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Rutter GA, Gresch A, Delgadillo Silva L, Benninger RKP. Exploring pancreatic beta-cell subgroups and their connectivity. Nat Metab 2024:10.1038/s42255-024-01097-6. [PMID: 39117960 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-01097-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Functional pancreatic islet beta cells are essential to ensure glucose homeostasis across species from zebrafish to humans. These cells show significant heterogeneity, and emerging studies have revealed that connectivity across a hierarchical network is required for normal insulin release. Here, we discuss current thinking and areas of debate around intra-islet connectivity, cellular hierarchies and potential "controlling" beta-cell populations. We focus on methodologies, including comparisons of different cell preparations as well as in vitro and in vivo approaches to imaging and controlling the activity of human and rodent islet preparations. We also discuss the analytical approaches that can be applied to live-cell data to identify and study critical subgroups of cells with a disproportionate role in control Ca2+ dynamics and thus insulin secretion (such as "first responders", "leaders" and "hubs", as defined by Ca2+ responses to glucose stimulation). Possible mechanisms by which this hierarchy is achieved, its physiological relevance and how its loss may contribute to islet failure in diabetes mellitus are also considered. A glossary of terms and links to computational resources are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy A Rutter
- CHUM Research Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Anne Gresch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Luis Delgadillo Silva
- CHUM Research Center and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Richard K P Benninger
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
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Šterk M, Zhang Y, Pohorec V, Leitgeb EP, Dolenšek J, Benninger RKP, Stožer A, Kravets V, Gosak M. Network representation of multicellular activity in pancreatic islets: Technical considerations for functional connectivity analysis. PLoS Comput Biol 2024; 20:e1012130. [PMID: 38739680 PMCID: PMC11115366 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Within the islets of Langerhans, beta cells orchestrate synchronized insulin secretion, a pivotal aspect of metabolic homeostasis. Despite the inherent heterogeneity and multimodal activity of individual cells, intercellular coupling acts as a homogenizing force, enabling coordinated responses through the propagation of intercellular waves. Disruptions in this coordination are implicated in irregular insulin secretion, a hallmark of diabetes. Recently, innovative approaches, such as integrating multicellular calcium imaging with network analysis, have emerged for a quantitative assessment of the cellular activity in islets. However, different groups use distinct experimental preparations, microscopic techniques, apply different methods to process the measured signals and use various methods to derive functional connectivity patterns. This makes comparisons between findings and their integration into a bigger picture difficult and has led to disputes in functional connectivity interpretations. To address these issues, we present here a systematic analysis of how different approaches influence the network representation of islet activity. Our findings show that the choice of methods used to construct networks is not crucial, although care is needed when combining data from different islets. Conversely, the conclusions drawn from network analysis can be heavily affected by the pre-processing of the time series, the type of the oscillatory component in the signals, and by the experimental preparation. Our tutorial-like investigation aims to resolve interpretational issues, reconcile conflicting views, advance functional implications, and encourage researchers to adopt connectivity analysis. As we conclude, we outline challenges for future research, emphasizing the broader applicability of our conclusions to other tissues exhibiting complex multicellular dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Šterk
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Yaowen Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Viljem Pohorec
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | | | - Jurij Dolenšek
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Richard K. P. Benninger
- Department of Bioengineering, Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Andraž Stožer
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Vira Kravets
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Jacobs School of Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Marko Gosak
- Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Alma Mater Europaea, Maribor
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Ikle JM, Tryon RC, Singareddy SS, York NW, Remedi MS, Nichols CG. Genome-edited zebrafish model of ABCC8 loss-of-function disease. Islets 2022; 14:200-209. [PMID: 36458573 PMCID: PMC9721409 DOI: 10.1080/19382014.2022.2149206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP)gain- (GOF) and loss-of-function (LOF) mutations underlie human neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) and hyperinsulinism (HI), respectively. While transgenic mice expressing incomplete KATP LOF do reiterate mild hyperinsulinism, KATP knockout animals do not exhibit persistent hyperinsulinism. We have shown that islet excitability and glucose homeostasis are regulated by identical KATP channels in zebrafish. SUR1 truncation mutation (K499X) was introduced into the abcc8 gene to explore the possibility of using zebrafish for modeling human HI. Patch-clamp analysis confirmed the complete absence of channel activity in β-cells from K499X (SUR1-/-) fish. No difference in random blood glucose was detected in heterozygous SUR1+/- fish nor in homozygous SUR1-/- fish, mimicking findings in SUR1 knockout mice. Mutant fish did, however, demonstrate impaired glucose tolerance, similar to partial LOF mouse models. In paralleling features of mammalian diabetes and hyperinsulinism resulting from equivalent LOF mutations, these gene-edited animals provide valid zebrafish models of KATP -dependent pancreatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Ikle
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Robert C. Tryon
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Soma S. Singareddy
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Nathaniel W. York
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Maria S. Remedi
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Colin G. Nichols
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Faraj N, Duinkerken BHP, Carroll EC, Giepmans BNG. Microscopic modulation and analysis of islets of Langerhans in living zebrafish larvae. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:2497-2512. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Noura Faraj
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen University Medical Center Groningen Groningen 9713AV The Netherlands
| | - B. H. Peter Duinkerken
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen University Medical Center Groningen Groningen 9713AV The Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth C. Carroll
- Department of Imaging Physics Delft University of Technology Delft, 2628 CJ The Netherlands
| | - Ben N. G. Giepmans
- Department of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems, University of Groningen University Medical Center Groningen Groningen 9713AV The Netherlands
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Small subpopulations of β-cells do not drive islet oscillatory [Ca2+] dynamics via gap junction communication. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1008948. [PMID: 33939712 PMCID: PMC8118513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The islets of Langerhans exist as multicellular networks that regulate blood glucose levels. The majority of cells in the islet are excitable, insulin-producing β-cells that are electrically coupled via gap junction channels. β-cells are known to display heterogeneous functionality. However, due to gap junction coupling, β-cells show coordinated [Ca2+] oscillations when stimulated with glucose, and global quiescence when unstimulated. Small subpopulations of highly functional β-cells have been suggested to control [Ca2+] dynamics across the islet. When these populations were targeted by optogenetic silencing or photoablation, [Ca2+] dynamics across the islet were largely disrupted. In this study, we investigated the theoretical basis of these experiments and how small populations can disproportionality control islet [Ca2+] dynamics. Using a multicellular islet model, we generated normal, skewed or bimodal distributions of β-cell heterogeneity. We examined how islet [Ca2+] dynamics were disrupted when cells were targeted via hyperpolarization or populations were removed; to mimic optogenetic silencing or photoablation, respectively. Targeted cell populations were chosen based on characteristics linked to functional subpopulation, including metabolic rate of glucose oxidation or [Ca2+] oscillation frequency. Islets were susceptible to marked suppression of [Ca2+] when ~10% of cells with high metabolic activity were hyperpolarized; where hyperpolarizing cells with normal metabolic activity had little effect. However, when highly metabolic cells were removed from the model, [Ca2+] oscillations remained. Similarly, when ~10% of cells with either the highest frequency or earliest elevations in [Ca2+] were removed from the islet, the [Ca2+] oscillation frequency remained largely unchanged. Overall, these results indicate small populations of β-cells with either increased metabolic activity or increased frequency are unable to disproportionately control islet-wide [Ca2+] via gap junction coupling. Therefore, we need to reconsider the physiological basis for such small β-cell populations or the mechanism by which they may be acting to control normal islet function. Many biological systems can be studied using network theory. How heterogeneous cell subpopulations come together to create complex multicellular behavior is of great value in understanding function and dysfunction in tissues. The pancreatic islet of Langerhans is a highly coupled structure that is important for maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. β-cell electrical activity is coordinated via gap junction communication. The function of the insulin-producing β-cell within the islet is disrupted in diabetes. As such, to understand the causes of islet dysfunction we need to understand how different cells within the islet contribute to its overall function via gap junction coupling. Using a computational model of β-cell electrophysiology, we investigated how small highly functional β-cell populations within the islet contribute to its function. We found that when small populations with greater functionality were introduced into the islet, they displayed signatures of this enhanced functionality. However, when these cells were removed, the islet, retained near-normal function. Thus, in a highly coupled system, such as an islet, the heterogeneity of cells allows small subpopulations to be dispensable, and thus their absence is unable to disrupt the larger cellular network. These findings can be applied to other electrical systems that have heterogeneous cell populations.
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Salehpour A, Rezaei M, Khoradmehr A, Tahamtani Y, Tamadon A. Which Hyperglycemic Model of Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Suites My Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Research? A Scoring System for Available Methods. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:652061. [PMID: 33791308 PMCID: PMC8005598 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.652061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite extensive studies on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there is no definitive cure, drug, or prevention. Therefore, for developing new therapeutics, proper study models of T2DM is necessary to conduct further preclinical researches. Diabetes has been induced in animals using chemical, genetic, hormonal, antibody, viral, and surgical methods or a combination of them. Beside different approaches of diabetes induction, different animal species have been suggested. Although more than 85% of articles have proposed rat (genus Rattus) as the proper model for diabetes induction, zebrafish (Danio rerio) models of diabetes are being used more frequently in diabetes related studies. In this systematic review, we compare different aspects of available methods of inducing hyperglycemia referred as T2DM in zebrafish by utilizing a scoring system. Evaluating 26 approved models of T2DM in zebrafish, this scoring system may help researchers to compare different T2DM zebrafish models and select the best one regarding their own research theme. Eventually, glyoxalase1 (glo1-/-) knockout model of hyperglycemia achieved the highest score. In addition to assessment of hyperglycemic induction methods in zebrafish, eight most commonly proposed diabetic induction approval methods are suggested to help researchers confirm their subsequent proposed models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aria Salehpour
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Bushehr, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rezaei
- Department of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arezoo Khoradmehr
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Bushehr, Iran
| | - Yaser Tahamtani
- Department of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Tehran, Iran
- Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Tamadon
- The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Bushehr, Iran
- Center of Marine Experimental and Comparative Medicine, The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Bushehr, Iran
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Satin LS, Zhang Q, Rorsman P. "Take Me To Your Leader": An Electrophysiological Appraisal of the Role of Hub Cells in Pancreatic Islets. Diabetes 2020; 69:830-836. [PMID: 32312899 PMCID: PMC7171959 DOI: 10.2337/dbi19-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The coordinated electrical activity of β-cells within the pancreatic islet drives oscillatory insulin secretion. A recent hypothesis postulates that specially equipped "hub" or "leader" cells within the β-cell network drive islet oscillations and that electrically silencing or optically ablating these cells suppresses coordinated electrical activity (and thus insulin secretion) in the rest of the islet. In this Perspective, we discuss this hypothesis in relation to established principles of electrophysiological theory. We conclude that whereas electrical coupling between β-cells is sufficient for the propagation of excitation across the islet, there is no obvious electrophysiological mechanism that explains how hyperpolarizing a hub cell results in widespread inhibition of islet electrical activity and disruption of their coordination. Thus, intraislet diffusible factors should perhaps be considered as an alternate mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie S Satin
- Department of Pharmacology, Brehm Center for Diabetes, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Quan Zhang
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, U.K
| | - Patrik Rorsman
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, U.K
- Metabolic Physiology, Department of Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Chawla P, Delgadillo Silva LF, Ninov N. Insights on β-cell regeneration from the zebrafish shoal: from generation of cells to functional integration. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2019.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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