Restructuring of pancreatic islets and insulin secretion in a postnatal critical window

Rats Exposed to Excess Sucrose During a Critical Period Develop Inflammation and Express a Secretory Phenotype of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

BACKGROUND

Neonatal rats that receive sucrose during a critical postnatal period (CP, days 12 to 28) develop hypertension by the time they reach adulthood. Inflammation might contribute to changes during this period and could be associated with variations in the vascular smooth muscle (VSMC) phenotype.

OBJECTIVE

We studied changes in inflammatory pathways that could underlie the expression of the secretory phenotype in the VSMC in the thoracic aorta of rats that received sucrose during CP.

METHODS

We analyzed histological changes in the aorta and the expression of the COX-2, TLR4, iNOS, eNOS, MMP-2 and -9, and β- and α-actin, the quantities of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β using ELISA, and the levels of fatty acids using gas chromatography.

RESULTS

The aortic wall presented disorganization, decellularization, and wavy elastic fibers and an increase in the lumen area. The α- and β-actin expressions were decreased, while COX-2, TLR4, TNF-α, and the activity of IL-6 were increased. Oleic acid was increased in CP in comparison to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

There is transient hypertension at the end of the CP that is accompanied by inflammation and a change in the phenotype of VSMC to the secretory phenotype. The inflammatory changes could act as epigenetic signals to determine the development of hypertension when animals reach adulthood.

Hyperglycemia influences the cell proliferation and death of the rat endocrine pancreas in the neonatal period

AIMS

To evaluate the cell proliferation and death, and structural morphology of the pancreatic islet cells of the rats with hyperglycemia in the first month of life and compare to those of the control rats.

MAIN METHODS

Female Sprague-Dawley newborn rats received Streptozotocin (a beta-cytotoxic drug) at birth for diabetes induction. Control and hyperglycemic animals were euthanized on different days of life: 5, 10, 15, and 30. The pancreas was collected and processed for immunohistochemical analysis of cleaved Caspase-3 (cell death), Ki-67 (cell proliferation), PDX-1 (transcription factor responsible for insulin synthesis), and endocrine hormones (insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin).

KEY FINDINGS

Control females showed a higher percentage (%) of Ki-67-positive(+) cells on D10 and D15, a higher % of insulin+ and somatostatin+ cells on D15 and D30, a lower % of PDX-1+ cells on D10, and a higher % of glucagon+ cells on D10 and D30. Hyperglycemic females showed a lower % of Ki-67+ cells on D15, a higher % of cleaved Caspase-3+ cells on D15, and insulin+ cells on D15 and D30. In the comparison among the experimental groups, the hyperglycemic females showed an increased % of cleaved Caspase-3+ and Ki-67+ cells and a lower % of PDX-1+ cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study enabled a better understanding of the abnormal pancreas development regarding cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and hormonal synthesis in the neonatal period. Thus, the pancreatic islets of hyperglycemic rats do not reestablish the normal endocrine cell population, and cellular apoptosis overcame the proliferative activity of these cells.

NGF effects promote the maturation of rat pancreatic beta cells by regulating GLUT2 levels and distribution, and glucokinase activity

The nerve growth factor (NGF) participates in cell survival and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) processes in rat adult beta cells. GSIS is a complex process in which metabolic events and ionic channel activity are finely coupled. GLUT2 and glucokinase (GK) play central roles in GSIS by regulating the rate of the glycolytic pathway. The biphasic release of insulin upon glucose stimulation characterizes mature adult beta cells. On the other hand, beta cells obtained from neonatal, suckling, and weaning rats are considered immature because they secrete low levels of insulin and do not increase insulin secretion in response to high glucose. The weaning of rats (at postnatal day 20 in laboratory conditions) involves a dietary transition from maternal milk to standard chow. It is characterized by increased basal plasma glucose levels and insulin levels, which we consider physiological insulin resistance. On the other hand, we have observed that incubating rat beta cells with NGF increases GSIS by increasing calcium currents in neonatal cells. In this work, we studied the effects of NGF on the regulation of cellular distribution and activity of GLUT2 and GK to explore its potential role in the maturation of GSIS in beta cells from P20 rats. Pancreatic islet cells from both adult and P20 rats were isolated and incubated with 5.6 mM or 15.6 mM glucose with and without NGF for 4 hours. Specific immunofluorescence assays were conducted following the incubation period to detect insulin and GLUT2. Additionally, we measured glucose uptake, glucokinase activity, and insulin secretion assays at 5.6 mM or 15.6 mM glucose concentrations. We observed an age-dependent variation in the distribution of GLUT2 in pancreatic beta cells and found that glucose plays a regulatory role in GLUT2 distribution independently of age. Moreover, NGF increases GLUT2 abundance, glucose uptake, and GSIS in P20 beta cells and GK activity in adult beta cells. Our results suggest that besides increasing calcium currents, NGF regulates metabolic components of the GSIS, thereby contributing to the maturation process of pancreatic beta cells.

Pancreatic Crosstalk in the Disease Setting: Understanding the Impact of Exocrine Disease on Endocrine Function

The exocrine and endocrine are functionally distinct compartments of the pancreas that have traditionally been studied as separate entities. However, studies of embryonic development, adult physiology, and disease pathogenesis suggest there may be critical communication between exocrine and endocrine cells. In fact, the incidence of the endocrine disease diabetes secondary to exocrine disease/dysfunction ranges from 25% to 80%, depending on the type and severity of the exocrine pathology. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how exocrine-endocrine "crosstalk" may impact pancreatic function. In this article, we discuss common exocrine diseases, including cystic fibrosis, acute, hereditary, and chronic pancreatitis, and the impact of these exocrine diseases on endocrine function. Additionally, we review how obesity and fatty pancreas influence exocrine function and the impact on cellular communication between the exocrine and endocrine compartments. Interestingly, in all pathologies, there is evidence that signals from the exocrine disease contribute to endocrine dysfunction and the progression to diabetes. Continued research efforts to identify the mechanisms that underlie the crosstalk between various cell types in the pancreas are critical to understanding normal pancreatic physiology as well as disease states. © 2024 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 14:5371-5387, 2024.

An adult clock component links circadian rhythms to pancreatic β-cell maturation

How ubiquitous circadian clocks orchestrate tissue-specific outputs is not well understood. Pancreatic β cell-autonomous clocks attune insulin secretion to daily energy cycles, and desynchrony from genetic or behavioral disruptions raises type 2 diabetes risk. We show that the transcription factor DEC1, a clock component induced in adult β cells, coordinates their glucose responsiveness by synchronizing energy metabolism and secretory gene oscillations. Dec1-ablated mice develop lifelong hypo-insulinemic diabetes, despite normal islet formation and intact circadian Clock and Bmal1 activators. DEC1, but not CLOCK/BMAL1, binds maturity-linked genes that mediate respiratory metabolism and insulin exocytosis, and Dec1 loss disrupts their transcription synchrony. Accordingly, β-cell Dec1 ablation causes hypo-insulinemia due to immature glucose responsiveness, dampening insulin rhythms. Thus, Dec1 links circadian clockwork to the β-cell maturation process, aligning metabolism to diurnal energy cycles.

NGF and Its Role in Immunoendocrine Communication during Metabolic Syndrome

Nerve growth factor (NGF) was the first neurotrophin described. This neurotrophin contributes to organogenesis by promoting sensory innervation and angiogenesis in the endocrine and immune systems. Neuronal and non-neuronal cells produce and secrete NGF, and several cell types throughout the body express the high-affinity neurotrophin receptor TrkA and the low-affinity receptor p75NTR. NGF is essential for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and the complete development of pancreatic islets. Plus, this factor is involved in regulating lipolysis and thermogenesis in adipose tissue. Immune cells produce and respond to NGF, modulating their inflammatory phenotype and the secretion of cytokines, contributing to insulin resistance and metabolic homeostasis. This neurotrophin regulates the synthesis of gonadal steroid hormones, which ultimately participate in the metabolic homeostasis of other tissues. Therefore, we propose that this neurotrophin's imbalance in concentrations and signaling during metabolic syndrome contribute to its pathophysiology. In the present work, we describe the multiple roles of NGF in immunoendocrine organs that are important in metabolic homeostasis and related to the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome.

Sexual dimorphism in the molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance during a critical developmental window in Wistar rats

Background

Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition in which the response of organs to insulin is impaired. IR is an early marker of metabolic dysfunction. However, IR also appears in physiological contexts during critical developmental windows. The molecular mechanisms of physiological IR are largely unknown in both sexes. Sexual dimorphism in insulin sensitivity is observed since early stages of development. We propose that during periods of accelerated growth, such as around weaning, at postnatal day 20 (p20) in rats, the kinase S6K1 is overactivated and induces impairment of insulin signaling in its target organs. This work aimed to characterize IR at p20, determine its underlying mechanisms, and identify whether sexual dimorphism in physiological IR occurs during this stage.

Methods

We determined systemic insulin sensitivity through insulin tolerance tests, glucose tolerance tests, and blood glucose and insulin levels under fasting and fed conditions at p20 and adult male and female Wistar rats. Furthermore, we quantified levels of S6K1 phosphorylated at threonine 389 (T389) (active form) and its target IRS1 phosphorylated at serine 1101 (S1101) (inhibited form). In addition, we assessed insulin signal transduction by measuring levels of Akt phosphorylated at serine 473 (S473) (active form) in white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle through western blot. Finally, we determined the presence and function of GLUT4 in the plasma membrane by measuring the glucose uptake of adipocytes. Results were compared using two-way ANOVA (With age and sex as factors) and one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey’s tests or t-student test in each corresponding case. Statistical significance was considered for P values < 0.05.

Results

We found that both male and female p20 rats have elevated levels of glucose and insulin, low systemic insulin sensitivity, and glucose intolerance. We identified sex- and tissue-related differences in the activation of insulin signaling proteins in p20 rats compared to adult rats.

Conclusions

Male and female p20 rats present physiological insulin resistance with differences in the protein activation of insulin signaling. This suggests that S6K1 overactivation and the resulting IRS1 inhibition by phosphorylation at S1101 may modulate to insulin sensitivity in a sex- and tissue-specific manner.

Maturation of beta cells: lessons from in vivo and in vitro models

The ability to maintain normoglycaemia, through glucose-sensitive insulin release, is a key aspect of postnatal beta cell function. However, terminally differentiated beta cell identity does not necessarily imply functional maturity. Beta cell maturation is therefore a continuation of beta cell development, albeit a process that occurs postnatally in mammals. Although many important features have been identified in the study of beta cell maturation, as of yet no unified mechanistic model of beta cell functional maturity exists. Here, we review recent findings about the underlying mechanisms of beta cell functional maturation. These findings include systemic hormonal and nutritional triggers that operate through energy-sensing machinery shifts within beta cells, resulting in primed metabolic states that allow for appropriate glucose trafficking and, ultimately, insulin release. We also draw attention to the expansive synergistic nature of these pathways and emphasise that beta cell maturation is dependent on overlapping regulatory and metabolic networks.

Circadian Regulation of the Pancreatic Beta Cell

Beta cell dysfunction is central to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). In T2D, environmental and genetic influences can manifest beta cell dysfunction in many ways, including impaired glucose-sensing and secretion coupling mechanisms, insufficient adaptative responses to stress, and aberrant beta cell loss through increased cell death and/or beta cell de-differentiation. In recent years, circadian disruption has emerged as an important environmental risk factor for T2D. In support of this, genetic disruption of the circadian timing system in rodents impairs insulin secretion and triggers diabetes development, lending important evidence that the circadian timing system is intimately connected to, and essential for the regulation of pancreatic beta cell function; however, the role of the circadian timing system in the regulation of beta cell biology is only beginning to be unraveled. Here, we review the recent literature that explores the importance of the pancreatic islet/beta cell circadian clock in the regulation of various aspects of beta cell biology, including transcriptional and functional control of daily cycles of insulin secretion capacity, regulation of postnatal beta cell maturation, and control of the adaptive responses of the beta cell to metabolic stress and acute injury.

Engineering islets from stem cells for advanced therapies of diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that affects more than 460 million people worldwide. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by autoimmune destruction of β-cells, whereas type 2 diabetes (T2D) is caused by a hostile metabolic environment that leads to β-cell exhaustion and dysfunction. Currently, first-line medications treat the symptomatic insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia, but do not prevent the progressive decline of β-cell mass and function. Thus, advanced therapies need to be developed that either protect or regenerate endogenous β-cell mass early in disease progression or replace lost β-cells with stem cell-derived β-like cells or engineered islet-like clusters. In this Review, we discuss the state of the art of stem cell differentiation and islet engineering, reflect on current and future challenges in the area and highlight the potential for cell replacement therapies, disease modelling and drug development using these cells. These efforts in stem cell and regenerative medicine will lay the foundations for future biomedical breakthroughs and potentially curative treatments for diabetes.

Transcriptional mechanisms of pancreatic β-cell maturation and functional adaptation

Pancreatic β-cells secrete insulin commensurate to circulating nutrient levels to maintain normoglycemia. The ability of β-cells to couple insulin secretion to nutrient stimuli is acquired during a postnatal maturation process. In mature β-cells the insulin secretory response adapts to changes in nutrient state. Both β-cell maturation and functional adaptation rely on the interplay between extracellular cues and cell type-specific transcriptional programs. Here we review emerging evidence that developmental and homeostatic regulation of β-cell function involves collaboration between lineage-determining and signal-dependent transcription factors (LDTFs and SDTFs, respectively). A deeper understanding of β-cell SDTFs and their cognate signals would delineate mechanisms of β-cell maturation and functional adaptation, which has direct implications for diabetes therapies and for generating mature β-cells from stem cells.

Islet Epigenetic Impacts on β-Cell Identity and Function

The development and maintenance of differentiation is vital to the function of mature cells. Terminal differentiation is achieved by locking in the expression of genes essential for the function of those cells. Gene expression and its memory through generations of cell division is controlled by transcription factors and a host of epigenetic marks. In type 2 diabetes, β cells have altered gene expression compared to controls, accompanied by altered chromatin marks. Mutations, diet, and environment can all disrupt the implementation and preservation of the distinctive β-cell transcriptional signature. Understanding of the full complement of genomic control in β cells is still nascent. This article describes the known effects of histone marks and variants, DNA methylation, how they are regulated in the β cell, and how they affect cell-fate specification, maintenance, and lineage propagation. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:1-18, 2021.

Scrt1, a transcriptional regulator of β-cell proliferation identified by differential chromatin accessibility during islet maturation

Glucose-induced insulin secretion, a hallmark of mature β-cells, is achieved after birth and is preceded by a phase of intense proliferation. These events occurring in the neonatal period are decisive for establishing an appropriate functional β-cell mass that provides the required insulin throughout life. However, key regulators of gene expression involved in functional maturation of β-cells remain to be elucidated. Here, we addressed this issue by mapping open chromatin regions in newborn versus adult rat islets using the ATAC-seq assay. We obtained a genome-wide picture of chromatin accessible sites (~ 100,000) among which 20% were differentially accessible during maturation. An enrichment analysis of transcription factor binding sites identified a group of transcription factors that could explain these changes. Among them, Scrt1 was found to act as a transcriptional repressor and to control β-cell proliferation. Interestingly, Scrt1 expression was controlled by the transcriptional repressor RE-1 silencing transcription factor (REST) and was increased in an in vitro reprogramming system of pancreatic exocrine cells to β-like cells. Overall, this study led to the identification of several known and unforeseen key transcriptional events occurring during β-cell maturation. These findings will help defining new strategies to induce the functional maturation of surrogate insulin-producing cells.

p43, a Truncated Form of Thyroid Hormone Receptor α, Regulates Maturation of Pancreatic β Cells

P43 is a truncated form of thyroid hormone receptor α localized in mitochondria, which stimulates mitochondrial respiratory chain activity. Previously, we showed that deletion of p43 led to reduction of pancreatic islet density and a loss of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in adult mice. The present study was designed to determine whether p43 was involved in the processes of β cell development and maturation. We used neonatal, juvenile, and adult p43-/- mice, and we analyzed the development of β cells in the pancreas. Here, we show that p43 deletion affected only slightly β cell proliferation during the postnatal period. However, we found a dramatic fall in p43-/- mice of MafA expression (V-Maf Avian Musculoaponeurotic Fibrosarcoma Oncogene Homolog A), a key transcription factor of beta-cell maturation. Analysis of the expression of antioxidant enzymes in pancreatic islet and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) (a specific marker of lipid peroxidation) staining revealed that oxidative stress occurred in mice lacking p43. Lastly, administration of antioxidants cocktail to p43-/- pregnant mice restored a normal islet density but failed to ensure an insulin secretion in response to glucose. Our findings demonstrated that p43 drives the maturation of β cells via its induction of transcription factor MafA during the critical postnatal window.

Human Islets Contain a Beta Cell Type That Expresses Proinsulin But Not the Enzyme That Converts the Precursor to Insulin

In pancreatic beta cells, proinsulin (ProIN) undergoes folding in endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi system and is translocated to secretory vesicles for processing into insulin and C-peptide by the proprotein convertases (PC)1/3 and PC2, and carboxypeptidase E. Human beta cells show significant variation in the level of expression of PC1/3, the critical proconvertase involved in proinsulin processing. To ascertain whether this heterogeneity is correlated with the level of expression of the prohormone and mature hormone, the expression of proinsulin, insulin, and PC1/3 in human beta cells was examined. This analysis identified a human beta cell type that expressed proinsulin but lacked PC1/3 (ProIN⁺PC1/3^-). This beta cell type is absent in rodent islets and is abundant in human islets of adults but scarce in islets from postnatal donors. Human islets also contained a beta cell type that expressed both proinsulin and variable levels of PC1/3 (ProIN⁺PC1/3⁺) and a less abundant cell type that lacked proinsulin but expressed the convertase (ProIN^-PC1/3⁺). These cell phenotypes were altered by type 2 diabetes. These data suggest that these three cell types represent different stages of a dynamic process with proinsulin folding in ProIN⁺PC1/3^- cells, proinsulin conversion into insulin in ProIN⁺PC1/3⁺cells, and replenishment of the proinsulin content in ProIN^-PC1/3⁺ cells.

Molecular Insulin Actions Are Sexually Dimorphic in Lipid Metabolism

The increment in energy-dense food and low physical activity has contributed to the current obesity pandemic, which is more prevalent in women than in men. Insulin is an anabolic hormone that regulates the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins in adipose tissue, liver, and skeletal muscle. During obesity, nutrient storage capacity is dysregulated due to a reduced insulin action on its target organs, producing insulin resistance, an early marker of metabolic dysfunction. Insulin resistance in adipose tissue is central in metabolic diseases due to the critical role that this tissue plays in energy homeostasis. We focused on sexual dimorphism on the molecular mechanisms of insulin actions and their relationship with the physiology and pathophysiology of adipose tissue. Until recently, most of the physiological and pharmacological studies were done in males without considering sexual dimorphism, which is relevant. There is ample clinical and epidemiological evidence of its contribution to the establishment and progression of metabolic diseases. Sexual dimorphism is a critical and often overlooked factor that should be considered in design of sex-targeted therapeutic strategies and public health policies to address obesity and diabetes.

Roles of Noncoding RNAs in Islet Biology

The discovery that most mammalian genome sequences are transcribed to ribonucleic acids (RNA) has revolutionized our understanding of the mechanisms governing key cellular processes and of the causes of human diseases, including diabetes mellitus. Pancreatic islet cells were found to contain thousands of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including micro-RNAs (miRNAs), PIWI-associated RNAs, small nucleolar RNAs, tRNA-derived fragments, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs. While the involvement of miRNAs in islet function and in the etiology of diabetes is now well documented, there is emerging evidence indicating that other classes of ncRNAs are also participating in different aspects of islet physiology. The aim of this article will be to provide a comprehensive and updated view of the studies carried out in human samples and rodent models over the past 15 years on the role of ncRNAs in the control of α- and β-cell development and function and to highlight the recent discoveries in the field. We not only describe the role of ncRNAs in the control of insulin and glucagon secretion but also address the contribution of these regulatory molecules in the proliferation and survival of islet cells under physiological and pathological conditions. It is now well established that most cells release part of their ncRNAs inside small extracellular vesicles, allowing the delivery of genetic material to neighboring or distantly located target cells. The role of these secreted RNAs in cell-to-cell communication between β-cells and other metabolic tissues as well as their potential use as diabetes biomarkers will be discussed. © 2020 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 10:893-932, 2020.

Circadian Entrainment Triggers Maturation of Human In Vitro Islets

Stem-cell-derived tissues could transform disease research and therapy, yet most methods generate functionally immature products. We investigate how human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) differentiate into pancreatic islets in vitro by profiling DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and histone modification changes. We find that enhancer potential is reset upon lineage commitment and show how pervasive epigenetic priming steers endocrine cell fates. Modeling islet differentiation and maturation regulatory circuits reveals genes critical for generating endocrine cells and identifies circadian control as limiting for in vitro islet function. Entrainment to circadian feeding/fasting cycles triggers islet metabolic maturation by inducing cyclic synthesis of energy metabolism and insulin secretion effectors, including antiphasic insulin and glucagon pulses. Following entrainment, hPSC-derived islets gain persistent chromatin changes and rhythmic insulin responses with a raised glucose threshold, a hallmark of functional maturity, and function within days of transplantation. Thus, hPSC-derived tissues are amenable to functional improvement by circadian modulation.

Physiological changes of growth hormone during lactation in pup rats artificially reared

During the lactation period, rat pups are fed by the dam, and the patterns of mother-pup interaction change during this period. Additionally, there are changes in feeding; first, mother´s milk is the only food needed for sustenance, and later, it is combined with solid food and water. GH serum concentrations depend on both maternal-pup interaction and energy metabolism. In the artificial rearing (AR) procedure, pups are deprived of mother-pup interaction, and the feeding pattern is controlled. This rearing paradigm has been used in rats to analyze the effects of maternal deprivation on social behavior. In the present study, we analyzed the variation in GH, acylated ghrelin and IGF-1 serum concentrations throughout the lactation period in AR pups. At pnd7, the maternal rearing (MR) pups responded to a 4 h fast with a drop in GH serum concentration, which is a well-known response to maternal deprivation. GH serum levels in the AR pups did not change, suggesting an adaptation phenomenon. A dopamine inhibitory effect of GH secretion was observed in pnd7 cultured somatotropes, suggesting dopamine regulation of GH secretion at this age. Acylated ghrelin serum levels in the AR pups showed an inverted pattern compared to that in the MR pups, which was related to the artificial feeding pattern. IGF-1 serum levels were lower in the AR pups than in MR pups, which was associated with hepatic GH resistance and with low Igf1 mRNA expression at pnd7. Interestingly, at pnd14, both pup groups showed high hepatic Igf1 mRNA expression but low IGF-1 serum levels, and this was inverted at pnd21. However, serum glucose levels were lower in the AR pups at pnd14 but reached the same levels as the MR pups at pnd21. Moreover, hepatomegaly and higher hepatic GH-receptor levels were observed in the AR pups at pnd21, which was in agreement with an absence of a solid food meal. During AR, the pups lost the maternal interaction-stimulated GH secretion, which correlated with lower IGF-1 serum levels during the first week of postnatal development. Later, the AR pups exhibited hepatic responses, in order to satisfy the metabolic demand for the normal weaning, with low carbohydrates levels in their meal.

Metabolic and Functional Heterogeneity in Pancreatic β Cells

Metabolic and secretory heterogeneity are fundamental properties of pancreatic islet β cells. Emerging data suggest that stable differences in the transcriptome and proteome of individual cells may create cellular hierarchies, which, in turn, establish coordinated functional networks. These networks appear to govern the secretory activity of the whole islet and be affected in some forms of diabetes mellitus. Functional imaging, for example, of intracellular calcium dynamics, has led to the demonstration of "small worlds" behavior, and the identification of highly connected "hub" (or "leader") cells and of follower populations subservient to them. Subsequent inactivation of members of either population, for example, using optogenetic approaches or photoablation, has confirmed the importance of hub cells as possible pacemakers. Hub cells appear to be enriched for the glucose phosphorylating enzyme glucokinase and for genes encoding other enzymes involved in glucose metabolism compared to follower cells. Recent findings have shown the relevance of cellular hierarchy in islets from multiple species including human, mouse and fish, and shown that it is preserved in vivo in the context of the fully vascularized and innervated islet. Importantly, connectivity is impaired by insults, which mimic the diabetic milieu, including high glucose and/or fatty levels, and by the ablation of genes associated with type 2 diabetes risk in genome-wide association studies. We discuss here the evidence for the existence of these networks and their failure in disease settings. We also briefly survey the challenges in understanding their properties.

Temporal analysis of distribution pattern of islet cells and antioxidant enzymes for diabetes onset in postnatal critical development window in rats

AIM

At performing a temporal analysis of the distribution pattern of islet endocrine cells and antioxidant enzymes in diabetic rats during the post-natal critical development window.

MAIN METHODS

The newborns received streptozotocin (STZ) at birth for diabetes induction, and control females received the vehicle. The animals were euthanized at different lifetimes: D5, D10, D15, and D30. Morphological analysis of pancreas and biochemical assays was performed.

KEY FINDINGS

The STZ-induced rats presented irregular shape of islet on D5 and there was an attempt to restore of this shape in other life moment studied. There was an increase progressive in islet area, however they maintained smaller than those of control rats, with lower labeling intensity for insulin, higher for glucagon and somatostatin, lower for SOD-1 was lower in the islets of the STZ-induced animals at all times studied and for GSH-Px in D10 and D30.

SIGNIFICANCE

Although STZ-induced diabetic rats presented compensatory mechanisms to restore the mass of endocrine cells, this was not sufficient since these rats developed the diabetic state. This was confirmed by the oral glucose tolerance test from D30. In addition, the delta (δ)-cells presented ectopic location in islets, indicating a possible relationship for beta (β)-cell mass restoration. There was a response of the pancreas to reduce the hyperglycemia in the first month of life. Furthermore, the cells from the endocrine pancreas of diabetic animals show a decline of antioxidant enzymatic, contributing to the increased susceptibility of cells to hyperglycemia-induced ROS in this postnatal critical development window.

Impact of maternal low-level cadmium exposure on glucose and lipid metabolism of the litter at different ages after weaning

Cadmium (Cd) is a metal which may participate in the development of type II diabetes even if Cd exposure levels are mild. However, experimental studies focusing on daily environmentally relevant doses are scarce, particularly for glucose metabolism of the offspring of chronically exposed mothers. The aim is to measure the impact of maternal low level Cd exposure on glucose and lipid metabolism of offspring. Female rats were exposed to 0, 50 or 500 μg.kg^-1.d^-1 of CdCl₂, 21 days before mating and during 21 days of gestation and 21 days of lactation. Pups exposure was organized in 3 groups (control, Cd1, Cd2) according to renal dams' Cd burden. Parameters of glucose and lipid metabolisms were measured for the pups on post-natal day 21, 26 and 60. Maternal Cd exposure led to significant amounts of Cd in the liver and kidney of pups. At weaning, insulin secretion upon glucose stimulation was unchanged, but the removal of circulating glucose was slower for pups born from the lowest impregnated dams (Cd1). Five days after, glucose tolerance of all groups was identical. Thus, this loss of insulin sensitivity was reversed, in part by increased adiponectin secretion for the Cd1 group. Furthermore, pups from dams accumulating the highest levels of Cd (Cd2) exhibited a compensatory increased insulin pancreatic secretion, together with increased circulating non-esterified fatty acids, indicating the establishment of insulin resistance, 2 months after birth. This study has demonstrated the influence of maternal exposure to low levels of Cd on glucose homeostasis in the offspring that might increase the risk of developing type II diabetes later in life.

In vivo imaging of β-cell function reveals glucose-mediated heterogeneity of β-cell functional development

How pancreatic β-cells acquire function in vivo is a long-standing mystery due to the lack of technology to visualize β-cell function in living animals. Here, we applied a high-resolution two-photon light-sheet microscope for the first in vivo imaging of Ca²⁺activity of every β-cell in Tg (ins:Rcamp1.07) zebrafish. We reveal that the heterogeneity of β-cell functional development in vivo occurred as two waves propagating from the islet mantle to the core, coordinated by islet vascularization. Increasing amounts of glucose induced functional acquisition and enhancement of β-cells via activating calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) signaling. Conserved in mammalians, calcineurin/NFAT prompted high-glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of neonatal mouse islets cultured in vitro. However, the reduction in low-glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was dependent on optimal glucose but independent of calcineurin/NFAT. Thus, combination of optimal glucose and calcineurin activation represents a previously unexplored strategy for promoting functional maturation of stem cell-derived β-like cells in vitro.

When the amount of sugar in our body rises, specialised cells known as β-cells respond by releasing insulin, a hormone that acts on various organs to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range. These cells cluster in small ‘islets’ inside our pancreas. If the number of working β-cells declines, diseases such as diabetes may appear and it becomes difficult to regulate the amount of sugar in our bodies. Understanding how β-cells normally develop and mature in the embryo could help us learn how to make new ones in the laboratory. In particular, researchers are interested in studying how different body signals, such as blood sugar levels, turn immature β-cells into fully productive cells. However, in mammals, the pancreas and its islets are buried deep inside the embryo and they cannot be observed easily.

Here, Zhao et al. circumvented this problem by doing experiments on zebrafish embryos, which are transparent, grow outside their mother’s body, and have pancreatic islets that are similar to the ones found in mammals. A three-dimensional microscopy technique was used to watch individual β-cells activity over long periods, which revealed that the cells start being able to produce insulin at different times. The β-cells around the edge of each islet were the first to have access to blood sugar signals: they gained their hormone-producing role earlier than the cells in the core of an islet, which only sensed the information later on.

Zhao et al. then exposed the zebrafish embryos to different amounts of sugar. This showed that there is an optimal concentration of sugar which helps β-cells develop by kick-starting a cascade of events inside the cell. Further experiments confirmed that the same pathway and optimal sugar concentration exist for mammalian islets grown in the laboratory.

These findings may help researchers find better ways of making new β-cells to treat diabetic patients. In the future, using the three-dimensional imaging technique in zebrafish embryos may lead to more discoveries on how the pancreas matures.

The role of beta cell heterogeneity in islet function and insulin release

It is becoming increasingly apparent that not all insulin-secreting beta cells are equal. Subtle differences exist at the transcriptomic and protein expression levels, with repercussions for beta cell survival/proliferation, calcium signalling and insulin release. Notably, beta cell heterogeneity displays plasticity during development, metabolic stress and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Thus, heterogeneity or lack thereof may be an important contributor to beta cell failure during T2DM in both rodents and humans. The present review will discuss the molecular and cellular features of beta cell heterogeneity at both the single-cell and islet level, explore how this influences islet function and insulin release and look into the alterations that may occur during obesity and T2DM.

Short-Term Exposure to High Sucrose Levels near Weaning Has a Similar Long-Lasting Effect on Hypertension as a Long-Term Exposure in Rats

Adverse conditions during early developmental stages permanently modify the metabolic function of organisms through epigenetic changes. Exposure to high sugar diets during gestation and/or lactation affects susceptibility to metabolic syndrome or hypertension in adulthood. The effect of a high sugar diet for shorter time lapses remains unclear. Here we studied the effect of short-term sucrose ingestion near weaning (postnatal days 12 and 28) (STS) and its effect after long-term ingestion, for a period of seven months (LTS) in rats. Rats receiving sucrose for seven months develop metabolic syndrome (MS). The mechanisms underlying hypertension in this model and those that underlie the effects of short-term exposure have not been studied. We explore NO and endothelin-1 concentration, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression, fatty acid participation and the involvement of oxidative stress (OS) after LTS and STS. Blood pressure increased to similar levels in adult rats that received sucrose during short- and long-term glucose exposure. The endothelin-1 concentration increased only in LTS rats. eNOS and SOD2 expression determined by Western blot and total antioxidant capacity were diminished in both groups. Saturated fatty acids and arachidonic acid were only decreased in LTS rats. In conclusion, a high-sugar diet during STS increases the hypertension predisposition in adulthood to as high a level as LTS, and the mechanisms involved have similarities (participation of OS and eNOS and SOD expression) and differences (fatty acids and arachidonic acid only participate in LTS and an elevated level of endothelin-1 was only found in LTS) in both conditions. Changes in the diet during short exposure times in early developmental stages have long-lasting effects in determining hypertension susceptibility.

The Cells of the Islets of Langerhans

Islets of Langerhans are islands of endocrine cells scattered throughout the pancreas. A number of new studies have pointed to the potential for conversion of non-β islet cells in to insulin-producing β-cells to replenish β-cell mass as a means to treat diabetes. Understanding normal islet cell mass and function is important to help advance such treatment modalities: what should be the target islet/β-cell mass, does islet architecture matter to energy homeostasis, and what may happen if we lose a particular population of islet cells in favour of β-cells? These are all questions to which we will need answers for islet replacement therapy by transdifferentiation of non-β islet cells to be a reality in humans. We know a fair amount about the biology of β-cells but not quite as much about the other islet cell types. Until recently, we have not had a good grasp of islet mass and distribution in the human pancreas. In this review, we will look at current data on islet cells, focussing more on non-β cells, and on human pancreatic islet mass and distribution.

Effects of Biotin Supplementation During the First Week Postweaning Increases Pancreatic Islet Area, Beta-Cell Proportion, Islets Number, and Beta-Cell Proliferation

During maturation, pancreatic islets achieve their full capacity to secrete insulin in response to glucose, undergo morphological changes in which alpha-cells decrease and beta-cell mass increases, and they acquire the normal alpha- and beta-cell proportion changes that are important for islet functions later in life. In rodents, the first week of postweaning is critical for islet maturation. Multiple studies have documented the detrimental effects of several conditions on pancreatic maturation; however, few studies have addressed the use of pharmacological agents to enhance islet maturation. Biotin might have a potential action on islet maturation. Pharmacological concentrations of biotin have been found to modify islet morphology and function. In a previous study, we found that mice fed a biotin-supplemented diet for 8 weeks after weaning showed an increase in basal and glucose stimulated insulin secretion, enlarged islet size, and modified islet structure. In the present study, we investigated the effect of biotin on maturation features during the first week postweaning. Female BALB/cAnN Hsd mice were fed a control or a biotin-supplemented diet for 1 week after weaning. Compared with the control, biotin-supplemented mice showed an increase in pancreatic islet number and area in addition to an augmented proportion of beta-cells in the islet. These effects were related to an increase in beta-cell proliferation. No differences were found in insulin secretion, blood glucose concentrations, or serum insulin levels. These results indicate that biotin supplementation is capable of affecting beta-cell proliferation and might be a therapeutic agent for establishing strategies for regenerative medicine.

Impact of insulin on primary arcuate neurons culture is dependent on early-postnatal nutritional status and neuronal subpopulation

Nutrition plays a critical role in programming and shaping linear growth during early postnatal life through direct action on the development of the neuroendocrine somatotropic (GH/IGF-1) axis. IGF-1 is a key factor in modulating the programming of linear growth during this period. Notably, IGF-1 preferentially stimulates axonal growth of GHRH neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (Arc), which is crucial for the proliferation of somatotroph progenitors in the pituitary, thus influencing later GH secretory capacity. However, other nutrition-related hormones may also be involved. Among them, insulin shares several structural and functional similarities with IGF-1, as well as downstream signaling effectors. We investigated the role of insulin in the control of Arc axonal growth using an in vitro model of arcuate explants culture and a cell-type specific approach (GHRH-eGFP mice) under both physiological conditions (normally fed pups) and those of dietary restriction (underfed pups). Our data suggest that insulin failed to directly control axonal growth of Arc neurons or influence specific IGF-1-mediated effects on GHRH neurons. Insulin may act on neuronal welfare, which appears to be dependent on neuronal sub-populations and is influenced by the nutritional status of pups in which Arc neurons develop.

Calcium Channels in Postnatal Development of Rat Pancreatic Beta Cells and Their Role in Insulin Secretion

Pancreatic beta cells during the first month of development acquire functional maturity, allowing them to respond to variations in extracellular glucose concentration by secreting insulin. Changes in ionic channel activity are important for this maturation. Within the voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC), the most studied channels are high-voltage-activated (HVA), principally L-type; while low-voltage-activated (LVA) channels have been poorly studied in native beta cells. We analyzed the changes in the expression and activity of VGCC during the postnatal development in rat beta cells. We observed that the percentage of detection of T-type current increased with the stage of development. T-type calcium current density in adult cells was higher than in neonatal and P20 beta cells. Mean HVA current density also increased with age. Calcium current behavior in P20 beta cells was heterogeneous; almost half of the cells had HVA current densities higher than the adult cells, and this was independent of the presence of T-type current. We detected the presence of α1G, α1H, and α1I subunits of LVA channels at all ages. The Cav 3.1 subunit (α1G) was the most expressed. T-type channel blockers mibefradil and TTA-A₂ significantly inhibited insulin secretion at 5.6 mM glucose, which suggests a physiological role for T-type channels at basal glucose conditions. Both, nifedipine and TTA-A₂, drastically decreased the beta-cell subpopulation that secretes more insulin, in both basal and stimulating glucose conditions. We conclude that changes in expression and activity of VGCC during the development play an important role in physiological maturation of beta cells.

β Cell Aging Markers Have Heterogeneous Distribution and Are Induced by Insulin Resistance

We hypothesized that the known heterogeneity of pancreatic β cells was due to subpopulations of β cells at different stages of their life cycle with different functional capacities and that further changes occur with metabolic stress and aging. We identified new markers of aging in β cells, including IGF1R. In β cells IGF1R expression correlated with age, dysfunction, and expression of known age markers p16^ink4a, p53BP1, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase. The new markers showed striking heterogeneity both within and between islets in both mouse and human pancreas. Acute induction of insulin resistance with an insulin receptor antagonist or chronic ER stress resulted in increased expression of aging markers, providing insight into how metabolic stress might accelerate dysfunction and decline of β cells. These novel findings about β cell and islet heterogeneity, and how they change with age, open up an entirely new set of questions about the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

Transcriptome landmarks of the functional maturity of rat beta-cells, from lactation to adulthood

Research on the postnatal development of pancreatic beta-cells has become an important subject in recent years. Understanding the mechanisms that govern beta-cell postnatal maturation could bring new opportunities to therapeutic approaches for diabetes. The weaning period consists of a critical postnatal window for structural and physiologic maturation of rat beta-cells. To investigate transcriptome changes involved in the maturation of beta-cells neighboring this period, we performed microarray analysis in fluorescence-activated cell-sorted (FACS) beta-cell-enriched populations. Our results showed a variety of gene sets including those involved in the integration of metabolism, modulation of electrical activity, and regulation of the cell cycle that play important roles in the maturation process. These observations were validated using reverse hemolytic plaque assay, electrophysiological recordings, and flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, we suggest some unexplored pathways such as sphingolipid metabolism, insulin-vesicle trafficking, regulation of transcription/transduction by miRNA-30, trafficking proteins, and cell cycle proteins that could play important roles in the process mentioned above for further investigation.

Maternal protein restriction during gestation impairs female offspring pancreas development in the rat

A maternal low-protein (LP) diet programs fetal pancreatic islet β-cell development and function and predisposes offspring to metabolic dysfunction later in life. We hypothesized that maternal protein restriction during pregnancy differentially alters β- and α-cell populations in offspring by modifying islet ontogeny and function throughout life. We aimed to investigate the effect of an LP maternal diet on pancreatic islet morphology and cellular composition in female offspring on postnatal days (PNDs) 7, 14, 21, 36, and 110. Mothers were divided into 2 groups: during pregnancy, the control group (C) was fed a diet containing 20% casein, and the LP group was fed an isocaloric diet with 10% casein. Offspring pancreases were obtained at each PND and then processed. β and α cells were detected by immunohistochemistry, and cellular area and islet size were quantified. Islet cytoarchitecture and total area were similar in C and LP offspring at all ages studied. At the early ages (PNDs 7-21), the proportion of β cells was lower in LP than C offspring. The proportion of α cells was lower in LP than C offspring on PND 14 and higher on PND 21. The β/α-cell ratio was lower in LP compared with C offspring on PNDs 7 and 21 and higher on PND 36 (being similar on PNDs 14 and 110). We concluded that maternal protein restriction during pregnancy modifies offspring islet cell ontogeny by altering the proportions of islet sizes and by reducing the number of β cells postnatally, which may impact pancreatic function in adult life.

Postnatal β-cell maturation is associated with islet-specific microRNA changes induced by nutrient shifts at weaning

Glucose-induced insulin secretion is an essential function of pancreatic β-cells that is partially lost in individuals affected by Type 2 diabetes. This unique property of β-cells is acquired through a poorly understood postnatal maturation process involving major modifications in gene expression programs. Here we show that β-cell maturation is associated with changes in microRNA expression induced by the nutritional transition that occurs at weaning. When mimicked in newborn islet cells, modifications in the level of specific microRNAs result in a switch in the expression of metabolic enzymes and cause the acquisition of glucose-induced insulin release. Our data suggest microRNAs have a central role in postnatal β-cell maturation and in the determination of adult functional β-cell mass. A better understanding of the events governing β-cell maturation may help understand why some individuals are predisposed to developing diabetes and could lead to new strategies for the treatment of this common metabolic disease.

Pancreatic β-cells are less responsive to changes in glucose concentration in newborn than in adult rats. Here, the authors show that functional β-cell maturation is associated with changes in miRNA expression induced by nutritional shifts at the suckling-to-weaning transition.

Streptozotocin-induced diabetes models: pathophysiological mechanisms and fetal outcomes

Glucose homeostasis is controlled by endocrine pancreatic cells, and any pancreatic disturbance can result in diabetes. Because 8% to 12% of diabetic pregnant women present with malformed fetuses, there is great interest in understanding the etiology, pathophysiological mechanisms, and treatment of gestational diabetes. Hyperglycemia enhances the production of reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative stress, which is involved in diabetic teratogenesis. It has also been suggested that maternal diabetes alters embryonic gene expression, which might cause malformations. Due to ethical issues involving human studies that sometimes have invasive aspects and the multiplicity of uncontrolled variables that can alter the uterine environment during clinical studies, it is necessary to use animal models to better understand diabetic pathophysiology. This review aimed to gather information about pathophysiological mechanisms and fetal outcomes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. To understand the pathophysiological mechanisms and factors involved in diabetes, the use of pancreatic regeneration studies is increasing in an attempt to understand the behavior of pancreatic beta cells. In addition, these studies suggest a new preventive concept as a treatment basis for diabetes, introducing therapeutic efforts to minimize or prevent diabetes-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, and teratogenesis.

Hyperinsulinemia is Associated with Increased Soluble Insulin Receptors Release from Hepatocytes

It has been generally assumed that insulin circulates freely in blood. However it can also interact with plasma proteins. Insulin receptors are located in the membrane of target cells and consist of an alpha and beta subunits with a tyrosine kinase cytoplasmic domain. The ectodomain, called soluble insulin receptor (SIR) has been found elevated in patients with diabetes mellitus. We explored if insulin binds to SIRs in circulation under physiological conditions and hypothesize that this SIR may be released by hepatocytes in response to high insulin concentrations. The presence of SIR in rat and human plasmas and the culture medium of hepatocytes was explored using Western blot analysis. A purification protocol was performed to isolated SIR using affinity, gel filtration, and ion exchange chromatographies. A modified reverse hemolytic plaque assay was used to measure SIR release from cultured hepatocytes. Incubation with 1 nmol l(-1) insulin induces the release of the insulin receptor ectodomains from normal rat hepatocytes. This effect can be partially prevented by blocking protease activity. Furthermore, plasma levels of SIR were higher in a model of metabolic syndrome, where rats are hyperinsulinemic. We also found increased SIR levels in hyperinsulinemic humans. SIR may be an important regulator of the amount of free insulin in circulation. In hyperinsulinemia, the amount of this soluble receptor increases and this could lead to higher amounts of insulin bound to this receptor, rather than free insulin, which is the biologically active form of the hormone. This observation could enlighten the mechanisms of insulin resistance.

PDX1 in ducts is not required for postnatal formation of β-cells but is necessary for their subsequent maturation

Pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (Pdx1), a transcription factor required for pancreatic development and maintenance of β-cell function, was assessed for a possible role in postnatal β-cell formation from progenitors in the pancreatic ducts by selectively deleting Pdx1 from the ducts. Carbonic anhydrase II (CAII)(Cre);Pdx1(Fl) mice were euglycemic for the first 2 postnatal weeks but showed moderate hyperglycemia from 3 to 7 weeks of age. By 10 weeks, they had near-normal morning fed glucose levels but showed severely impaired glucose tolerance and insulin secretion. Yet the loss of Pdx1 did not result in decreased islet and β-cell mass at 4 and 10 weeks of age. Within the same pancreas, there was a mixed population of islets, with PDX1 and MAFA protein expression normal in some cells and severely diminished in others. Even at 10 weeks, islets expressed immaturity markers. Thus, we conclude that Pdx1 is not necessary for the postnatal formation of β-cells but is essential for their full maturation to glucose-responsive β-cells.

Dietary carbohydrate dictates development of Type 2 diabetes in the Nile rat

Amount and type of dietary carbohydrate (CHO), as well as the CHO:fat ratio, are thought to be critical for both the rate of development and severity of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus, these nutritional considerations were examined in the previously described "spontaneous" model of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, the Nile rat. Weanling male Nile rats (n=92) were fed semipurified diets, modifying glycemic index and load by changing the amount of fiber or altering the CHO:fat ratio. Random and fasting blood glucose and body weight were assessed, and diabetes was characterized in terms of blood glucose, relevant plasma and liver parameters, food and water intake and terminal organ weights. Nile rats fed with hiCHO became more hyperglycemic than rats fed with modCHO (P<.05), while loCHO and hiCHO+hiFiber rats remained essentially normoglycemic. Liver lipid and glycogen accumulation was associated with severe hyperlipemia in diabetic rats, analogous to metabolic syndrome in humans. Advanced diabetes was linked to liver and kidney damage and elevated blood urea nitrogen with weight loss. Dispersing dietary CHO by fiber or replacing it by moderate fat (reducing the glycemic index and load) delayed the onset of diabetes but did not prevent signs of insulin resistance. A very low content of dietary CHO (high fat) seemed to prevent even these early indicators of insulin resistance. Thus, the Nile rat represents a novel CHO-sensitive model for study of Type 2 diabetes that reliably follows the course of disease in humans.

Regional differences in islet distribution in the human pancreas--preferential beta-cell loss in the head region in patients with type 2 diabetes

While regional heterogeneity in islet distribution has been well studied in rodents, less is known about human pancreatic histology. To fill gaps in our understanding, regional differences in the adult human pancreas were quantitatively analyzed including the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Cadaveric pancreas specimens were collected from the head, body and tail regions of each donor, including subjects with no history of diabetes or pancreatic diseases (n = 23) as well as patients with T2D (n = 12). The study further included individuals from whom islets were isolated (n = 7) to study islet yield and function in a clinical setting of islet transplantation. The whole pancreatic sections were examined using an innovative large-scale image capture and unbiased detailed quantitative analyses of the characteristics of islets from each individual (architecture, size, shape and distribution). Islet distribution/density is similar between the head and body regions, but is >2-fold higher in the tail region. In contrast to rodents, islet cellular composition and architecture were similar throughout the pancreas and there was no difference in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in islets isolated from different regions of the pancreas. Further studies revealed preferential loss of large islets in the head region in patients with T2D. The present study has demonstrated distinct characteristics of the human pancreas, which should provide a baseline for the future studies integrating existing research in the field and helping to advance bi-directional research between humans and preclinical models.

Role of endogenous IL-6 in the neonatal expansion and functionality of Wistar rat pancreatic alpha cells

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Plasma glucagon concentrations rise sharply during the early postnatal period. This condition is associated with increased alpha cell mass. However, the trophic factors that regulate alpha cell turnover during the perinatal period have not been studied. Macrophage infiltrations are present in the neonatal pancreas, and this cell type releases cytokines such as IL-6. Alpha cells have been identified as a primary target of IL-6 actions. We therefore investigated the physiological relevance of IL-6 to neonatal pancreatic alpha cell maturation.

METHODS

Histochemical analyses were performed to quantify alpha cell mass, replication and apoptosis. Pancreatic Il6 expression was determined by quantitative RT-PCR. The biological effect of IL-6 was tested in two in vivo rat models of IL-6 blockade and chronic undernutrition.

RESULTS

Alpha cell mass increased sharply shortly after birth but decreased significantly after weaning. Pancreatic alpha cell proliferation was as high as 2.5% at the beginning of suckling but diminished with time to 1.2% in adulthood. Similarly, alpha cell neoformation was remarkably high on postnatal day (PN) 4, whereas alpha cell apoptosis was low throughout the neonatal period. Moreover, Il6 mRNA exhibited developmental upregulation in the pancreas of suckling rats, with the highest expression on PN2. Neutralisation of IL-6 reduced alpha cell mass expansion and glucagon production. IL-6 staining was detected within the islets, mainly in the alpha cells. Finally, undernourished neonates showed altered alpha cell number and function and delayed appearance of IL-6 in the pancreas.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

These data point to a potential role for local IL-6 in the regulation of alpha cell growth and function during suckling.

Thyroid hormone promotes postnatal rat pancreatic β-cell development and glucose-responsive insulin secretion through MAFA

Neonatal β cells do not secrete glucose-responsive insulin and are considered immature. We previously showed the transcription factor MAFA is key for the functional maturation of β cells, but the physiological regulators of this process are unknown. Here we show that postnatal rat β cells express thyroid hormone (TH) receptor isoforms and deiodinases in an age-dependent pattern as glucose responsiveness develops. In vivo neonatal triiodothyronine supplementation and TH inhibition, respectively, accelerated and delayed metabolic development. In vitro exposure of immature islets to triiodothyronine enhanced the expression of Mafa, the secretion of glucose-responsive insulin, and the proportion of responsive cells, all of which are effects that were abolished in the presence of dominant-negative Mafa. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we show that TH has a direct receptor-ligand interaction with the Mafa promoter and, using a luciferase reporter, that this interaction was functional. Thus, TH can be considered a physiological regulator of functional maturation of β cells via its induction of Mafa.

Growth arrest specific protein (GAS) 6: a role in the regulation of proliferation and functional capacity of the perinatal rat beta cell

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Maternal low-protein (LP) diet during gestation results in a reduced beta cell mass in the offspring at birth and this may hamper the ability to adapt to high-energy food and sedentary lifestyle later in life. To investigate the biology behind the LP-offspring phenotype, this study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in the pancreas and their potential role in the fetal programming.

METHODS

Wistar rats were given either an LP diet or normal-chow (NC) diet during gestation and differentially expressed genes in the offspring around the time of birth were identified using RNA microarray and quantitative PCR. The role of a differentially expressed gene, growth arrest specific protein 6 (GAS6), was evaluated in vitro using neonatal rat islets.

RESULTS

The mRNA level of Gas6, known to be mitogenic in other tissues, was reduced in LP offspring. The mRNA content of Mafa was increased in LP offspring suggesting an early maturation of beta cells. When applied in vitro, GAS6 increased proliferation of neonatal pancreatic beta cells, while reducing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion without changing the total insulin content of the islets. In addition, GAS6 decreased the mRNA content of Mafa.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

We propose a role for GAS6 in the regulation of pancreatic beta cells in the critical period around the time of birth. Our results support the hypothesis that the reduced beta cell mass seen in LP offspring is caused by a change in the intra-uterine environment that favours premature maturation of the beta cells.

Subpopulations of GFP-marked mouse pancreatic β-cells differ in size, granularity, and insulin secretion

There is growing information about the heterogeneity of pancreatic β-cells and how it relates to insulin secretion. This study used the approach of flow cytometry to sort and analyze β-cells from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the mouse insulin I gene promoter. Three populations of β-cells with differing GFP brightness could be identified, which were classified as GFP-low, GFP-medium, and GFP-bright. The GFP-medium population comprised about 70% of the total. The GFP-low population had less insulin secretion as determined by the reverse hemolytic plaque assay and reduced insulin gene expression. Additionally, all three subpopulations of β-cells were found in mice of varying ages (embryonic d 15.5 and postnatal wk 1-9). The three populations from the youngest had larger cells (forward scatter) and less granularity (side scatter) than those from the adults. This approach opens up new ways to advance knowledge about β-cell heterogeneity.

Effects of biotin supplementation in the diet on insulin secretion, islet gene expression, glucose homeostasis and beta-cell proportion

Besides its role as a carboxylase cofactor, biotin has a wide repertoire of effects on gene expression, development and metabolism. Pharmacological concentrations of biotin enhance insulin secretion and the expression of genes and signaling pathways that favor islet function in vitro. However, the in vivo effects of biotin supplementation on pancreatic islet function are largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated whether in vivo biotin supplementation in the diet has positive effects in rodent pancreatic islets. Male BALB/cAnN Hsd mice were fed a control or a biotin-supplemented diet over 8 weeks postweaning and tested for glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion, islet gene expression and pancreatic morphometry. Insulin secretion increased from the islets of biotin-supplemented mice, together with the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of several transcription factors regulating insulin expression and secretion, including forkhead box A2, pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α. The mRNA abundance of glucokinase, Cacna1d, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and insulin also increased. Consistent with these effects, glucose tolerance improved, and glucose-stimulated serum insulin levels increased in biotin-supplemented mice, without changes in fasting glucose levels or insulin tolerance. Biotin supplementation augmented the proportion of beta cells by enlarging islet size and, unexpectedly, also increased the percentage of islets with alpha cells at the islet core. mRNA expression of neural cell adhesion molecule 1, an adhesion protein participating in the maintenance of islet architecture, decreased in biotin-supplemented islets. These findings provide, for the first time, insight into how biotin supplementation exerts its effects on function and proportion of beta cells, suggesting a role for biotin in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

Developmental programming of aging of isolated pancreatic islet glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in female offspring of mothers fed low-protein diets in pregnancy and/or lactation

Diabetes predisposition is determined by pancreatic islet insulin secretion and insulin resistance. We studied female rat offspring exposed to low-protein maternal diet (50% control protein diet) in pregnancy and/or lactation at postnatal days 36, 110 and 450. Rats were fed either control 20% casein diet (C) or restricted diet (R – 10% casein) during pregnancy. After delivery, mothers received either C or R diet until weaning to provide four offspring groups: CC, RR, CR and RC (first letter denoting maternal pregnancy diet and the second lactation diet). Serum glucose, insulin and homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) were measured. Pancreatic islets were isolated and in vitro insulin secretion quantified in low glucose (5 mM) and high glucose (11 mM). Serum glucose, insulin and HOMA were similar in all groups at 36 and 110 postnatal days. HOMA was only higher in RR at 450 postnatal days. Only CC demonstrated differences in glucose sensitivity of β-cells to high and low doses at the three ages studied. At 36 days, RR, CR and RC and at 450 days RR and RC groups did not show glucose-stimulated insulin secretion differences between low and high glucose. Aging-associated glucose-stimulated insulin secretion loss was affected by maternal dietary history, indicating that developmental programming must be considered a major factor in aging-related development of predisposition to later-life dysfunctional insulin metabolism. Female offspring islets’ insulin secretion was higher than previously reported in males.

Metabolic syndrome induces changes in KATP-channels and calcium currents in pancreatic β-cells

Metabolic syndrome (MS) can be defined as a group of signs that increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). These signs include obesity, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. We are interested in the mechanisms that trigger hyperinsulinemia as a step to understand how β cells fail in DM2. Pancreatic β cells secrete insulin in response to glucose variations in the extracellular medium. When they are chronically over-stimulated, hyperinsulinemia is observed; but then, with time, they become incapable of maintaining normal glucose levels, giving rise to DM2. A chronic high sucrose diet for two months induces MS in adult male Wistar rats. In the present article, we analyzed the effect of the internal environment of rats with MS, on the activity of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) and calcium currents of pancreatic β cells. After 24 weeks of treatment with 20% sucrose in their drinking water, rats showed central obesity, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, and their systolic blood pressure and triglycerides plasma levels increased. These signs indicate the onset of MS. KATP channels in isolated patches of β cells from MS rats, had an increased sensitivity to ATP with respect to controls. Moreover, the macroscopic calcium currents, show increased variability compared with cells from control individuals. These results demonstrate that regardless of genetic background, a high sucrose diet leads to the development of MS. The observed changes in ionic channels can partially explain the increase in insulin secretion in MS rats. However, some β cells showed smaller calcium currents. These cells may represent a β cell subpopulation as it becomes exhausted by the long-term high sucrose diet.

Developmental programming of neonatal pancreatic β-cells by a maternal low-protein diet in rats involves a switch from proliferation to differentiation

Maternal low-protein diets (LP) impair pancreatic β-cell development, resulting in later-life failure and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes (T2D). We hypothesized that intrauterine and/or postnatal developmental programming seen in this situation involve altered β-cell structure and relative time course of expression of genes critical to β-cell differentiation and growth. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed either control (C) 20% or restricted (R) 6% protein diets during pregnancy (1st letter) and/or lactation (2nd letter) in four groups: CC, RR, RC, and CR. At postnatal days 7 and 21, we measured male offspring β-cell fraction, mass, proliferation, aggregate number, and size as well as mRNA level for 13 key genes regulating β-cell development and function in isolated islets. Compared with CC, pre- and postnatal LP (RR) decreased β-cell fraction, mass, proliferation, aggregate size, and number and increased Hnf1a, Hnf4a, Pdx1, Isl1, Rfx6, and Slc2a2 mRNA levels. LP only in pregnancy (RC) also decreased β-cell fraction, mass, proliferation, aggregate size, and number and increased Hnf1a, Hnf4a, Pdx1, Rfx6, and Ins mRNA levels. Postnatal LP offspring (CR) showed decreased β-cell mass but increased β-cell fraction, aggregate number, and Hnf1a, Hnf4a, Rfx6, and Slc2a2 mRNA levels. We conclude that LP in pregnancy sets the trajectory of postnatal β-cell growth and differentiation, whereas LP in lactation has smaller effects. We propose that LP promotes differentiation through upregulation of transcription factors that stimulate differentiation at the expense of proliferation. This results in a decreased β-cell reserve, which can contribute to later-life predisposition to T2D.

Ontogenic pattern of nucleobindin-2/nesfatin-1 expression in the gastroenteropancreatic tissues and serum of Sprague Dawley rats

Nesfatin-1 is a novel metabolic hormone that has glucose-responsive insulinotropic actions. Islet β-cells and gastrointestinal tissues have been reported as abundant sources of nesfatin-1 and its precursor hormone nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2). While nesfatin-1 is emerging as a multifunctional hormone, there are no reports on the developmental expression of NUCB2/nesfatin-1. The main objective of this study was to examine the ontogenic expression of NUCB2 mRNA, and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity in the pancreas, stomach and duodenum, and the circulating levels NUCB2/nesfatin-1 in Sprague Dawley rats. In addition, we also determined the co-localization of NUCB2/nesfatin-1 and insulin immunoreactivity during development. NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity was found in the rat stomach from postnatal days 13-27. Furthermore, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity was also detected in the enteroendocrine cells of the duodenum at postnatal days 13 and 27. Duodenal NUCB2 mRNA expression at postnatal day 27 was highest. Serum NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels on embryonic day 21 and postnatal day 1 were lower than serum NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels of adults and neonates at postnatal days 13, 20 and 27, gradually increasing with growth, suggesting an increase in its production and secretion from tissues including the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Our findings indicate that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 colocalizes with insulin in the islet β-cells at all developmental stages, but the percentage of colocalization varies in an age-dependent manner. These findings suggest that NUCB2/nesfatin-1 has potential age- and tissue-specific role in the developmental physiology of rats during growth.