Diabetes, defective pancreatic morphogenesis, and abnormal enteroendocrine differentiation in BETA2/neuroD-deficient mice

Spint1 disruption in mouse pancreas leads to glucose intolerance and impaired insulin production involving HEPSIN/MAFA

SPINT1, a membrane-anchored serine protease inhibitor, regulates cascades of pericellular proteolysis while its tissue-specific functions remain incompletely characterized. In this study, we generate Spint1-lacZ knock-in mice and observe Spint1 expression in embryonic pancreatic epithelium. Pancreas-specific Spint1 disruption significantly diminishes islet size and mass, causing glucose intolerance and downregulation of MAFA and insulin. Mechanistically, the serine protease HEPSIN interacts with SPINT1 in β cells, and Hepsin silencing counteracts the downregulation of Mafa and Ins1 caused by Spint1 depletion. Furthermore, we demonstrate a potential interaction between HEPSIN and GLP1R in β cells. Spint1 silencing or Hepsin overexpression reduces GLP1R-related cyclic AMP levels and Mafa expression. Spint1-disrupted mice also exhibit a significant reduction in Exendin-4-induced insulin secretion. Moreover, SPINT1 expression increases in islets of prediabetic humans compared to non-prediabetic groups. The results unveil a role for SPINT1 in β cells, modulating glucose homeostasis and insulin production via HEPSIN/MAFA signaling.

Endothelial Cells Promote Pseudo-islet Function Through BTC-EGFR-JAK/STAT Signaling Pathways

Interactions between cells are of fundamental importance in affecting cell function. In vivo, endothelial cells and islet cells are close to each other, which makes endothelial cells essential for islet cell development and maintenance of islet cell function. We used endothelial cells to construct 3D pseudo-islets, which demonstrated better glucose regulation and greater insulin secretion compared to conventional pseudo-islets in both in vivo and in vitro trials. However, the underlying mechanism of how endothelial cells promote beta cell function localized within islets is still unknown. We performed transcriptomic sequencing, differential gene analysis, and enrichment analysis on two types of pseudo-islets to show that endothelial cells can promote the function of internal beta cells in pseudo-islets through the BTC-EGFR-JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Min6 cells secreted additional BTC after co-culture of endothelial cells with MIN6 cells outside the body. After BTC knockout in vitro, we found that beta cells functioned differently: insulin secretion levels decreased significantly, while the expression of key proteins in the EGFR-mediated JAK/STAT signaling pathway simultaneously decreased, further confirming our results. Through our experiments, we elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which endothelial cells maintain islet function in vitro, which provides a theoretical basis for the construction of pseudo-islets and islet cell transplants for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

β-cell neogenesis: A rising star to rescue diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Diabetes Mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood glucose, is caused by various degrees of insulin resistance and dysfunctional insulin secretion, resulting in hyperglycemia. The loss and failure of functional β-cells are key mechanisms resulting in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

AIM OF REVIEW

Elucidating the underlying mechanisms of β-cell failure, and exploring approaches for β-cell neogenesis to reverse β-cell dysfunction may provide novel strategies for DM therapy.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

Emerging studies reveal that genetic susceptibility, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress, islet inflammation, and protein modification linked to multiple signaling pathways contribute to DM pathogenesis. Over the past few years, replenishing functional β-cell by β-cell neogenesis to restore the number and function of pancreatic β-cells has remarkably exhibited a promising therapeutic approach for DM therapy. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the underlying mechanisms of β-cell failure in DM, highlight the effective approaches for β-cell neogenesis, as well as discuss the current clinical and preclinical agents research advances of β-cell neogenesis. Insights into the challenges of translating β-cell neogenesis into clinical application for DM treatment are also offered.

NEUROD1: transcriptional and epigenetic regulator of human and mouse neuronal and endocrine cell lineage programs

Transcription factors belonging to the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family are key regulators of cell fate specification and differentiation during development. Their dysregulation is implicated not only in developmental abnormalities but also in various adult diseases and cancers. Recently, the abilities of bHLH factors have been exploited in reprogramming strategies for cell replacement therapy. One such factor is NEUROD1, which has been associated with the reprogramming of the epigenetic landscape and potentially possessing pioneer factor abilities, initiating neuronal developmental programs, and enforcing pancreatic endocrine differentiation. The review aims to consolidate current knowledge on NEUROD1's multifaceted roles and mechanistic pathways in human and mouse cell differentiation and reprogramming, exploring NEUROD1 roles in guiding the development and reprogramming of neuroendocrine cell lineages. The review focuses on NEUROD1's molecular mechanisms, its interactions with other transcription factors, its role as a pioneer factor in chromatin remodeling, and its potential in cell reprogramming. We also show a differential potential of NEUROD1 in differentiation of neurons and pancreatic endocrine cells, highlighting its therapeutic potential and the necessity for further research to fully understand and utilize its capabilities.

Oscillation steers differentiation

The differentiation trajectories defining enteroendocrine (EE) cell heterogeneity remain obscure. In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Singh et al.1 map the differentiation landscape of EE cells, identifying early oscillating cell progenitor states, which play a critical role in generating terminal EE cell diversity.

Transcription factor dynamics, oscillation, and functions in human enteroendocrine cell differentiation

Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) secrete serotonin (enterochromaffin [EC] cells) or specific peptide hormones (non-EC cells) that serve vital metabolic functions. The basis for terminal EEC diversity remains obscure. By forcing activity of the transcription factor (TF) NEUROG3 in 2D cultures of human intestinal stem cells, we replicated physiologic EEC differentiation and examined transcriptional and cis-regulatory dynamics that culminate in discrete cell types. Abundant EEC precursors expressed stage-specific genes and TFs. Before expressing pre-terminal NEUROD1, post-mitotic precursors oscillated between transcriptionally distinct ASCL1+ and HES6hi cell states. Loss of either factor accelerated EEC differentiation substantially and disrupted EEC individuality; ASCL1 or NEUROD1 deficiency had opposing consequences on EC and non-EC cell features. These TFs mainly bind cis-elements that are accessible in undifferentiated stem cells, and they tailor subsequent expression of TF combinations that underlie discrete EEC identities. Thus, early TF oscillations retard EEC maturation to enable accurate diversity within a medically important cell lineage.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 regulates mouse enteroendocrine cell development and homeostasis

BACKGROUND

The adult intestinal epithelium is a complex, self-renewing tissue composed of specialized cell types with diverse functions. Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) located at the bottom of crypts, where they divide to either self-renew, or move to the transit amplifying zone to divide and differentiate into absorptive and secretory cells as they move along the crypt-villus axis. Enteroendocrine cells (EECs), one type of secretory cells, are the most abundant hormone-producing cells in mammals and involved in the control of energy homeostasis. However, regulation of EEC development and homeostasis is still unclear or controversial. We have previously shown that protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) 1, a histone methyltransferase and transcription co-activator, is important for adult intestinal epithelial homeostasis.

RESULTS

To investigate how PRMT1 affects adult intestinal epithelial homeostasis, we performed RNA-Seq on small intestinal crypts of tamoxifen-induced intestinal epithelium-specific PRMT1 knockout and PRMT1fl/fl adult mice. We found that PRMT1fl/fl and PRMT1-deficient small intestinal crypts exhibited markedly different mRNA profiles. Surprisingly, GO terms and KEGG pathway analyses showed that the topmost significantly enriched pathways among the genes upregulated in PRMT1 knockout crypts were associated with EECs. In particular, genes encoding enteroendocrine-specific hormones and transcription factors were upregulated in PRMT1-deficient small intestine. Moreover, a marked increase in the number of EECs was found in the PRMT1 knockout small intestine. Concomitantly, Neurogenin 3-positive enteroendocrine progenitor cells was also increased in the small intestinal crypts of the knockout mice, accompanied by the upregulation of the expression levels of downstream targets of Neurogenin 3, including Neuod1, Pax4, Insm1, in PRMT1-deficient crypts.

CONCLUSIONS

Our finding for the first time revealed that the epigenetic enzyme PRMT1 controls mouse enteroendocrine cell development, most likely via inhibition of Neurogenin 3-mediated commitment to EEC lineage. It further suggests a potential role of PRMT1 as a critical transcriptional cofactor in EECs specification and homeostasis to affect metabolism and metabolic diseases.

Identification of gene mutations associated with type 1 diabetes by next-generation sequencing in affected Palestinian families

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia secondary to insulin resistance or deficiency. It is considered a major health problem worldwide. T1DM is a result of a combination of genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors. Several genes have been associated with T1DM, including HLA, INS, CTLA4, and PTPN22. However, none of these findings have been based on linkage analysis because it is rare to find families with several diabetic individuals. Two Palestinian families with several afflicted members with variations in the mode of inheritance were identified and selected for this study. This study aimed to identify the putative causative gene(s) responsible for T1DM development in these families to improve our understanding of the molecular genetics of the disease. Methods: One afflicted member from each family was selected for Whole-Exome Sequencing. Data were mapped to the reference of the human genome, and the resulting VCF file data were filtered. The variants with the highest phenotype correlation score were checked by Sanger sequencing for all family members. The confirmed variants were analyzed in silico by bioinformatics tools. Results: In one family, the IGF1R p.V579F variant, which follows autosomal dominant inheritance, was confirmed and segregated in the family. In another family, the NEUROD1 p.P197H variant, which follows autosomal recessive inheritance, was positively confirmed and segregated. Conclusion: IGF1R p.V579F and NEUROD1 p.P197H variants were associated with T1DM development in the two inflicted families. Further analysis and functional assays will be performed, including the generation of mutant model cell systems, to unravel their specific molecular mechanism in the disease development.

Transcription factor dynamics, oscillation, and functions in human enteroendocrine cell differentiation

Enteroendocrine cells (EECs), which secrete serotonin (enterochromaffin cells, EC) or a dominant peptide hormone, serve vital physiologic functions. As with any adult human lineage, the basis for terminal cell diversity remains obscure. We replicated human EEC differentiation in vitro , mapped transcriptional and chromatin dynamics that culminate in discrete cell types, and studied abundant EEC precursors expressing selected transcription factors (TFs) and gene programs. Before expressing the pre-terminal factor NEUROD1, non-replicating precursors oscillated between epigenetically similar but transcriptionally distinct ASCL1 + and HES6 hi cell states. Loss of either factor substantially accelerated EEC differentiation and disrupted EEC individuality; ASCL1 or NEUROD1 deficiency had opposing consequences on EC and hormone-producing cell features. Expressed late in EEC differentiation, the latter TFs mainly bind cis -elements that are accessible in undifferentiated stem cells and tailor the subsequent expression of TF combinations that specify EEC types. Thus, TF oscillations retard EEC maturation to enable accurate EEC diversification.

Taurine promotes insulin synthesis by enhancing Isl-1 expression through miR-7a/RAF1/ERK1/2 pathway

It has been well established that the circulating taurine affects the insulin synthesis in pancreatic islet β-cells, whereas miR-7a and LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Isl-1 are important intracellular factors regulating insulin transcription and synthesis. However, it still remains unknown whether taurine regulates insulin synthesis by affecting miR-7a and/or Isl-1 expressions in mouse pancreatic islet β-cells. The present study was thus proposed to identify the effects of taurine on the expressions of miR-7a and/or Isl-1 and their relations to insulin synthesis in mouse pancreatic islet β-cells by using miR-7a2 knockout (KO) and taurine transporter (TauT) KO mouse models and the related in vitro experiments. The results demonstrated that taurine supplement significantly decreased the pancreas miR-7a expression, but sharply upregulated the pancreas Isl-1 and insulin expressions, and serum insulin levels. However, the enhanced effects of taurine on Isl-1 expression and insulin synthesis were mitigated in the TauT KO and miR-7a2 KO mice. In addition, our results confirmed that taurine markedly increased pancreas RAF1 and ERK1/2 expressions. Collectively, the present study firstly demonstrates that taurine regulates insulin synthesis through TauT/miR-7a/RAF1/ERK1/2/Isl-1 signaling pathway, which are crucial for our understanding the mechanisms of taurine affecting insulin synthesis, and also potential for establishing the therapeutic strategies for diabetes and the diseases related to metabolism.

Neural Stem Cell-based Regenerative Therapy: A New Approach to Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common metabolic disorder that occurs due to the loss, or impaired function of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells, which are of two types - type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D). To cure DM, the replacement of the destroyed pancreatic beta cells of islet of Langerhans is the most widely practiced treatment. For this, isolating neuronal stem cells and cultivating them as a source of renewable beta cells is a significant breakthrough in medicine. The functions, growth, and gene expression of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells and neurons are very similar in many ways. A diabetic patient's neural stem cells (obtained from the hippocampus and olfactory bulb) can be used as a replacement source of beta cells for regenerative therapy to treat diabetes. The same protocol used to create functional neurons from progenitor cells can be used to create beta cells. Recent research suggests that replacing lost pancreatic beta cells with autologous transplantation of insulin-producing neural progenitor cells may be a perfect therapeutic strategy for diabetes, allowing for a safe and normal restoration of function and a reduction in potential risks and a long-term cure.

An Insight into Vital Genes Responsible for β-cell Formation

The regulation of glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells, when disturbed, will result in diabetes mellitus. Replacement of dysfunctional or lost β-cells with fully functional ones can tackle the problem of β-cell generation in diabetes mellitus. Various pancreatic-specific genes are expressed during different stages of development, which have essential roles in pancreatogenesis and β-cell formation. These factors play a critical role in cellular-based studies like transdifferentiation or de-differentiation of somatic cells to multipotent or pluripotent stem cells and their differentiation into functional β-cells. This work gives an overview of crucial transcription factors expressed during various stages of pancreas development and their role in β-cell specification. In addition, it also provides a perspective on the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Unbiased transcription factor CRISPR screen identifies ZNF800 as master repressor of enteroendocrine differentiation

Enteroendocrine cells (EECs) are hormone-producing cells residing in the epithelium of stomach, small intestine (SI), and colon. EECs regulate aspects of metabolic activity, including insulin levels, satiety, gastrointestinal secretion, and motility. The generation of different EEC lineages is not completely understood. In this work, we report a CRISPR knockout screen of the entire repertoire of transcription factors (TFs) in adult human SI organoids to identify dominant TFs controlling EEC differentiation. We discovered ZNF800 as a master repressor for endocrine lineage commitment, which particularly restricts enterochromaffin cell differentiation by directly controlling an endocrine TF network centered on PAX4. Thus, organoid models allow unbiased functional CRISPR screens for genes that program cell fate.

The SSBP3 co-regulator is required for glucose homeostasis, pancreatic islet architecture, and beta-cell identity

OBJECTIVE

Transcriptional complex activity drives the development and function of pancreatic islet cells to allow for proper glucose regulation. Prior studies from our lab and others highlighted that the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor (TF), Islet-1 (Isl1), and its interacting co-regulator, Ldb1, are vital effectors of developing and adult β-cells. We further found that a member of the Single Stranded DNA-Binding Protein (SSBP) co-regulator family, SSBP3, interacts with Isl1 and Ldb1 in β-cells and primary islets (mouse and human) to impact β-cell target genes MafA and Glp1R in vitro. Members of the SSBP family stabilize TF complexes by binding directly to Ldb1 and protecting the complex from ubiquitin-mediated turnover. In this study, we hypothesized that SSBP3 has critical roles in pancreatic islet cell function in vivo, similar to the Isl1::Ldb1 complex.

METHODS

We first developed a novel SSBP3 LoxP allele mouse line, where Cre-mediated recombination imparts a predicted early protein termination. We bred this mouse with constitutive Cre lines (Pdx1- and Pax6-driven) to recombine SSBP3 in the developing pancreas and islet (SSBP3ΔPanc and SSBP3ΔIslet), respectively. We assessed glucose tolerance and used immunofluorescence to detect changes in islet cell abundance and markers of β-cell identity and function. Using an inducible Cre system, we also deleted SSBP3 in the adult β-cell, a model termed SSBP3Δβ-cell. We measured glucose tolerance as well as glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), both in vivo and in isolated islets in vitro. Using islets from control and SSBP3Δβ-cell we conducted RNA-Seq and compared our results to published datasets for similar β-cell specific Ldb1 and Isl1 knockouts to identify commonly regulated target genes.

RESULTS

SSBP3ΔPanc and SSBP3ΔIslet neonates present with hyperglycemia. SSBP3ΔIslet mice are glucose intolerant by P21 and exhibit a reduction of β-cell maturity markers MafA, Pdx1, and UCN3. We observe disruptions in islet cell architecture with an increase in glucagon+ α-cells and ghrelin+ ε-cells at P10. Inducible loss of β-cell SSBP3 in SSBP3Δβ-cell causes hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, and reduced GSIS. Transcriptomic analysis of 14-week-old SSBP3Δβ-cell islets revealed a decrease in β-cell function gene expression (Ins, MafA, Ucn3), increased stress and dedifferentiation markers (Neurogenin-3, Aldh1a3, Gastrin), and shared differentially expressed genes between SSBP3, Ldb1, and Isl1 in adult β-cells.

CONCLUSIONS

SSBP3 drives proper islet identity and function, where its loss causes altered islet-cell abundance and glucose homeostasis. β-Cell SSBP3 is required for GSIS and glucose homeostasis, at least partially through shared regulation of Ldb1 and Isl1 target genes.

Zebrafish pancreatic β cell clusters undergo stepwise regeneration using Neurod1-expressing cells from different cell lineages

Pancreatic β cell clusters produce insulin and play a central role in glucose homeostasis. The regenerative capacity of mammalian β cells is limited and the loss of β cells causes diabetes. In contrast, zebrafish β cell clusters have a high regenerative capacity, making them an attractive model to study β cell cluster regeneration. How zebrafish β cell clusters regenerate, when the regeneration process is complete, and the identification of the cellular source of regeneration are fundamental questions that require investigation. Here, using larval and adult zebrafish, we demonstrate that pancreatic β cell clusters undergo a two-step regeneration process, regenerating functionality and then β cell numbers. Additionally, we found that all regenerating pancreatic β cells arose from Neurod1-expressing cells and that cells from different lineages contribute to both functional and β cell number recovery throughout their life. Furthermore, we found that during development and neogenesis, as well as regeneration, all β cells undergo Neurod1expression in zebrafish. Together, these results shed light on the fundamental cellular mechanisms underlying β cell cluster development, neogenesis, and regeneration.

The prolyl isomerase Pin1 stabilizes NeuroD during differentiation of mechanoreceptors

The peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerase Pin1 plays vital roles in diverse cellular processes and pathological conditions. NeuroD is a differentiation and survival factor for a subset of neurons and pancreatic endocrine cells. Although multiple phosphorylation events are known to be crucial for NeuroD function, their mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that zebrafish embryos deficient in Pin1 displayed phenotypes resembling those associated with NeuroD depletion, characterized by defects in formation of mechanosensory hair cells. Furthermore, zebrafish Pin1 interacts with NeuroD in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. In Pin1-deficient cell lines, NeuroD is rapidly degraded. However, the protein stability of NeuroD is restored upon overexpression of Pin1. These findings suggest that Pin1 functionally regulates NeuroD protein levels by post-phosphorylation cis-trans isomerization during neuronal specification.

NEUROD1 reinforces endocrine cell fate acquisition in pancreatic development

NEUROD1 is a transcription factor that helps maintain a mature phenotype of pancreatic β cells. Disruption of Neurod1 during pancreatic development causes severe neonatal diabetes; however, the exact role of NEUROD1 in the differentiation programs of endocrine cells is unknown. Here, we report a crucial role of the NEUROD1 regulatory network in endocrine lineage commitment and differentiation. Mechanistically, transcriptome and chromatin landscape analyses demonstrate that Neurod1 inactivation triggers a downregulation of endocrine differentiation transcription factors and upregulation of non-endocrine genes within the Neurod1-deficient endocrine cell population, disturbing endocrine identity acquisition. Neurod1 deficiency altered the H3K27me3 histone modification pattern in promoter regions of differentially expressed genes, which resulted in gene regulatory network changes in the differentiation pathway of endocrine cells, compromising endocrine cell potential, differentiation, and functional properties.

Single cell multiomic analysis reveals diabetes-associated β-cell heterogeneity driven by HNF1A

Broad heterogeneity in pancreatic β-cell function and morphology has been widely reported. However, determining which components of this cellular heterogeneity serve a diabetes-relevant function remains challenging. Here, we integrate single-cell transcriptome, single-nuclei chromatin accessibility, and cell-type specific 3D genome profiles from human islets and identify Type II Diabetes (T2D)-associated β-cell heterogeneity at both transcriptomic and epigenomic levels. We develop a computational method to explicitly dissect the intra-donor and inter-donor heterogeneity between single β-cells, which reflect distinct mechanisms of T2D pathogenesis. Integrative transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis identifies HNF1A as a principal driver of intra-donor heterogeneity between β-cells from the same donors; HNF1A expression is also reduced in β-cells from T2D donors. Interestingly, HNF1A activity in single β-cells is significantly associated with lower Na+ currents and we nominate a HNF1A target, FXYD2, as the primary mitigator. Our study demonstrates the value of investigating disease-associated single-cell heterogeneity and provides new insights into the pathogenesis of T2D.

Loss of CtBP2 may be a mechanistic link between metabolic derangements and progressive impairment of pancreatic β cell function

The adaptive increase in insulin secretion in early stages of obesity serves as a safeguard mechanism to maintain glucose homeostasis that cannot be sustained, and the eventual decompensation of β cells is a key event in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Here we describe a crucial system orchestrated by a transcriptional cofactor CtBP2. In cultured β cells, insulin gene expression is coactivated by CtBP2. Global genomic mapping of CtBP2 binding sites identifies a key interaction between CtBP2 and NEUROD1 through which CtBP2 decompacts chromatin in the insulin gene promoter. CtBP2 expression is diminished in pancreatic islets in multiple mouse models of obesity, as well as human obesity. Pancreatic β cell-specific CtBP2-deficient mice manifest glucose intolerance with impaired insulin secretion. Our transcriptome analysis highlights an essential role of CtBP2 in the maintenance of β cell integrity. This system provides clues to the molecular basis in obesity and may be targetable to develop therapeutic approaches.

SIRT1 Controls Enteroendocrine Progenitor Cell Proliferation in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We aimed to investigate how sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a conserved mammalian Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide+-dependent protein deacetylase, regulates the number of enteroendocrine cells (EECs). EECs benefit metabolism, and their increase potentially could treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.

METHODS

We used mice with specific Sirt1 disruption in the intestinal epithelium (VilKO, villin-Cre+, and Sirt1flox/flox mice) or enteroendocrine progenitor cells (EEPCs) (NgnKO, neurogenin 3-Cre+, Sirt1flox/flox mice) and mice with increased SIRT1 activity owing to overexpression (Sir2d mice) or 24-hour fasting. Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and blood glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose levels were measured. Intestinal tissues, EECs, and formed organoids were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

In HFD-fed VilKO and NgnKO mice, an increase in EECs (42.3% and 37.2%), GLP-1- or GLP-2-producing L cells (93.0% and 61.4%), and GLP-1 (85.7% and 109.6%) was observed after glucose loading, explaining the improved metabolic phenotype of HFD-VilKO mice. These increases were associated with up-regulated expression of neurogenin 3 (EEPC marker) in crypts of HFD-VilKO and HFD-NgnKO mice, respectively. Conversely, Sir2d or 24-hour fasted mice showed a decrease in EECs (21.6%), L cells (41.6%), and proliferative progenitor cells. SIRT1 overexpression- or knockdown-mediated change in the progenitor cell proliferation was associated with Wnt/β-catenin activity changes. Notably, Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor completely suppressed EEC and L-cell increases in HFD-VilKO mice or organoids from HFD-VilKO and HFD-NgnKO mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Intestinal SIRT1 in EECs modulates the EEPC cycle by regulating β-catenin activity and can control the number of EECs in HFD-fed mice, which is a previously unknown role.

Effects of early maternal separation on the expression levels of hippocampal and prefrontal cortex genes and pathways in lactating piglets

Introduction

In actual production, due to increased litter size when raising pigs, the management of piglets by split-suckling leads to intermittent neonatal maternal separation (MS). Early lactation is a critical period for the cognitive development of the brain of newborn piglets, and we hypothesized that intermittent MS may affect piglets' neurodevelopment and cognitive ability.

Methods

To determine the effects of the MS, we selected hippocampal and prefrontal cortex (PFC) tissues from piglets for the detection of neurodevelopmental or cognitive related indicators, the control group (Con group, n = 6) was established with no MS and an experimental group (MS group, n = 6) was established with MS for 6 h/day. Piglets in the MS group were milk-supplemented during the separation period and all piglets in both treatment groups were weaned at postnatal day (PND) 35. On PND 35, three male piglets from each group were sacrificed for hippocampus and PFC samples used for reference transcriptome sequencing. Following bioinformatics analysis, Gene ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis, and candidate gene screening and pathway were performed for differentially expressed genes.

Results

The results showed that a total of 1,632 differential genes were identified in the hippocampus of the MS group, including 1,077 up-regulated differential genes, 555 down-regulated differential genes, and 655 significant GO entries. Analysis of the PFC of the MS group revealed 349 up-regulated genes, 151 down-regulated differential genes, and 584 significant GO entries. Genes associated with neurodevelopment were screened for large fold differences in the hippocampus, and genes associated with cognition were screened for large fold differences in the PFC. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to verify the sequencing data. Western blot (WB) experiments revealed that MS inhibited the neurodevelopment-related WNT signaling pathway in the hippocampus and the cognitive-related PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in the PFC.

Discussion

Taken together, these findings suggest that intermittent MS may affect some cognitive functions in piglets by damaging hippocampal and PFC genes or pathways.

Incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity in monogenic diabetes; a challenge but also an opportunity

Monogenic Forms of Diabetes (MFD) account for about 3% of all diabetes, and their accurate diagnosis often results in life-changing therapeutic reassignment for the patients. Like other Mendelian diseases, reduced penetrance and variable expressivity are often seen in several different types of MFD, where symptoms develop only in a portion of the persons who carry the pathogenic variant or vary widely in symptom severity and age of onset. This complicates diagnosis and disease management in MFD. In addition to its clinical importance, knowledge of genetic modifiers that confer penetrance and expressivity variability opens possibilities to identify protective genetic variants which may help probe the mechanisms of more common forms of diabetes and shed light in new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we will mainly address penetrance and expressivity variation in different types of MFD, factors that confer such variations and opportunities that come with such knowledge. Related literature was searched in PubMed, Medline and Embase. Papers with publication year from 1974 to 2023 are included. Data are either sourced from literatures or from OMIM, Clinvar and 1000 genome browser.

Not the second fiddle: α cell development, identity, and function in health and diabetes

Historic and emerging studies provide evidence for the deterioration of pancreatic α cell function and identity in diabetes mellitus. Increased access to human tissue and the availability of more sophisticated molecular technologies have identified key insights into how α cell function and identity are preserved in healthy conditions and how they become dysfunctional in response to stress. These studies have revealed evidence of impaired glucagon secretion, shifts in α cell electrophysiology, changes in α cell mass, dysregulation of α cell transcription, and α-to-β cell conversion prior to and during diabetes. In this review, we outline the current state of research on α cell identity in health and disease. Evidence in model organisms and humans suggests that in addition to β cell dysfunction, diabetes is associated with a fundamental dysregulation of α cell identity. Importantly, epigenetic studies have revealed that α cells retain more poised and open chromatin at key cell-specific and diabetes-dysregulated genes, supporting the model that the inherent epigenetic plasticity of α cells makes them susceptible to the transcriptional changes that potentiate the loss of identity and function seen in diabetes. Thus, additional research into the maintenance of α cell identity and function is critical to fully understanding diabetes. Furthermore, these studies suggest α cells could represent an alternative source of new β cells for diabetes treatment.

Obese mothers supplemented with melatonin during gestation and lactation ameliorate the male offspring's pancreatic islet cellular composition and beta-cell function

Melatonin supplementation to obese mothers during gestation and lactation might benefit the pancreatic islet cellular composition and beta-cell function in male offspring adulthood. C57BL/6 females (mothers) were assigned to two groups (n = 20/each) based on their consumption in control (C 17% kJ as fat) or high-fat diet (HF 49% kJ as fat). Mothers were supplemented with melatonin (Mel) (10 mg/kg daily) during gestation and lactation, or vehicle, forming the groups (n = 10/each): C, CMel, HF, and HFMel. The male offspring were studied, considering they only received the C diet after weaning until three months old. The HF mothers and their offspring showed higher body weight, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and low insulin sensitivity than the C ones. However, HFMel mothers and their offspring showed improved glucose metabolism and weight loss than the HF ones. Also, the offspring's higher expressions of pro-inflammatory markers and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress were observed in HF but reduced in HFMel. Contrarily, antioxidant enzymes were less expressed in HF but improved in HFMel. In addition, HF showed increased beta-cell mass and hyperinsulinemia but diminished in HFMel. Besides, the beta-cell maturity and identity gene expressions diminished in HF but enhanced in HFMel. In conclusion, obese mothers supplemented with melatonin benefit their offspring's islet cell remodeling and function. In addition, improving pro-inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and ER stress resulted in better glucose and insulin levels control. Consequently, pancreatic islets and functioning beta cells were preserved in the offspring of obese mothers supplemented with melatonin.

The Chd4 Helicase Regulates Chromatin Accessibility and Gene Expression Critical for β-Cell Function In Vivo

The transcriptional activity of Pdx1 is modulated by a diverse array of coregulatory factors that govern chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, and nucleosome distribution. We previously identified the Chd4 subunit of the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex as a Pdx1-interacting factor. To identify how loss of Chd4 impacts glucose homeostasis and gene expression programs in β-cells in vivo, we generated an inducible β-cell-specific Chd4 knockout mouse model. Removal of Chd4 from mature islet β-cells rendered mutant animals glucose intolerant, in part due to defects in insulin secretion. We observed an increased ratio of immature-to-mature insulin granules in Chd4-deficient β-cells that correlated with elevated levels of proinsulin both within isolated islets and from plasma following glucose stimulation in vivo. RNA sequencing and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing showed that lineage-labeled Chd4-deficient β-cells have alterations in chromatin accessibility and altered expression of genes critical for β-cell function, including MafA, Slc2a2, Chga, and Chgb. Knockdown of CHD4 from a human β-cell line revealed similar defects in insulin secretion and alterations in several β-cell-enriched gene targets. These results illustrate how critical Chd4 activities are in controlling genes essential for maintaining β-cell function.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

Pdx1-Chd4 interactions were previously shown to be compromised in β-cells from human donors with type 2 diabetes. β-Cell-specific removal of Chd4 impairs insulin secretion and leads to glucose intolerance in mice. Expression of key β-cell functional genes and chromatin accessibility are compromised in Chd4-deficient β-cells. Chromatin remodeling activities enacted by Chd4 are essential for β-cell function under normal physiological conditions.

PIMT Controls Insulin Synthesis and Secretion through PDX1

Pancreatic beta cell function is an important component of glucose homeostasis. Here, we investigated the function of PIMT (PRIP-interacting protein with methyl transferase domain), a transcriptional co-activator binding protein, in the pancreatic beta cells. We observed that the protein levels of PIMT, along with key beta cell markers such as PDX1 (pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1) and MafA (MAF bZIP transcription factor A), were reduced in the beta cells exposed to hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic conditions. Consistently, PIMT levels were reduced in the pancreatic islets isolated from high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. The RNA sequencing analysis of PIMT knockdown beta cells identified that the expression of key genes involved in insulin secretory pathway, Ins1 (insulin 1), Ins2 (insulin 2), Kcnj11 (potassium inwardly-rectifying channel, subfamily J, member 11), Kcnn1 (potassium calcium-activated channel subfamily N member 1), Rab3a (member RAS oncogene family), Gnas (GNAS complex locus), Syt13 (synaptotagmin 13), Pax6 (paired box 6), Klf11 (Kruppel-Like Factor 11), and Nr4a1 (nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 1) was attenuated due to PIMT depletion. PIMT ablation in the pancreatic beta cells and in the rat pancreatic islets led to decreased protein levels of PDX1 and MafA, resulting in the reduction in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). The results from the immunoprecipitation and ChIP experiments revealed the interaction of PIMT with PDX1 and MafA, and its recruitment to the insulin promoter, respectively. Importantly, PIMT ablation in beta cells resulted in the nuclear translocation of insulin. Surprisingly, forced expression of PIMT in beta cells abrogated GSIS, while Ins1 and Ins2 transcript levels were subtly enhanced. On the other hand, the expression of genes, PRIP/Asc2/Ncoa6 (nuclear receptor coactivator 6), Pax6, Kcnj11, Syt13, Stxbp1 (syntaxin binding protein 1), and Snap25 (synaptosome associated protein 25) associated with insulin secretion, was significantly reduced, providing an explanation for the decreased GSIS upon PIMT overexpression. Our findings highlight the importance of PIMT in the regulation of insulin synthesis and secretion in beta cells.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived β cells: Truly immature islet β cells for type 1 diabetes therapy?

A century has passed since the Nobel Prize winning discovery of insulin, which still remains the mainstay treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) to this day. True to the words of its discoverer Sir Frederick Banting, “insulin is not a cure for diabetes, it is a treatment”, millions of people with T1DM are dependent on daily insulin medications for life. Clinical donor islet transplantation has proven that T1DM is curable, however due to profound shortages of donor islets, it is not a mainstream treatment option for T1DM. Human pluripotent stem cell derived insulin-secreting cells, pervasively known as stem cell-derived β cells (SC-β cells), are a promising alternative source and have the potential to become a T1DM treatment through cell replacement therapy. Here we briefly review how islet β cells develop and mature in vivo and several types of reported SC-β cells produced using different ex vivo protocols in the last decade. Although some markers of maturation were expressed and glucose stimulated insulin secretion was shown, the SC-β cells have not been directly compared to their in vivo counterparts, generally have limited glucose response, and are not yet fully matured. Due to the presence of extra-pancreatic insulin-expressing cells, and ethical and technological issues, further clarification of the true nature of these SC-β cells is required.

Loss of RREB1 in pancreatic beta cells reduces cellular insulin content and affects endocrine cell gene expression

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Genome-wide studies have uncovered multiple independent signals at the RREB1 locus associated with altered type 2 diabetes risk and related glycaemic traits. However, little is known about the function of the zinc finger transcription factor Ras-responsive element binding protein 1 (RREB1) in glucose homeostasis or how changes in its expression and/or function influence diabetes risk.

METHODS

A zebrafish model lacking rreb1a and rreb1b was used to study the effect of RREB1 loss in vivo. Using transcriptomic and cellular phenotyping of a human beta cell model (EndoC-βH1) and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived beta-like cells, we investigated how loss of RREB1 expression and activity affects pancreatic endocrine cell development and function. Ex vivo measurements of human islet function were performed in donor islets from carriers of RREB1 type 2 diabetes risk alleles.

RESULTS

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loss of rreb1a and rreb1b function in zebrafish supports an in vivo role for the transcription factor in beta cell mass, beta cell insulin expression and glucose levels. Loss of RREB1 also reduced insulin gene expression and cellular insulin content in EndoC-βH1 cells and impaired insulin secretion under prolonged stimulation. Transcriptomic analysis of RREB1 knockdown and knockout EndoC-βH1 cells supports RREB1 as a novel regulator of genes involved in insulin secretion. In vitro differentiation of RREB1KO/KO hiPSCs revealed dysregulation of pro-endocrine cell genes, including RFX family members, suggesting that RREB1 also regulates genes involved in endocrine cell development. Human donor islets from carriers of type 2 diabetes risk alleles in RREB1 have altered glucose-stimulated insulin secretion ex vivo, consistent with a role for RREB1 in regulating islet cell function.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Together, our results indicate that RREB1 regulates beta cell function by transcriptionally regulating the expression of genes involved in beta cell development and function.

Enteroendocrine cell lineages that differentially control feeding and gut motility

Enteroendocrine cells are specialized sensory cells of the gut-brain axis that are sparsely distributed along the intestinal epithelium. The functions of enteroendocrine cells have classically been inferred by the gut hormones they release. However, individual enteroendocrine cells typically produce multiple, sometimes apparently opposing, gut hormones in combination, and some gut hormones are also produced elsewhere in the body. Here, we developed approaches involving intersectional genetics to enable selective access to enteroendocrine cells in vivo in mice. We targeted FlpO expression to the endogenous Villin1 locus (in Vil1-p2a-FlpO knock-in mice) to restrict reporter expression to intestinal epithelium. Combined use of Cre and Flp alleles effectively targeted major transcriptome-defined enteroendocrine cell lineages that produce serotonin, glucagon-like peptide 1, cholecystokinin, somatostatin, or glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide. Chemogenetic activation of different enteroendocrine cell types variably impacted feeding behavior and gut motility. Defining the physiological roles of different enteroendocrine cell types provides an essential framework for understanding sensory biology of the intestine.

Disease-causing mutations in genes encoding transcription factors critical for photoreceptor development

Photoreceptor development of the vertebrate visual system is controlled by a complex transcription regulatory network. OTX2 is expressed in the mitotic retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) and controls photoreceptor genesis. CRX that is activated by OTX2 is expressed in photoreceptor precursors after cell cycle exit. NEUROD1 is also present in photoreceptor precursors that are ready to specify into rod and cone photoreceptor subtypes. NRL is required for the rod fate and regulates downstream rod-specific genes including the orphan nuclear receptor NR2E3 which further activates rod-specific genes and simultaneously represses cone-specific genes. Cone subtype specification is also regulated by the interplay of several transcription factors such as THRB and RXRG. Mutations in these key transcription factors are responsible for ocular defects at birth such as microphthalmia and inherited photoreceptor diseases such as Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and allied dystrophies. In particular, many mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, including the majority of missense mutations in CRX and NRL. In this review, we describe the spectrum of photoreceptor defects that are associated with mutations in the above-mentioned transcription factors, and summarize the current knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenic mutations. At last, we deliberate the outstanding gaps in our understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlations and outline avenues for future research of the treatment strategies.

PDX1 is the cornerstone of pancreatic β-cell functions and identity

Diabetes has been a worldwide healthcare problem for many years. Current methods of treating diabetes are still largely directed at symptoms, aiming to control the manifestations of the pathology. This creates an overall need to find alternative measures that can impact on the causes of the disease, reverse diabetes, or make it more manageable. Understanding the role of key players in the pathogenesis of diabetes and the related β-cell functions is of great importance in combating diabetes. PDX1 is a master regulator in pancreas organogenesis, the maturation and identity preservation of β-cells, and of their role in normal insulin function. Mutations in the PDX1 gene are correlated with many pancreatic dysfunctions, including pancreatic agenesis (homozygous mutation) and MODY4 (heterozygous mutation), while in other types of diabetes, PDX1 expression is reduced. Therefore, alternative approaches to treat diabetes largely depend on knowledge of PDX1 regulation, its interaction with other transcription factors, and its role in obtaining β-cells through differentiation and transdifferentiation protocols. In this article, we review the basic functions of PDX1 and its regulation by genetic and epigenetic factors. Lastly, we summarize different variations of the differentiation protocols used to obtain β-cells from alternative cell sources, using PDX1 alone or in combination with various transcription factors and modified culture conditions. This review shows the unique position of PDX1 as a potential target in the genetic and cellular treatment of diabetes.

A human fetal lung cell atlas uncovers proximal-distal gradients of differentiation and key regulators of epithelial fates

We present a multiomic cell atlas of human lung development that combines single-cell RNA and ATAC sequencing, high-throughput spatial transcriptomics, and single-cell imaging. Coupling single-cell methods with spatial analysis has allowed a comprehensive cellular survey of the epithelial, mesenchymal, endothelial, and erythrocyte/leukocyte compartments from 5-22 post-conception weeks. We identify previously uncharacterized cell states in all compartments. These include developmental-specific secretory progenitors and a subtype of neuroendocrine cell related to human small cell lung cancer. Our datasets are available through our web interface (https://lungcellatlas.org). To illustrate its general utility, we use our cell atlas to generate predictions about cell-cell signaling and transcription factor hierarchies which we rigorously test using organoid models.

Pancreatic Transdifferentiation Using β-Cell Transcription Factors for Type 1 Diabetes Treatment

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic illness in which the native beta (β)-cell population responsible for insulin release has been the subject of autoimmune destruction. This condition requires patients to frequently measure their blood glucose concentration and administer multiple daily exogenous insulin injections accordingly. Current treatments fail to effectively treat the disease without significant side effects, and this has led to the exploration of different approaches for its treatment. Gene therapy and the use of viral vectors has been explored extensively and has been successful in treating a range of diseases. The use of viral vectors to deliver β-cell transcription factors has been researched in the context of type 1 diabetes to induce the pancreatic transdifferentiation of cells to replace the β-cell population destroyed in patients. Studies have used various combinations of pancreatic and β-cell transcription factors in order to induce pancreatic transdifferentiation and have achieved varying levels of success. This review will outline why pancreatic transcription factors have been utilised and how their application can allow the development of insulin-producing cells from non β-cells and potentially act as a cure for type 1 diabetes.

TET1 dioxygenase is required for FOXA2-associated chromatin remodeling in pancreatic beta-cell differentiation

Existing knowledge of the role of epigenetic modifiers in pancreas development has exponentially increased. However, the function of TET dioxygenases in pancreatic endocrine specification remains obscure. We set out to tackle this issue using a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation system, in which TET1/TET2/TET3 triple knockout cells display severe defects in pancreatic β-cell specification. The integrative whole-genome analysis identifies unique cell-type-specific hypermethylated regions (hyper-DMRs) displaying reduced chromatin activity and remarkable enrichment of FOXA2, a pioneer transcription factor essential for pancreatic endoderm specification. Intriguingly, TET depletion leads to significant changes in FOXA2 binding at the pancreatic progenitor stage, in which gene loci with decreased FOXA2 binding feature low levels of active chromatin modifications and enriches for bHLH motifs. Transduction of full-length TET1 but not the TET1-catalytic-domain in TET-deficient cells effectively rescues β-cell differentiation accompanied by restoring PAX4 hypomethylation. Taking these findings together with the defective generation of functional β-cells upon TET1-inactivation, our study unveils an essential role of TET1-dependent demethylation in establishing β-cell identity. Moreover, we discover a physical interaction between TET1 and FOXA2 in endodermal lineage intermediates, which provides a mechanistic clue regarding the complex crosstalk between TET dioxygenases and pioneer transcription factors in epigenetic regulation during pancreas specification.

Here the authors show that TET1 is required for the generation of functional insulin-producing cells, FOXA2 physically interacts with TET1 and contributes to specific recruitment of TET1 to mediate chromatin opening at the regulatory elements of pancreatic lineage determinants.

Feline Adipose Derived Multipotent Stromal Cell Transdifferentiation Into Functional Insulin Producing Cell Clusters

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent feline endocrinopathies, affecting up to 1% of pet cats. De novo generation of functional insulin producing cell (IPC) clusters via transdifferentiation of feline adipose-derived multipotent stromal cells (ASCs) may not only provide a viable, functional cell therapy for feline DM, but may also serve as a platform for developing a comparable human treatment given feline and human DM similarities. Cells were induced to form IPCs with a novel, three-stage culture process with stromal or differentiation medium under static and dynamic conditions. Clusters were evaluated for intracellular zinc, viability, intracellular insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin, ultrastructure, glucose stimulated insulin secretion in the presence or absence of theophylline, and protein and gene expression. Isolated cells were multipotent, and cell clusters cultured in both media had robust cell viability. Those cultured in differentiation medium contained zinc and mono- or polyhormonal α-, β-, and δ-like cells based on immunohistochemical labeling and Mallory-Heidenhan Azan-Gomori’s staining. Ultrastructurally, cell clusters cultured in differentiation medium contained insulin granules within vesicles, and clusters had a concentration-dependent insulin response to glucose in the presence and absence of theophylline which increased both insulin secretion and intracellular content. Expression of NK6.1, Pax6, Isl1, Glut2, RAB3A, glucagon, insulin, and somatostatin increased with differentiation stage for both sexes, and expression of nestin at stages 1 and 2 and Neurod1 at stage 2 was higher in cells from female donors. The cluster insulin secretion responses and endocrine and oncogene gene expression profiles were inconsistent with insulinoma characteristics. A total of 180 proteins were upregulated in differentiated clusters, and the majority were associated with biological regulation, metabolic processes, or stimulus response. Dynamic culture of IPC clusters resulted in clusters composed of cells primarily expressing insulin that released higher insulin with glucose stimulation than those in static culture. Collectively, the results of this study support generation of functional IPC clusters using feline ASCs isolated from tissues removed during routine sterilization. Further, cluster functionality is enhanced with dynamic, motion-driven shear stress. This work establishes a foundation for development of strategies for IPC therapy for short or long-term diabetes treatment and may represent an option to study prevention and treatment of diabetes across species.

miR-25 and miR-92b regulate insulin biosynthesis and pancreatic β-cell apoptosis

PURPOSE

Pancreatic β-cell failure is a central hallmark of the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus; however, the molecular basis underlying chronic inflammation-caused β-cell failure remains unclear. This study reported here specifically assessed the association between miR-25/miR-92b family and β-cell failure in diabetes.

METHODS

IL-1β and two additional ER stress activators, palmitate and tunicamycin were applied to evaluate the expression level miR-25 by Taqman^® RT-PCR. Glucose- and potassium-stimulated insulin secretion assays were performed to assess β-cell function. Dual-luciferase activity, and western blotting assays were utilized for miR-25 target gene verification. CCK-8 and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate β-cell viability and apoptosis.

RESULTS

miRNA ChIP identified the increased level of miR-25 in INS-1 cells by IL-1β treatment. Expression levels of miR-25 were significantly upregulated with the treatment of IL-1β, palmitate or tunicamycin in both INS-1 cells and human islets. Ectopic elevation of miR-25 recapitulated most featured β-cell defects caused by IL-1β, including inhibition of insulin biosynthesis and increased β-cell apoptosis. These detrimental effects of miR-25 relied on its seed sequence recognition and repressed expression of its target genes Neurod1 and Mcl1. The miR-25/NEUROD1 axis reduced insulin biosynthesis via transcriptional regulation of β-cell specific genes. The miR-25/MCL1 axis caused β-cell apoptosis in a CASPASE-3/PARP1-dependent manner. Comparable impairments were generated by miR-92b and miR-25, emphasizing the redundant biological roles of miRNA family members with the same seed sequence.

CONCLUSION

MiR-25/miR-92b family plays a major role in β-cell failure occurring under inflammation and diabetes states.

Urocortin3: Local inducer of somatostatin release and bellwether of beta cell maturity

Urocortin 3 (UCN3) is a peptide hormone expressed in pancreatic islets of Langerhans of both human alpha and human beta cells and solely in murine beta cells. UCN3 signaling acts locally within the islet to activate its cognate receptor, corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2), which is expressed by delta cells, to potentiate somatostatin (SST) negative feedback to reduce islet cell hormone output. The functional importance of UCN3 signaling in the islet is to modulate the amount of SST tone allowing for finely tuned regulation of insulin and glucagon secretion. UCN3 signaling is a hallmark of functional beta cell maturation, increasing the beta cell glucose threshold for insulin secretion. In doing so, UCN3 plays a relevant functional role in accurately maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. Additionally, UCN3 acts as an indicator of beta cell maturation and health, as UCN3 is not expressed in immature beta cells and is downregulated in dedifferentiated and dysfunctional beta cell states. Here, we review the mechanistic underpinnings of UCN3 signaling, its net effect on islet cell hormone output, as well as its value as a marker for beta cell maturation and functional status.

Role of the Transcription Factor MAFA in the Maintenance of Pancreatic β-Cells

Pancreatic β-cells are specialized to properly regulate blood glucose. Maintenance of the mature β-cell phenotype is critical for glucose metabolism, and β-cell failure results in diabetes mellitus. Recent studies provide strong evidence that the mature phenotype of β-cells is maintained by several transcription factors. These factors are also required for β-cell differentiation from endocrine precursors or maturation from immature β-cells during pancreatic development. Because the reduction or loss of these factors leads to β-cell failure and diabetes, inducing the upregulation or inhibiting downregulation of these transcription factors would be beneficial for studies in both diabetes and stem cell biology. Here, we discuss one such factor, i.e., the transcription factor MAFA. MAFA is a basic leucine zipper family transcription factor that can activate the expression of insulin in β-cells with PDX1 and NEUROD1. MAFA is indeed indispensable for the maintenance of not only insulin expression but also function of adult β-cells. With loss of MAFA in type 2 diabetes, β-cells cannot maintain their mature phenotype and are dedifferentiated. In this review, we first briefly summarize the functional roles of MAFA in β-cells and then mainly focus on the molecular mechanism of cell fate conversion regulated by MAFA.

Molecular Mechanism of Pancreatic β-Cell Failure in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Various important transcription factors in the pancreas are involved in the process of pancreas development, the differentiation of endocrine progenitor cells into mature insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells and the preservation of mature β-cell function. However, when β-cells are continuously exposed to a high glucose concentration for a long period of time, the expression levels of several insulin gene transcription factors are substantially suppressed, which finally leads to pancreatic β-cell failure found in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Here we show the possible underlying pathway for β-cell failure. It is likely that reduced expression levels of MafA and PDX-1 and/or incretin receptor in β-cells are closely associated with β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Additionally, since incretin receptor expression is reduced in the advanced stage of diabetes mellitus, incretin-based medicines show more favorable effects against β-cell failure, especially in the early stage of diabetes mellitus compared to the advanced stage. On the other hand, many subjects have recently suffered from life-threatening coronavirus infection, and coronavirus infection has brought about a new and persistent pandemic. Additionally, the spread of coronavirus infection has led to various limitations on the activities of daily life and has restricted economic development worldwide. It has been reported recently that SARS-CoV-2 directly infects β-cells through neuropilin-1, leading to apoptotic β-cell death and a reduction in insulin secretion. In this review article, we feature a possible molecular mechanism for pancreatic β-cell failure, which is often observed in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Finally, we are hopeful that coronavirus infection will decline and normal daily life will soon resume all over the world.

Compound K attenuates hyperglycemia by enhancing glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion through activating TGR5 via the remodeling of gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism

Background

Incretin impairment, characterized by insufficient secretion of L-cell-derived glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), is a defining step of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Ginsenoside compound K (CK) can stimulate GLP-1 secretion; however, the potential mechanism underlying this effect has not been established.

Methods

CK (40 mg/kg) was administered orally to male db/db mice for 4 weeks. The body weight, oral glucose tolerance, GLP-1 secretion, gut microbiota sequencing, bile acid (BA) profiles, and BA synthesis markers of each subject were then analyzed. Moreover, TGR5 expression was evaluated by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence, and L-cell lineage markers involved in L-cell abundance were analyzed.

Results

CK ameliorated obesity and impaired glucose tolerance in db/db mice by altering the gut microbiota, especially Ruminococcaceae family, and this changed microbe was positively correlated with secondary BA synthesis. Additionally, CK treatment resulted in the up-regulation of CYP7B1 and CYP27A1 and the down-regulation of CYP8B1, thereby shifting BA biosynthesis from the classical pathway to the alternative pathway. CK altered the BA pool by mainly increasing LCA and DCA. Furthermore, CK induced L-cell number expansion leading to enhanced GLP-1 release through TGR5 activation. These increases were supported by the upregulation of genes governing GLP-1 secretion and L-cell differentiation.

Conclusions

The results indicate that CK improves glucose homeostasis by increasing L-cell numbers, which enhances GLP-1 release through a mechanism partially mediated by the gut microbiota-BA-TGR5 pathway. Therefore, that therapeutic attempts with CK might be useful for patients with T2DM.

The application of precision medicine in monogenic diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Monogenic diabetes, a form of diabetes mellitus, is caused by a mutation in a single gene and may account for 1-2% of all clinical forms of diabetes. To date, more than 40 loci have been associated with either isolated or syndromic monogenic diabetes.

AREAS COVERED

While the request of a genetic test is mandatory for cases with diabetes onset in the first 6 months of life, a decision may be difficult for childhood or adolescent diabetes. In an effort to assist the clinician in this task, we have grouped monogenic diabetes genes according to the age of onset (or incidental discovery) of hyperglycemia and described the additional clinical features found in syndromic diabetes. The therapeutic options available are reviewed.

EXPERT OPINION

Technical improvements in DNA sequencing allow for rapid, simultaneous analysis of all genes involved in monogenic diabetes, progressively shrinking the area of unsolved cases. However, the complexity of the analysis of genetic data requires close cooperation between the geneticist and the diabetologist, who should play a proactive role by providing a detailed clinical phenotype that might match a specific disease gene.

Genome Editing and Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Technologies for in vitro Monogenic Diabetes Modeling

Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Polygenic diabetes, which encompasses type-1 and type-2 diabetes, is the most prevalent kind of diabetes and is caused by a combination of different genetic and environmental factors, whereas rare phenotype monogenic diabetes is caused by a single gene mutation. Monogenic diabetes includes Neonatal diabetes mellitus and Maturity-onset diabetes of the young. The majority of our current knowledge about the pathogenesis of diabetes stems from studies done on animal models. However, the genetic difference between these creatures and humans makes it difficult to mimic human clinical pathophysiology, limiting their value in modeling key aspects of human disease. Human pluripotent stem cell technologies combined with genome editing techniques have been shown to be better alternatives for creating in vitro models that can provide crucial knowledge about disease etiology. This review paper addresses genome editing and human pluripotent stem cell technologies for in vitro monogenic diabetes modeling.

GLIS3: A Critical Transcription Factor in Islet β-Cell Generation

Understanding of pancreatic islet biology has greatly increased over the past few decades based in part on an increased understanding of the transcription factors that guide this process. One such transcription factor that has been increasingly tied to both β-cell development and the development of diabetes in humans is GLIS3. Genetic deletion of GLIS3 in mice and humans induces neonatal diabetes, while single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GLIS3 have been associated with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. As a significant progress has been made in understanding some of GLIS3’s roles in pancreas development and diabetes, we sought to compare current knowledge on GLIS3 within the pancreas to that of other islet enriched transcription factors. While GLIS3 appears to regulate similar genes and pathways to other transcription factors, its unique roles in β-cell development and maturation make it a key target for future studies and therapy.

Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY): Genetic Causes, Clinical Characteristics, Considerations for Testing, and Treatment Options

Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) encompasses a group of rare monogenic forms of diabetes distinct in etiology and clinical presentation from the more common forms of Type 1 (autoimmune) and Type 2 diabetes. Since its initial description as a clinical entity nearly 50 years ago, the underlying genetic basis for the various forms of MODY has been increasingly better elucidated. Clinically, the diagnosis may be made in childhood or young adulthood and can present as overt hyperglycemia requiring insulin therapy or as a subtle form of slowly progressive glucose impairment. Due to the heterogeneity of clinical symptoms, patients with MODY may be misdiagnosed as possessing another form of diabetes, resulting in potentially inappropriate treatment and delays in screening of affected family members and associated comorbidities. In this review, we highlight the various known genetic mutations associated with MODY, clinical presentation, indications for testing, and the treatment options available.

Biological functions and potential therapeutic applications of huntingtin-associated protein 1: progress and prospects

Huntington disease (HD) is a single-gene autosomal dominant inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion of the protein huntingtin (HTT). Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) is the first protein identified as an interacting partner of huntingtin, which is directly associated with HD. HAP1 is mainly expressed in the nervous system and is also found in the endocrine system and digestive system, and then involves in the occurrence of the related endocrine diseases, digestive system diseases, and cancer. Understanding the function of HAP1 could help elucidate the pathogenesis that HTT plays in the disease process. Therefore, this article attempts to summarize the latest research progress of the role of HAP1 and its application for diseases in recent years, aiming to clarify the functions of HAP1 and its interacting proteins, and provide new research ideas and new therapeutic targets for the treatment of cancer and related diseases.

Single-cell heterogeneity analysis and CRISPR screens in MIN6 cell line reveal transcriptional regulators of insulin

Diabetes mellitus is caused by either insulin resistance or insulin deficiency. The pancreatic β cells are the primary producers of insulin. Large-scale CRISPR screens combined with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on β cells has identified novel insulin regulators and revealed the presence of a highly complex inner network. Here, we performed pooled CRISPR delivery with single-cell transcriptome analysis on the MIN6 cell line, a pancreatic β-cell line. We have presented the scRNA-seq readout and demonstrated that the MIN6 cell line might develop genetic heterogeneity with increasing passage number based on GO and KEGG pathway analysis. Both computational and biological analyses revealed that the function of MIN6 cell lines could be divided into five clusters, including endocrine cells, basal cells, epithelial cells, and neuroendocrine cells. The fifth cluster was different from the other four clusters due to the differentially expressed insulin transcription and was called the lncRNA-enriched cluster. The experiments also confirmed that uncharacterized lncRNAs GM26917 and Cenpw were associated with insulin transcription. This study provides information that can be used to systematically characterize insulin regulator genes and other genes that control protein folding and vesicle trafficking.

Insm1, Neurod1, and Pax6 promote murine pancreatic endocrine cell development through overlapping yet distinct RNA transcription and splicing programs

Insm1, Neurod1, and Pax6 are essential for the formation and function of pancreatic endocrine cells. Here, we report comparative immunohistochemical, transcriptomic, functional enrichment, and RNA splicing analyses of these genes using gene knock-out mice. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that elimination of each of these three factors variably impairs the proliferation, survival, and differentiation of endocrine cells. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that each factor contributes uniquely to the transcriptome although their effects were overlapping. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that genes downregulated by the elimination of Insm1, Neurod1, and Pax6 are commonly involved in mRNA metabolism, chromatin organization, secretion, and cell cycle regulation, and upregulated genes are associated with protein degradation, autophagy, and apoptotic process. Elimination of Insm1, Neurod1, and Pax6 impaired expression of many RNA-binding proteins thereby altering RNA splicing events, including for Syt14 and Snap25, two genes required for insulin secretion. All three factors are necessary for normal splicing of Syt14, and both Insm1 and Pax6 are necessary for the processing of Snap25. Collectively, these data provide new insights into how Insm1, Neurod1, and Pax6 contribute to the formation of functional pancreatic endocrine cells.

Mass spectrometry-based direct detection of multiple types of protein thiol modifications in pancreatic beta cells under endoplasmic reticulum stress

Thiol-based post-translational modifications (PTMs) play a key role in redox-dependent regulation and signaling. Functional cysteine (Cys) sites serve as redox switches, regulated through multiple types of PTMs. Herein, we aim to characterize the complexity of thiol PTMs at the proteome level through the establishment of a direct detection workflow. The LC-MS/MS based workflow allows for simultaneous quantification of protein abundances and multiple types of thiol PTMs. To demonstrate its utility, the workflow was applied to mouse pancreatic β-cells (β-TC-6) treated with thapsigargin to induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This resulted in the quantification of >9000 proteins and multiple types of thiol PTMs, including intra-peptide disulfide (S–S), S-glutathionylation (SSG), S-sulfinylation (SO₂H), S-sulfonylation (SO₃H), S-persulfidation (SSH), and S-trisulfidation (SSSH). Proteins with significant changes in abundance were observed to be involved in canonical pathways such as autophagy, unfolded protein response, protein ubiquitination pathway, and EIF2 signaling. Moreover, ~500 Cys sites were observed with one or multiple types of PTMs with SSH and S–S as the predominant types of modifications. In many cases, significant changes in the levels of different PTMs were observed on various enzymes and their active sites, while their protein abundance exhibited little change. These results provide evidence of independent translational and post-translational regulation of enzyme activity. The observed complexity of thiol modifications on the same Cys residues illustrates the challenge in the characterization and interpretation of protein thiol modifications and their functional regulation.

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Simultaneous quantification of protein abundances and multiple types of thiol PTMs.

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Multiple types PTMs observed on the same Cys sites for redox-regulated proteins.

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Data revealed complexity of thiol PTMs and their regulation.

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Distinctive translational and post-translational regulation under ER stress in β-cells.