Loss of Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 leads to impaired islet mass and beta cell survival

The regulation of pancreatic β cell mass is a critical factor to help maintain normoglycemia during insulin resistance. Nutrient-sensing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) contribute to aspects of β cell function, including regulation of β cell mass. Nutrients such as free fatty acids (FFAs) contribute to precise regulation of β cell mass by signaling through cognate GPCRs, and considerable evidence suggests that circulating FFAs promote β cell expansion by direct and indirect mechanisms. Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 (FFA2) is a β cell-expressed GPCR that is activated by short chain fatty acids, particularly acetate. Recent studies of FFA2 suggest that it may act as a regulator of β cell function. Here, we set out to explore what role FFA2 may play in regulation of β cell mass. Interestingly, Ffar2(-/-) mice exhibit diminished β cell mass at birth and throughout adulthood, and increased β cell death at adolescent time points, suggesting a role for FFA2 in establishment and maintenance of β cell mass. Additionally, activation of FFA2 with Gαq/11-biased agonists substantially increased β cell proliferation in in vitro and ex vivo proliferation assays. Collectively, these data suggest that FFA2 may be a novel therapeutic target to stimulate β cell growth and proliferation

Conserved and species-specific molecular denominators in mammalian skeletal muscle aging

Aging is a complex phenomenon involving functional decline in multiple physiological systems. We undertook a comparative analysis of skeletal muscle from four different species, i.e. mice, rats, rhesus monkeys, and humans, at three different representative stages during their lifespan (young, middle, and old) to identify pathways that modulate function and healthspan. Gene expression profiling and computational analysis revealed that pathway complexity increases from mice to humans, and as mammals age, there is predominantly an upregulation of pathways in all species. Two downregulated pathways, the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation, were common among all four species in response to aging. Quantitative PCR, biochemical analysis, mitochondrial DNA measurements, and electron microscopy revealed a conserved age-dependent decrease in mitochondrial content, and a reduction in oxidative phosphorylation complexes in monkeys and humans. Western blot analysis of key proteins in mitochondrial biogenesis discovered that (i) an imbalance toward mitochondrial fusion occurs in aged skeletal muscle and (ii) mitophagy is not overtly affected, presumably leading to the observed accumulation of abnormally large, damaged mitochondria with age. Select transcript expression analysis uncovered that the skeletal inflammatory profile differentially increases with age, but is most pronounced in humans, while increased oxidative stress (as assessed by protein carbonyl adducts and 4-hydroxynonenal) is common among all species. Expression studies also found that there is unique dysregulation of the nutrient sensing pathways among the different species with age. The identification of conserved pathways indicates common molecular mechanisms intrinsic to health and lifespan, whereas the recognition of species-specific pathways emphasizes the importance of human studies for devising optimal therapeutic modalities to slow the aging process

Opposing effects of prostaglandin E2 receptors EP3 and EP4 on mouse and human β-cell survival and proliferation

Objective: Hyperglycemia and systemic inflammation, hallmarks of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), can induce the production of the inflammatory signaling molecule Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in islets. The effects of PGE2 are mediated by its four receptors, E-Prostanoid Receptors 1-4 (EP1-4). EP3 and EP4 play opposing roles in many cell types due to signaling through different G proteins, Gi and GS, respectively. We previously found that EP3 and EP4 expression are reciprocally regulated by activation of the FoxM1 transcription factor, which promotes β-cell proliferation and survival. Our goal was to determine if EP3 and EP4 regulate β-cell proliferation and survival and, if so, to elucidate the downstream signaling mechanisms. Methods: β-cell proliferation was assessed in mouse and human islets ex vivo treated with selective agonists and antagonists for EP3 (sulprostone and DG-041, respectively) and EP4 (CAY10598 and L-161,982, respectively). β-cell survival was measured in mouse and human islets treated with the EP3- and EP4-selective ligands in conjunction with a cytokine cocktail to induce cell death. Changes in gene expression and protein phosphorylation were analyzed in response to modulation of EP3 and EP4 activity in mouse islets. Results: Blockade of EP3 enhanced β-cell proliferation in young, but not old, mouse islets in part through phospholipase C (PLC)-γ1 activity. Blocking EP3 also increased human β-cell proliferation. EP4 modulation had no effect on ex vivo proliferation alone. However, blockade of EP3 in combination with activation of EP4 enhanced human, but not mouse, β-cell proliferation. In both mouse and human islets, EP3 blockade or EP4 activation enhanced β-cell survival in the presence of cytokines. EP4 acts in a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent manner to increase mouse β-cell survival. In addition, the positive effects of FoxM1 activation on β-cell survival are inhibited by EP3 and dependent on EP4 signaling. Conclusions: Our results identify EP3 and EP4 as novel regulators of β-cell proliferation and survival in mouse and human islets ex vivo. Author Video: Author Video Watch what authors say about their articles Keywords: Pancreatic β-cell, Prostaglandin E2, Proliferation, Cell deat

Toll-like receptors TLR2 and TLR4 block the replication of pancreatic β cells in diet-induced obesity

Consumption of a high-energy Western diet triggers mild adaptive β cell proliferation to compensate for peripheral insulin resistance; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In the present study we show that the toll-like receptors TLR2 and TLR4 inhibited the diet-induced replication of β cells in mice and humans. The combined, but not the individual, loss of TLR2 and TLR4 increased the replication of β cells, but not that of α cells, leading to enlarged β cell area and hyperinsulinemia in diet-induced obesity. Loss of TLR2 and TLR4 increased the nuclear abundance of the cell cycle regulators cyclin D2 and Cdk4 in a manner dependent on the signaling mediator Erk. These data reveal a regulatory mechanism controlling the proliferation of β cells in diet-induced obesity and suggest that selective targeting of the TLR2/TLR4 pathways may reverse β cell failure in patients with diabetes.</p

Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 control adaptive β-cell expansion in diet-induced obesity

Adult pancreatic β cells are refractory to proliferation, a roadblock for the treatment of insulin-deficient diabetes. Consumption of energy-dense Western or high-fat diet (HFD) triggers mild adaptive β cell mass expansion to compensate for peripheral insulin resistance; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here we show that Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2/TLR4 act as molecular “brakes” for diet-induced β cell replication in both mice and humans. The combined loss of TLR2/TLR4, but not individually, dramatically increases facultative β, not α, cell replication, leading to progressively enlarged islet mass and hyperinsulinemia in diet-induced obesity. Mechanistically, loss of TLR2/TLR4 increases β cell proliferation and nuclear abundance of Cyclin D2 and CDK4 in an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent manner. These data reveal a novel mechanism governing adaptive β cell mass expansion in diet-induced obesity and suggest that selective targeting of TLR2/TLR4 pathways may hold promise for reversing β cell failure in diabetic patients

Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 control adaptive β-cell expansion in diet-induced obesity

Adult pancreatic β cells are refractory to proliferation, a roadblock for the treatment of insulin-deficient diabetes. Consumption of energy-dense Western or high-fat diet (HFD) triggers mild adaptive β cell mass expansion to compensate for peripheral insulin resistance; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here we show that Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2/TLR4 act as molecular “brakes” for diet-induced β cell replication in both mice and humans. The combined loss of TLR2/TLR4, but not individually, dramatically increases facultative β, not α, cell replication, leading to progressively enlarged islet mass and hyperinsulinemia in diet-induced obesity. Mechanistically, loss of TLR2/TLR4 increases β cell proliferation and nuclear abundance of Cyclin D2 and CDK4 in an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent manner. These data reveal a novel mechanism governing adaptive β cell mass expansion in diet-induced obesity and suggest that selective targeting of TLR2/TLR4 pathways may hold promise for reversing β cell failure in diabetic patients