Glucose-sensing mechanisms in pancreatic β-cells

The appropriate secretion of insulin from pancreatic β-cells is critically important to the maintenance of energy homeostasis. The β-cells must sense and respond suitably to postprandial increases of blood glucose, and perturbation of glucose-sensing in these cells can lead to hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemias and ultimately diabetes. Here, we review β-cell glucose-sensing with a particular focus on the regulation of cellular excitability and exocytosis. We examine in turn: (i) the generation of metabolic signalling molecules; (ii) the regulation of β-cell membrane potential; and (iii) insulin granule dynamics and exocytosis. We further discuss the role of well known and putative candidate metabolic signals as regulators of insulin secretion

The imidazoline derivative calmidazolium inhibits voltage-gated Ca2+-channels and insulin release but has no effect on the phospholipase C system in insulin producing RINm5F-cells

The present study shows that the calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium inhibited influx of Ca2+ through voltage-gated Ca2+-channels in clonal insulin producing RINm5F-cells. The mechanism of inhibition may involve both Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases and direct binding of calmidazolium to the Ca2+-channel. Calmidazolium did not affect uptake of Ca2+ into intracellular Ca2+-pools, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) formation or action on intracellular Ca2+-pools. The calmodulin inhibitor also did not affect glucose utilization or oxidation in RINm5F-cells, speaking against an unspecific toxic effect of the compound. KCl-and ATP-stimulated insulin release from RINm5F-cells was attenuated by calmidazolium, whereas basal hormone secretion was unaffected