Synapsins I and II Are Not Required for Insulin Secretion from Mouse Pancreatic beta-cells

Synapsins are a family of phosphoproteins that modulate the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles. The release of insulin from pancreatic beta-cells has also been suggested to be regulated by synapsins. In this study, we have utilized a knock out mouse model with general disruptions of the synapsin I and II genes [synapsin double knockout (DKO)]. Stimulation with 20 mM glucose increased insulin secretion 9-fold in both wild-type (WT) and synapsin DKO islets, whereas secretion in the presence of 70 mM K+ and 1mM glucose was significantly enhanced in the synapsin DKO mice compared to WT. Exocytosis in single beta-cells was investigated using patch clamp. The exocytotic response, measured by capacitance measurements and elicited by a depolarization protocol designed to visualize exocytosis of vesicles from the readily releasable pool and from the reserve pool, was of the same size in synapsin DKO and WT beta-cells. The increase in membrane capacitance corresponding to readily releasable pool was approximately 50fF in both genotypes. We next investigated the voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx. In both WT and synapsin DKO beta-cells the Ca2+ current peaked at 0 mV and measured peak current (I-p) and net charge (Q) were of similar magnitude. Finally, ultrastructural data showed no variation in total number of granules (N-v) or number of docked granules (N-s) between the beta-cells from synapsin DKO mice and WT control. We conclude that neither synapsin I nor synapsin II are directly involved in the regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and Ca-2-dependent exocytosis in mouse pancreatic beta-cells. (Endocrinology 153: 2112-2119, 2012

Reduced insulin secretion correlates with decreased expression of exocytotic genes in pancreatic islets from patients with type 2 diabetes.

Reduced insulin release has been linked to defect exocytosis in β-cells. However, whether expression of genes suggested to be involved in the exocytotic process (exocytotic genes) is altered in pancreatic islets from patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and correlate to insulin secretion, needs to be further investigated. Analysing expression levels of 23 exocytotic genes using microarray revealed reduced expression of five genes in human T2D islets (χ(2)=13.25; p<0.001). Gene expression of STX1A, SYT4, SYT7, SYT11, SYT13, SNAP25 and STXBP1 correlated negatively to in vivo measurements of HbA1c levels and positively to glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in vitro in human islets. STX1A, SYT4 and SYT11 protein levels correspondingly decreased in human T2D islets. Moreover, silencing of SYT4 and SYT13 reduced GSIS in INS1-832/13 cells. Our data support that reduced expression of exocytotic genes contributes to impaired insulin secretion, and suggest decreased expression of these genes as part of T2D pathogenesis

CD46 Activation Regulates miR-150-Mediated Control of GLUT1 Expression and Cytokine Secretion in Human CD4+ T Cells

CD46 is a cell surface complement inhibitor widely expressed in human tissues, in contrast to mice, where expression is limited to the testes. In humans, it has been identified as an important T cell costimulatory receptor, and patients deficient in CD46 or its endogenous ligands are unable to mount effective Th1 T cell responses. Stimulation of human CD4(+) T cells with CD3 and CD46 also leads to the differentiation of a "switched" Th1 population, which shuts down IFN-γ secretion and upregulates IL-10 and is thought to be important for negative feedback regulation of the Th1 response. In the present study, we show that CD46 costimulation leads to amplified microRNA (miR) expression changes in human CD4(+) T cells, with associated increases in activation more potent than those mediated by the "classic" costimulator CD28. Blockade of cell surface CD46 inhibited CD28-mediated costimulation, identifying autocrine CD46 signaling as downstream of CD28. We also identify a downregulation of miR-150 in CD46-costimulated T cells and identify the glucose transporter 1 encoding transcript SLC2A1 as a target of miR-150 regulation, connecting miR-150 with modulation of glucose uptake. We also investigated microRNA expression profiles of CD46-induced switched IL-10-secreting Th1 T cells and found increased expression of miR-150, compared with IFN-γ-secreting Th1 cells. Knockdown of miR-150 led to a reduction in IL-10 but not IFN-γ. CD46 therefore controls both Th1 activation and regulation via a miR-150-dependent mechanism

Elevated miR-130a/miR130b/miR-152 expression reduces intracellular ATP levels in the pancreatic beta cell

MicroRNAs have emerged as important players of gene regulation with significant impact in diverse disease processes. In type-2 diabetes, in which impaired insulin secretion is a major factor in disease progression, dysregulated microRNA expression in the insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cell has been widely-implicated. Here, we show that miR-130a-3p, miR-130b-3p, and miR-152-3p levels are elevated in the pancreatic islets of hyperglycaemic donors, corroborating previous findings about their upregulation in the islets of type-2 diabetes model Goto-Kakizaki rats. We demonstrated negative regulatory effects of the three microRNAs on pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 alpha (PDHA1) and on glucokinase (GCK) proteins, which are both involved in ATP production. Consequently, we found both proteins to be downregulated in the Goto-Kakizaki rat islets, while GCK mRNA expression showed reduced trend in the islets of type-2 diabetes donors. Overexpression of any of the three microRNAs in the insulin-secreting INS-1 832/13 cell line resulted in altered dynamics of intracellular ATP/ADP ratio ultimately perturbing fundamental ATP-requiring beta cell processes such as glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, insulin biosynthesis and processing. The data further strengthen the wide-ranging influence of microRNAs in pancreatic beta cell function, and hence their potential as therapeutic targets in type-2 diabetes

Potential Protection Against Type 2 Diabetes in Obesity Through Lower CD36 Expression and Improved Exocytosis in β-Cells

Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D); however, not all obese individuals develop the disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cause of differential insulin secretion capacity of pancreatic islets from donors with T2D and non-T2D (ND), especially obese donors (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). Islets from obese donors with T2D had reduced insulin secretion, decreased β-cell exocytosis, and higher expression of fatty acid translocase CD36. We tested the hypothesis that CD36 is a key molecule in the reduced insulin secretion capacity. Indeed, CD36 overexpression led to decreased insulin secretion, impaired exocytosis, and reduced granule docking. This was accompanied by reduced expression of the exocytotic proteins SNAP25, STXBP1, and VAMP2, likely because CD36 induced downregulation of the insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins, suppressed the insulin-signaling phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway, and increased nuclear localization of the transcription factor FoxO1. CD36 antibody treatment of the human β-cell line EndoC-βH1 increased IRS1 and exocytotic protein levels, improved granule docking, and enhanced insulin secretion. Our results demonstrate that β-cells from obese donors with T2D have dysfunctional exocytosis likely due to an abnormal lipid handling represented by differential CD36 expression. Hence, CD36 could be a key molecule to limit β-cell function in T2D associated with obesity

In Vivo Silencing of MicroRNA-132 Reduces Blood Glucose and Improves Insulin Secretion

Dysfunctional insulin secretion is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Interestingly, several islet microRNAs (miRNAs) are upregulated in T2D, including miR-132. We aimed to investigate whether in vivo treatment with antagomir-132 lowers expression of miR-132 in islets thereby improving insulin secretion and lowering blood glucose. Mice injected with antagomir-132 for 24 h, had reduced expression of miR-132 expression in islets, decreased blood glucose, and increased insulin secretion. In isolated human islets treated with antagomir-132, insulin secretion from four of six donors increased. Target prediction coupled with analysis of miRNA-messenger RNA expression in human islets revealed DESI2, ARIH1, SLC25A28, DIAPH1, and FOXA1 to be targets of miR-132 that are conserved in both species. Increased expression of these targets was validated in mouse islets after antagomir-132 treatment. In conclusion, we identified a post-transcriptional role for miR-132 in insulin secretion, and demonstrated that systemic antagomir-132 treatment in mice can be used to improve insulin secretion and reduce blood glucose in vivo. Our study is a first step towards utilizing antagomirs as therapeutic agents to modulate islet miRNA levels to improve beta cell function

MiR-335 overexpression impairs insulin secretion through defective priming of insulin vesicles

MicroRNAs contribute to the maintenance of optimal cellular functions by fine-tuning protein expression levels. In the pancreatic beta-cells, imbalances in the exocytotic machinery components lead to impaired insulin secretion and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We hypothesize that dysregulated miRNA expression exacerbates beta-cell dysfunction, and have earlier shown that islets from the diabetic GK-rat model have increased expression of miRNAs, including miR-335-5p (miR-335). Here, we aim to determine the specific role of miR-335 during development of T2D, and the influence of this miRNA on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and Ca2+-dependent exocytosis. We found that the expression of miR-335 negatively correlated with secretion index in human islets of individuals with prediabetes. Overexpression of miR-335 in human EndoC-beta H1 and in rat INS-1 832/13 cells (OE335) resulted in decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and OE335 cells showed concomitant reduction in three exocytotic proteins: SNAP25, Syntaxin-binding protein 1 (STXBP1), and synaptotagmin 11 (SYT11). Single-cell capacitance measurements, complemented with TIRF microscopy of the granule marker NPY-mEGFP demonstrated a significant reduction in exocytosis in OE335 cells. The reduction was not associated with defective docking or decreased Ca2+ current. More likely, it is a direct consequence of impaired priming of already docked granules. Earlier reports have proposed reduced granular priming as the cause of reduced first-phase insulin secretion during prediabetes. Here, we show a specific role of miR-335 in regulating insulin secretion during this transition period. Moreover, we can conclude that miR-335 has the capacity to modulate insulin secretion and Ca2+-dependent exocytosis through effects on granular priming

MiR-335 overexpression impairs insulin secretion through defective priming of insulin vesicles

MicroRNAs contribute to the maintenance of optimal cellular functions by fine-tuning protein expression levels. In the pancreatic beta-cells, imbalances in the exocytotic machinery components lead to impaired insulin secretion and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We hypothesize that dysregulated miRNA expression exacerbates beta-cell dysfunction, and have earlier shown that islets from the diabetic GK-rat model have increased expression of miRNAs, including miR-335-5p (miR-335). Here, we aim to determine the specific role of miR-335 during development of T2D, and the influence of this miRNA on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and Ca2+-dependent exocytosis. We found that the expression of miR-335 negatively correlated with secretion index in human islets of individuals with prediabetes. Overexpression of miR-335 in human EndoC-beta H1 and in rat INS-1 832/13 cells (OE335) resulted in decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and OE335 cells showed concomitant reduction in three exocytotic proteins: SNAP25, Syntaxin-binding protein 1 (STXBP1), and synaptotagmin 11 (SYT11). Single-cell capacitance measurements, complemented with TIRF microscopy of the granule marker NPY-mEGFP demonstrated a significant reduction in exocytosis in OE335 cells. The reduction was not associated with defective docking or decreased Ca2+ current. More likely, it is a direct consequence of impaired priming of already docked granules. Earlier reports have proposed reduced granular priming as the cause of reduced first-phase insulin secretion during prediabetes. Here, we show a specific role of miR-335 in regulating insulin secretion during this transition period. Moreover, we can conclude that miR-335 has the capacity to modulate insulin secretion and Ca2+-dependent exocytosis through effects on granular priming