contrast, mean plasma concentrations are around 20-45 pM, depending on the vascular bed. Accordingly, effects produced at TCs below 100 pM are physiological and mediated by cellular signal pathways other than AC/cAMP. Effects generated at concentrations above 100 pM are supraphysiological, often mediated by simultaneous activation of cAMP-independent and -dependent pathways. Physiological responses, and their established or implicated signal pathways, include stimulation of: glucose mobilization, fatty acid oxidation, and urea synthesis in liver (PLC/IP3/Ca²⁺/CaM); lipolysis in white and brown adipose tissue and oxygen consumption in brown adipose of the rat but not in humans (PLC/IP3/Ca²⁺/CaM); renal potassium and phosphate excretion in rodents and GFR in humans (signal undetermined); and glucose utilization in rat heart (PI3K/akt). Supraphysiological responses involve the AC/cAMP pathway and include: enhanced stimulation of glucose mobilization and stimulation of urea synthesis in liver; further stimulation of white and brown adipose lipolysis and thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue; stimulation of renal Cl^- transport; and increased rat heart contractility. The AC/cAMP pathway is likely recruited when plasma glucagon rises above 100 pM during periods of elevated metabolic stress and systemic glucose demand, such as in the early neonate or strenuously exercising adult. The current cAMP-centered model should therefore be reconsidered and replaced with one that places more emphasis on cAMP-independent pathways.

Glucagon, cyclic AMP, and hepatic glucose mobilization: A half‐century of uncertainty

For at least 50 years, the prevailing view has been that the adenylate cyclase (AC)/cyclic AMP (cAMP)/protein kinase A pathway is the predominant signal mediating the hepatic glucose‐mobilizing actions of glucagon. A wealth of evidence, however, supports the alternative, that the operative signal most of the time is the phospholipase C (PLC)/inositol‐phosphate (IP3)/calcium/calmodulin pathway. The evidence can be summarized as follows: (1) The consensus threshold glucagon concentration for activating AC ex vivo is 100 pM, but the statistical hepatic portal plasma glucagon concentration range, measured by RIA, is between 28 and 60 pM; (2) Within that physiological concentration range, glucagon stimulates the PLC/IP3 pathway and robustly increases glucose output without affecting the AC/cAMP pathway; (3) Activation of a latent, amplified AC/cAMP pathway at concentrations below 60 pM is very unlikely; and (4) Activation of the PLC/IP3 pathway at physiological concentrations produces intracellular effects that are similar to those produced by activation of the AC/cAMP pathway at concentrations above 100 pM, including elevated intracellular calcium and altered activities and expressions of key enzymes involved in glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, and glycogen synthesis. Under metabolically stressful conditions, as in the early neonate or exercising adult, plasma glucagon concentrations often exceed 100 pM, recruiting the AC/cAMP pathway and enhancing the activation of PLC/IP3 pathway to boost glucose output, adaptively meeting the elevated systemic glucose demand. Whether the AC/cAMP pathway is consistently activated in starvation or diabetes is not clear. Because the importance of glucagon in the pathogenesis of diabetes is becoming increasingly evident, it is even more urgent now to resolve lingering uncertainties and definitively establish glucagon’s true mechanism of glycemia regulation in health and disease.

Salidroside from Rhodiola wallichiana var. cholaensis reverses insulin resistance and stimulates the GLP-1 secretion by alleviating ROS-mediated activation of MAPKs signaling pathway and mitigating apoptosis

The present study was aimed to investigate the mechanisms of salidroside (SAL) from Rhodiola wallichiana var. cholaensis on hypoglycemic and oxidative stress responses. The palmitate (PA)-induced GLUTag cells model and the glucosamine-induced insulin resistance model in HepG2 cells were built. SAL led to the up-regulation of the serum glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) level by facilitating the SCFAs production, the promotion of GLP-1 synthesis by improving p38 MAPK phosphorylation and regulating insulin resistance. Moreover, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of MAPKs were down-regulated. Furthermore, SAL was found to be able to inhibit PA-induced apoptosis that down-regulates cleaved caspase-3 and Bax expressions, while up-regulating Bcl-2 expression and up-regulates the Bcl-2/Bax ratio in glucosamine induced insulin resistance model. Besides, SAL can also up-regulate the mTOR/p70S6k signaling pathway in the PA-induced GLUTag cells model. Our data demonstrated that SAL could reverse insulin resistance and stimulates the GLP-1 secretion by alleviating ROS-mediated activation of MAPKs signaling pathway and mitigating apoptosis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Our data showed that SAL could increase the GLP-1 level by stimulating the SCFAs production and p38 phosphorylation and facilitate the IR and GLP-1 synthesis by alleviating ROS-mediated activation of MAPKs signaling pathway and mitigating apoptosis. Furthermore, the SAL has also stimulated the mTOR/p70S6k signaling pathway in PA-induced GLUTag cells model. The results provided a possibility to employ SAL for diabetes treatment.

Formation of βTC3 and MIN6 Pseudoislets Changes the Expression Pattern of Gpr40, Gpr55, and Gpr119 Receptors and Improves Lysophosphatidylcholines-Potentiated Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion

The impaired spatial arrangement and connections between cells creating islets of Langerhans as well as altered expression of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) often lead to dysfunction of insulin-secreting pancreatic β cells and can significantly contribute to the development of diabetes. Differences in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) are noticeable not only in diabetic individuals but also in model pancreatic β cells, e.g., βTC3 and MIN6 β cell lines with impaired and normal insulin secretion, respectively. Now, we compare the ability of GPCR agonists (lysophosphatidylcholines bearing fatty acid chains of different lengths) to potentiate GSIS in βTC3 and MIN6 β cell models, cultured as adherent monolayers and in a form of pseudoislets (PIs) with pancreatic MS1 endothelial cells. Our aim was also to investigate differences in expression of the GPCRs responsive to LPCs in these experimental systems. Aggregation of β cells into islet-like structures greatly enhanced the expression of Gpr40, Gpr55, and Gpr119 receptors. In contrast, the co-culture of βTC3 cells with endothelial cells converted the GPCR expression pattern closer to the pattern observed in MIN6 cells. Additionally, the efficiencies of various LPC species in βTC3-MS1 PIs also shifted toward the MIN6 cell model.

Peroxiredoxin I deficiency increases pancreatic β‑cell apoptosis after streptozotocin stimulation via the AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway

Apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells is involved in the pathogenesis of type I and II diabetes. Peroxiredoxin I (Prx I) serves an important role in regulating cellular apoptosis; however, the role of Prx I in pancreatic β-cell apoptosis is not completely understood. In the present study, the role of peroxiredoxin 1 (Prx I) during streptozotocin (STZ)-induced apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells was investigated. The expression level of Prx I was decreased by STZ treatment in a time-dependent manner, and apoptosis of Prx I knockdown MIN6 cells was increased by STZ stimulation, compared with untransduced MIN6 cells. Furthermore, an intraperitoneal injection of STZ increased pancreatic islet damage in Prx I knockout mice, compared with wild-type and Prx II knockout mice. AKT and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β phosphorylation significantly decreased following Prx I knockdown in MIN6 cells. However, phosphorylated β-catenin and p65 levels significantly increased after STZ stimulation, compared with untransduced cells. The results of the present study indicate that deletion of Prx I mediated STZ-induced pancreatic β-cell death in vivo and in vitro by regulating the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway, as well as NF-κB signaling. These findings provide a theoretical basis for treatment of pancreatic damage.

Bioengineered human pseudoislets form efficiently from donated tissue, compare favourably with native islets in vitro and restore normoglycaemia in mice

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Islet transplantation is a treatment option that can help individuals with type 1 diabetes become insulin independent, but inefficient oxygen and nutrient delivery can hamper islet survival and engraftment due to the size of the islets and loss of the native microvasculature. We hypothesised that size-controlled pseudoislets engineered via centrifugal-forced-aggregation (CFA-PI) in a platform we previously developed would compare favourably with native islets, even after taking into account cell loss during the process.

METHODS

Human islets were dissociated and reaggregated into uniform, size-controlled CFA-PI in our microwell system. Their performance was assessed in vitro and in vivo over a range of sizes, and compared with that of unmodified native islets, as well as islet cell clusters formed by a conventional spontaneous aggregation approach (in which dissociated islet cells are cultured on ultra-low-attachment plates). In vitro studies included assays for membrane integrity, apoptosis, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion assay and total DNA content. In vivo efficacy was determined by transplantation under the kidney capsule of streptozotocin-treated Rag1^-/- mice, with non-fasting blood glucose monitoring three times per week and IPGTT at day 60 for glucose response. A recovery nephrectomy, removing the graft, was conducted to confirm efficacy after completing the IPGTT. Architecture and composition were analysed by histological assessment via insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, somatostatin, CD31 and von Willebrand factor staining.

RESULTS

CFA-PI exhibit markedly increased uniformity over native islets, as well as substantially improved glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (8.8-fold to 11.1-fold, even after taking cell loss into account) and hypoxia tolerance. In vivo, CFA-PI function similarly to (and potentially better than) native islets in reversing hyperglycaemia (55.6% for CFA-PI vs 20.0% for native islets at 500 islet equivalents [IEQ], and 77.8% for CFA-PI vs 55.6% for native islets at 1000 IEQ), and significantly better than spontaneously aggregated control cells (55.6% for CFA-PI vs 0% for spontaneous aggregation at 500 IEQ, and 77.8% CFA-PI vs 33.4% for spontaneous aggregation at 1000 IEQ; p < 0.05). Glucose clearance in the CFA-PI groups was improved over that in the native islet groups (CFA-PI 18.1 mmol/l vs native islets 29.7 mmol/l at 60 min; p < 0.05) to the point where they were comparable with the non-transplanted naive normoglycaemic control mice at a low IEQ of 500 IEQ (17.2 mmol/l at 60 min).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The ability to efficiently reformat dissociated islet cells into engineered pseudoislets with improved properties has high potential for both research and therapeutic applications.

Synthesis of bioinspired collagen/alginate/fibrin based hydrogels for soft tissue engineering

Hydrogels based on natural polymers offer a range of properties to mimic the native extracellular matrix, and provide microenvironments to preserve cellular function and encourage tissue formation. A tri-component hydrogel using collagen, alginate and fibrin (CAF) was developed and investigated at three collagen concentrations for application as a functional extracellular matrix analogue. Physical-chemical characterization of CAF hydrogels demonstrated a thermo-responsive crosslinking capacity at physiological conditions with stiffness similar to native soft tissues. CAF hydrogels were also assessed for cytocompatibility using L929 murine fibroblasts, pancreatic MIN6 β-cells and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs); and demonstrated good cell viability, proliferation and metabolic activity after 7 days of in vitro culture. CAF hydrogels, especially with 2.5% w/v collagen, increased alkaline phosphatase production in hMSCs indicating potential for the promotion of osteogenic activity. Moreover, CAF hydrogels also increased metabolic activity of MIN6 β-cells and promoted the reconstitution of spherical pseudoislets with sizes ranging between 50 and 150 μm at day 7, demonstrating potential in diabetic therapeutic applications.

Cellular models for beta-cell function and diabetes gene therapy

Diabetes is characterized by the destruction and/or relative dysfunction of insulin-secreting beta-cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Consequently, considerable effort has been made to understand the physiological processes governing insulin production and secretion in these cells and to elucidate the mechanisms involved in their deterioration in the pathogenesis of diabetes. To date, considerable research has exploited clonal beta-cell lines derived from rodent insulinomas. Such cell lines have proven to be a great asset in diabetes research, in vitro drug testing, and studies of beta-cell physiology and provide a sustainable, and in many cases, more practical alternative to the use of animals or primary tissue. However, selection of the most appropriate rodent beta cell line is often challenging and no single cell line entirely recapitulates the properties of human beta-cells. The generation of stable human beta-cell lines would provide a much more suitable model for studies of human beta-cell physiology and pathology and could potentially be used as a readily available source of implantable insulin-releasing tissue for cell-based therapies of diabetes. In this review, we discuss the history, development, functional characteristics and use of available clonal rodent beta-cell lines, as well as reflecting on recent advances in the generation of human-derived beta-cell lines, their use in research studies and their potential for cell therapy of diabetes.

Simulated Cholinergic Reinnervation of β (INS-1) Cells: Antidiabetic Utility of Heterotypic Pseudoislets Containing β Cell and Cholinergic Cell

Cholinergic neurons can functionally support pancreatic islets in controlling blood sugar levels. However, in islet transplantation, the level of cholinergic reinnervation is significantly lower compared to orthotopic pancreatic islets. This abnormal reinnervation affects the survival and function of islet grafts. In this study, the cholinergic reinnervation of beta cells was simulated by 2D and 3D coculture of INS-1 and NG108-15 cells. In 2D culture conditions, 20 mM glucose induced a 1.24-fold increase (p < 0.0001) in insulin secretion from the coculture group, while in the 3D culture condition, a 1.78-fold increase (p < 0.0001) in insulin secretion from heterotypic pseudoislet group was observed. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from 2D INS-1 cells showed minimal changes when compared to 3D structures. E-cadherin expressed in INS-1 and NG108-15 cells was the key adhesion molecule for the formation of heterotypic pseudoislets. NG108-15 cells hardly affected the proliferation of INS-1 cells in vitro. Heterotypic pseudoislet transplantation recipient mice reverted to normoglycemic levels faster and had a greater blood glucose clearance compared to INS-1 pseudoislet recipient mice. In conclusion, cholinergic cells can promote insulin-secreting cells to function better in vitro and in vivo and E-cadherin plays an important role in the formation of heterotypic pseudoislets.