Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist and Glucagon Increase Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion in Beta Cells via Distinct Adenylyl Cyclases

Comparative Analysis of Orthosteric and Allosteric GLP-1R Agonists' Effects on Insulin Secretion from Healthy, Diabetic, and Recovered INS-1E Pancreatic Beta Cells

Despite the availability of different treatments for type 2 diabetes (T2D), post-diagnosis complications remain prevalent; therefore, more effective treatments are desired. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1-based drugs are currently used for T2D treatment. They act as orthosteric agonists for the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). In this study, we analyzed in vitro how the GLP-1R orthosteric and allosteric agonists augment glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and intracellular cAMP production (GSICP) in INS-1E pancreatic beta cells under healthy, diabetic, and recovered states. The findings from this study suggest that allosteric agonists have a longer duration of action than orthosteric agonists. They also suggest that the GLP-1R agonists do not deplete intracellular insulin, indicating they can be a sustainable and safe treatment option for T2D. Importantly, this study demonstrates that the GLP-1R agonists variably augment GSIS through GSICP in healthy, diabetic, and recovered INS-1E cells. Furthermore, we find that INS-1E cells respond differentially to the GLP-1R agonists depending on both glucose concentration during and before treatment and/or whether the cells have been previously exposed to these drugs. In conclusion, the findings described in this manuscript will be useful in determining in vitro how pancreatic beta cells respond to T2D drug treatments in healthy, diabetic, and recovered states.

Global Trends and Frontier in Research on Pancreatic Alpha Cells: A Bibliometric Analysis from 2013 to 2023

PURPOSE

Over the past 20 years, much of the research on diabetes has focused on pancreatic beta cells. In the last 10 years, interest in the important role of pancreatic alpha cells in the pathogenesis of diabetes, which had previously received little attention, has grown. We aimed to summarize and visualize the hotspot and development trends of pancreatic alpha cells through bibliometric analysis and to provide research direction and future ideas for the treatment of diabetes and other islet-related diseases.

METHODS

We used two scientometric software packages (CiteSpace 6.1.R6 and VOSviewer1.6.18) to visualize the information and connection of countries, institutions, authors, and keywords in this field.

RESULTS

A total of 532 publications, published in 752 institutions in 46 countries and regions, were included in this analysis. The United States showed the highest output, accounting for 39.3% of the total number of published papers. The most active institution was Vanderbilt University, and the authors with highest productivity came from Ulster University. In recent years, research hotspots have concentrated on transdifferentiation, gene expression, and GLP-1 regulatory function. Visualization analysis shows that research hotspots mainly focus on clinical diseases as well as physiological and pathological mechanisms and related biochemical indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a review and summary of the literature on pancreatic alpha cells through bibliometric and visual methods and shows research hotspot and development trends, which can guide future directions for research.

Tyrosine nitration of glucagon impairs its function: Extending the role of heme in T2D pathogenesis

New studies raise the possibility that the higher glucagon (GCG) level present in type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a compensatory mechanism to enhance β-cell function, rather than induce dysregulated glucose homeostasis, due to an important role for GCG that acts directly within the pancreas on insulin secretion by intra-islet GCG signaling. However, in states of poorly controlled T2D, pancreatic α cell mass increases (overproduced GCG) in response to insufficient insulin secretion, indicating decreased local GCG activity. The reason for this decrease is not clear. Recent evidence has uncovered a new role of heme in cellular signal transduction, and its mechanism involves reversible binding of heme to proteins. Considering that protein tyrosine nitration in diabetic islets increases and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) decreases, we speculated that heme modulates GSIS by transient interaction with GCG and catalyzing its tyrosine nitration, and the tyrosine nitration may impair GCG activity, leading to loss of intra-islet GCG signaling and markedly impaired insulin secretion. Data presented here elucidate a novel role for heme in disrupting local GCG signaling in diabetes. Heme bound to GCG and induced GCG tyrosine nitration. Two tyrosine residues in GCG were both sensitive to the nitrating species. Further, GCG was also demonstrated to be a preferred target peptide for tyrosine nitration by co-incubation with BSA. Tyrosine nitration impaired GCG stimulated cAMP-dependent signaling in islet β cells and decreased insulin release. Our results provided a new role of heme for impaired GSIS in the pathological process of diabetes.

Sex-dependent intra-islet structural rearrangements affecting alpha-to-beta cell interactions lead to adaptive enhancements of Ca2+ dynamics in prediabetic beta cells

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Prediabetic pancreatic beta cells can adapt their function to maintain normoglycaemia for a limited period of time, after which diabetes mellitus will manifest upon beta cell exhaustion. Understanding sex-specific beta cell compensatory mechanisms and their failure in prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) is crucial for early disease diagnosis and individualised treatment. Our aims were as follows: (1) to determine the key time points of the progression from beta cells' functional adaptations to their failure in vivo; and (2) to mechanistically explain in vivo sex-specific beta cell compensatory mechanisms and their failure in prediabetes.

METHODS

Islets from male and female transgenic Ins1CreERT2-GCaMP3 mice were transplanted into the anterior chamber of the eye of 10- to 12-week-old sex-matched C57BL/6J mice. Recipient mice were fed either a control diet (CD) or western diet (WD) for a maximum of 4 months. Metabolic variables were evaluated monthly. Beta cell cytoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) dynamics were monitored in vivo longitudinally by image fluorescence of the GCaMP3 reporter islets. Global islet beta cell [Ca2+]i dynamics in line with single beta cell [Ca2+]i analysis were used for beta cell coordination studies. The glucagon receptor antagonist L-168,049 (4 mmol/l) was applied topically to the transplanted eyes to evaluate in vivo the effect of glucagon on beta cell [Ca2+]idynamics. Human islets from non-diabetic women and men were cultured for 24 h in either a control medium or high-fat/high-glucose medium in the presence or absence of the glucagon receptor antagonist L-168,049. [Ca2+]i dynamics of human islets were evaluated in vitro after 1 h exposure to Fura-10.

RESULTS

Mice fed a WD for 1 month displayed increased beta cell [Ca2+]i dynamics linked to enhanced insulin secretion as a functional compensatory mechanism in prediabetes. Recruitment of inactive beta cells in WD-fed mice explained the improved beta cell function adaptation observed in vivo; this occurred in a sex-specific manner. Mechanistically, this was attributable to an intra-islet structural rearrangement involving alpha cells. These sex-dependent cytoarchitecture reorganisations, observed in both mice and humans, induced enhanced paracrine input from adjacent alpha cells, adjusting the glucose setpoint and amplifying the insulin secretion pathway. When WD feeding was prolonged, female mice maintained the adaptive mechanism due to their intrinsically high proportion of alpha cells. In males, [Ca2+]i dynamics progressively declined subsequent to glucose stimulation while insulin secretion continue to increase, suggesting uncoordinated beta cell function as an early sign of diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

We identified increased coordination of [Ca2+]i dynamics as a beta cell functional adaptation mechanisms in prediabetes. Importantly, we uncovered the mechanisms by which sex-dependent beta cell [Ca2+]i dynamics coordination is orchestrated by an intra-islet structure reorganisation increasing the paracrine input from alpha cells on beta cell function. Moreover, we identified reduced [Ca2+]i dynamics coordination in response to glucose as an early sign of diabetes preceding beta cell secretory dysfunction, with males being more vulnerable. Alterations in coordination capacity of [Ca2+]i dynamics may thus serve as an early marker for beta cell failure in prediabetes.

Loss of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphate-5 aggravates islet dysfunction in mice with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Impaired functionality and loss of islet β-cells are the primary abnormalities underlying the pathogenesis of both type 1 and 2 diabetes (T1DM and T2DM). However, specific therapeutic and preventive mechanisms underlying these conditions remain unclear. Mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-5 (MKP-5) has been implicated in carcinogenesis, lipid metabolism regulation, and immune cell activation. In a previous study, we demonstrated the involvement of exogenous MKP-5 in the regulation of obesity-induced T2DM. However, the role of endogenous MKP-5 in the T1DM and T2DM processes is unclear. Thus, mice with MKP-5 knockout (KO) were generated and used to establish mouse models of both T1DM and T2DM. Our results showed that MKP-5 KO exacerbated diabetes-related symptoms in mice with both T1DM and T2DM. Given that most phenotypic studies on islet dysfunction have focused on mice with T2DM rather than T1DM, we specifically aimed to investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and autophagy in T2DM KO islets. To accomplish this, we performed RNA sequence analysis to gain comprehensive insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with ERS and autophagy in T2DM KO islets. The results showed that the islets from mice with MKP-5 KO triggered 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-mediated autophagy inhibition and glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP-78)-dominated ERS. Hence, we concluded that the autophagy impairment, resulting in islet dysfunction in mice with MKP-5 KO, is mediated through GRP-78 involvement. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular pathogenesis of diabetes and highlight the significant role of MKP-5. Moreover, this knowledge holds promise for novel therapeutic strategies targeting MKP-5 for diabetes management.

Alpha-cell paracrine signaling in the regulation of beta-cell insulin secretion

As an incretin hormone, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) lowers blood glucose levels by enhancing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells. Therapies targeting the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) use the classical incretin model as a physiological framework in which GLP-1 secreted from enteroendocrine L-cells acts on the beta-cell GLP-1R. However, this model has come into question, as evidence demonstrating local, intra-islet GLP-1 production has advanced the competing hypothesis that the incretin activity of GLP-1 may reflect paracrine signaling of GLP-1 from alpha-cells on GLP-1Rs on beta-cells. Additionally, recent studies suggest that alpha-cell-derived glucagon can serve as an additional, albeit less potent, ligand for the beta-cell GLP-1R, thereby expanding the role of alpha-cells beyond that of a counterregulatory cell type. Efforts to understand the role of the alpha-cell in the regulation of islet function have revealed both transcriptional and functional heterogeneity within the alpha-cell population. Further analysis of this heterogeneity suggests that functionally distinct alpha-cell subpopulations display alterations in islet hormone profile. Thus, the role of the alpha-cell in glucose homeostasis has evolved in recent years, such that alpha-cell to beta-cell communication now presents a critical axis regulating the functional capacity of beta-cells. Herein, we describe and integrate recent advances in our understanding of the impact of alpha-cell paracrine signaling on insulin secretory dynamics and how this intra-islet crosstalk more broadly contributes to whole-body glucose regulation in health and under metabolic stress. Moreover, we explore how these conceptual changes in our understanding of intra-islet GLP-1 biology may impact our understanding of the mechanisms of incretin-based therapeutics.

Endothelium-dependent remote signaling in ischemia and reperfusion: Alterations in the cardiometabolic continuum

Intact endothelial function plays a fundamental role for the maintenance of cardiovascular (CV) health. The endothelium is also involved in remote signaling pathway-mediated protection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the transfer of these protective signals into clinical practice has been hampered by the complex metabolic alterations frequently observed in the cardiometabolic continuum, which affect redox balance and inflammatory pathways. Despite recent advances in determining the distinct roles of hyperglycemia, insulin resistance (InR), hyperinsulinemia, and ultimately diabetes mellitus (DM), which define the cardiometabolic continuum, our understanding of how these conditions modulate endothelial signaling remains challenging. It is widely accepted that endothelial cells (ECs) undergo functional changes within the cardiometabolic continuum. Beyond vascular tone and platelet-endothelium interaction, endothelial dysfunction may have profound negative effects on outcome during I/R. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the influence of hyperglycemia, InR, hyperinsulinemia, and DM on endothelial function and redox balance, their influence on remote protective signaling pathways, and their impact on potential therapeutic strategies to optimize protective heterocellular signaling.

Bitter Melon Extract Yields Multiple Effects on Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Likely Contributes to Anti-diabetic Functions

The intestines have been recognized as important tissues for metabolic regulation, including glycemic control, but their vital role in promoting the anti-diabetic effects of bitter melon, the fruit of Momordica charantia L, has seldom been characterized, nor acknowledged. Evidence suggests that bitter melon constituents can have substantial interactions with the intestinal epithelial cells before circulating to other tissues. We therefore characterized the effects of bitter melon extract (BME) on intestinal epithelial cells. BME was found to contain substantial amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and triterpenoids. TNF-α induced insulin resistance in an enterocyte cell line of IEC-18 cells, and BME promoted glucose utilization of the insulin-resistant cells. Further analysis suggested that the increased glucose consumption was a result of the combined effects of insulin sensitizing and insulin substitution functions of BME. The functions of insulin substitution were likely generated due to the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase. Meanwhile, BME acted as a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) secretagogue on enteroendocrine cells, which may be mediated by the activation of bitter-taste receptors. Therefore, BME possesses insulin sensitizing, insulin substitution, and GLP-1 secretagogue functions upon intestinal cells. These effects of BME on intestinal cells likely play a significant part in the anti-diabetic action of bitter melon.

The protective effects of exenatide against AGEs-induced articular matrix degradation in human primary chondrocytes

Osteoarthritis (OA) presents a major global health burden and is projected to become even more prevalent in coming decades. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to uncover novel therapies for the treatment and prevention of this disease. In the present study, we investigated the effects of exenatide, a specific glucagon-like peptide (GLP) agonist, on degradation of type II collagen and aggrecan, the two main components of the articular extracellular matrix, in human primary chondrocytes. Our results reveal that exenatide could ameliorate degradation of type II collagen and aggrecan by inhibiting expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) induced by advanced glycation end-products. We also found that exenatide reduces oxidative stress and inhibits activation of nuclear factor-κB through the p38 cellular signaling pathway. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that exenatide may have potential as a novel treatment for osteoarthritis.

Exenatide ameliorates inflammatory response in human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by degradation of cartilage and bone, accompanied by unimpeded proliferation of synoviocytes of altered phenotype. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor on human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in the pathogenesis of RA using the selective GLP-1 agonist exenatide, a licensed drug used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Our results indicate that exenatide may play a role in regulating tumor necrosis factor-α-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by increasing mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative stress by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species, the expression of NADPH oxidase 4, expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and MMP-13, release of proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and high-mobility group protein 1, as well as activation of the p38/nuclear factor of κ light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, α/nuclear factor κB signaling pathway in primary human RA FLS. These positive results indicate that exenatide may have potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of RA. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 9999(9999):1-9, 2019.

Causal Relationship between Diet-Induced Gut Microbiota Changes and Diabetes: A Novel Strategy to Transplant Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in Preventing Diabetes

The incidence of metabolic disorders, including diabetes, has elevated exponentially during the last decades and enhanced the risk of a variety of complications, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In the present review, we have highlighted the new insights on the complex relationships between diet-induced modulation of gut microbiota and metabolic disorders, including diabetes. Literature from various library databases and electronic searches (ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar) were randomly collected. There exists a complex relationship between diet and gut microbiota, which alters the energy balance, health impacts, and autoimmunity, further causes inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, including diabetes. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii is a butyrate-producing bacterium, which plays a vital role in diabetes. Transplantation of F. prausnitzii has been used as an intervention strategy to treat dysbiosis of the gut’s microbial community that is linked to the inflammation, which precedes autoimmune disease and diabetes. The review focuses on literature that highlights the benefits of the microbiota especially, the abundant of F. prausnitzii in protecting the gut microbiota pattern and its therapeutic potential against inflammation and diabetes.