Modeling human pancreatic beta cell dedifferentiation

Objective: Dedifferentiation could explain reduced functional pancreatic β-cell mass in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: Here we model human β-cell dedifferentiation using growth factor stimulation in the human β-cell line, EndoC-βH1, and human pancreatic islets. Results: Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) treatment reduced expression of β-cell markers, (INS, MAFB, SLC2A2, SLC30A8, and GCK) and activated ectopic expression of MYC, HES1, SOX9, and NEUROG3. FGF2-induced dedifferentiation was time- and dose-dependent and reversible upon wash-out. Furthermore, FGF2 treatment induced expression of TNFRSF11B, a decoy receptor for RANKL and protected β-cells against RANKL signaling. Finally, analyses of transcriptomic data revealed increased FGF2 expression in ductal, endothelial, and stellate cells in pancreas from T2D patients, whereas FGFR1, SOX,9 and HES1 expression increased in islets from T2D patients. Conclusions: We thus developed an FGF2-induced model of human β-cell dedifferentiation, identified new markers of dedifferentiation, and found evidence for increased pancreatic FGF2, FGFR1, and β-cell dedifferentiation in T2D

Cytotoxic and regulatory roles of mucosal-associated invariant T cells in type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that results from the destruction of pancreatic β-cells by the immune system that involves innate and adaptive immune cells. Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) are innate-like T-cells that recognize derivatives of precursors of bacterial riboflavin presented by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I–related molecule MR1. Since T1D is associated with modification of the gut microbiota, we investigated MAIT cells in this pathology. In patients with T1D and mice of the non-obese diabetic (NOD) strain, we detected alterations in MAIT cells, including increased production of granzyme B, which occurred before the onset of diabetes. Analysis of NOD mice that were deficient in MR1, and therefore lacked MAIT cells, revealed a loss of gut integrity and increased anti-islet responses associated with exacerbated diabetes. Together our data highlight the role of MAIT cells in the maintenance of gut integrity and the control of anti-islet autoimmune responses. Monitoring of MAIT cells might represent a new biomarker of T1D, while manipulation of these cells might open new therapeutic strategies

LDHB contributes to the regulation of lactate levels and basal insulin secretion in human pancreatic β cells

Using 13C6 glucose labeling coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 2D 1H-13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence NMR spectroscopy, we have obtained a comparative high-resolution map of glucose fate underpinning β cell function. In both mouse and human islets, the contribution of glucose to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is similar. Pyruvate fueling of the TCA cycle is primarily mediated by the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase, with lower flux through pyruvate carboxylase. While the conversion of pyruvate to lactate by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can be detected in islets of both species, lactate accumulation is 6-fold higher in human islets. Human islets express LDH, with low-moderate LDHA expression and β cell-specific LDHB expression. LDHB inhibition amplifies LDHA-dependent lactate generation in mouse and human β cells and increases basal insulin release. Lastly, cis-instrument Mendelian randomization shows that low LDHB expression levels correlate with elevated fasting insulin in humans. Thus, LDHB limits lactate generation in β cells to maintain appropriate insulin release

LDHB contributes to the regulation of lactate levels and basal insulin secretion in human pancreatic β cells

Using 13C6 glucose labeling coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 2D 1H-13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence NMR spectroscopy, we have obtained a comparative high-resolution map of glucose fate underpinning β cell function. In both mouse and human islets, the contribution of glucose to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle is similar. Pyruvate fueling of the TCA cycle is primarily mediated by the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase, with lower flux through pyruvate carboxylase. While the conversion of pyruvate to lactate by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can be detected in islets of both species, lactate accumulation is 6-fold higher in human islets. Human islets express LDH, with low-moderate LDHA expression and β cell-specific LDHB expression. LDHB inhibition amplifies LDHA-dependent lactate generation in mouse and human β cells and increases basal insulin release. Lastly, cis-instrument Mendelian randomization shows that low LDHB expression levels correlate with elevated fasting insulin in humans. Thus, LDHB limits lactate generation in β cells to maintain appropriate insulin release.</p

Rôles de SOX9 dans la cellule ß pancréatique humaine

Le pancréas est une glande amphicrine composée de cellules exocrines et de cellules endocrines. Parmi les cellules endocrines, organisées en îlot de Langerhans, les cellules ß sécrétrices d’insuline en réponse à des stimuli précis, sont essentielles pour l’homéostasie du glucose. Des perturbations tant au niveau qualitatif qu’au niveau quantitatif sont responsables de différentes pathologies telles les diabètes ou certaines formes de tumeurs endocrines. De récentes publications suggèrent que l’état de différenciation de la cellule ß pancréatique mature n’est pas immuable et montrent que le maintien d’un phénotype mature de la cellule est un processus dynamique. Différents modèles de souris mutantes (avec perte ou gain d’un facteur de transcription) montrent une perte de l’identité de la cellule ß. Cette plasticité altère la synthèse, le stockage et la sécrétion d’insuline. En plus de la perte d’identité, caractérisée par la diminution de l’expression de marqueurs de la cellule ß (MAFA, NKX6-1), les cellules ré-expriment des marqueurs de progéniteurs (NGN3, SOX9) : on parle de dédifférenciation. Cette dédifférenciation serait un mécanisme clé dans la diminution de la masse de cellules ß fonctionnelles au cours du diabète de type 2. Le but de ma thèse a été d’étudier le rôle du facteur de transcription SOX9 dans le contexte de la perte d’identité de la cellule ß humaine. SOX9 est exprimé dans les progéniteurs multipotents pancréatiques et joue plusieurs rôles cruciaux au cours du développement de l’organe. Bien qu’un rôle important de SOX9 fut attribué au cours de l’organogénèse du pancréas, il y a de plus en plus de données suggérant qu’il a des rôles additionnels dans le pancréas matures qui semble aussi importants que son rôle au cours du développement. C’est le cas notamment des cellules formant les canaux pancréatiques. D’un autre côté, pour les cellules endocrines, et plus particulièrement les cellules ß, SOX9, normalement absent de la cellule ß saine, est ré-exprimé dans ces cellules dans des conditions pathologiques (diabètes, tumeurs neuroendocrines du pancréas). Une expression ectopique de SOX9 dans les cellules ß induit un phénotype diabétique. Alors qu’il y a de plus en plus d’observation de l’expression de SOX9 dans la cellule ß, il y a très peu de connaissance sur les mécanismes moléculaires et les cibles de ce facteur de transcription dans les cellules ß humaines. Dans un premier temps, nous avons disséqué différents mécanismes impliqués dans l’induction de l’expression de SOX9. Pour cela, nous avons développé des conditions mimant des contextes pathologiques (diabètes, tumeurs neuroendocrines du pancréas VHL) en utilisant les cellules ß humaines EndoCßH1, récemment développées au sein du laboratoire. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons développé des outils moléculaires afin d’identifier les cibles de SOX9 dans la cellule ß humaine (dominant positif, dominant négatif). Pour finir, nous avons analysé les cibles potentielles de SOX9 dans différentes conditions pathologiques.No abstrac

Numerical visualization of boundary layer transition when negative Magnus effect occurs

We previously identified the appearance of negative Magnus lift on a sphere rotating about an axis perpendicular to an incoming flow at a critical Reynolds number using large-eddy simulation and obtained the statistically time-averaged lift and pressure coefficients around the sphere. We have now numerically investigated the unsteady characteristics of the boundary layer around a rotating sphere at three Reynolds numbers (1.0 x 10^[4], 2.0 x 10^[5], and 1.14 x 10^[6]). At a Reynolds number in the subcritical or supercritical region, the direction of the lift force followed the Magnus effect independent of the rotational speed. In contrast, at the critical Reynolds number when a particular rotational speed was imposed, negative lift was observed and a boundary-layer transition occurred only on one side of the sphere, as indicated by the visualization of the vortical structures around the sphere. A change in these structures and a shift of the separation points along with a change in the Reynolds number or rotational speed of the sphere were investigated in the context of boundary layer transition by using visualization around the sphere

Negative Magnus lift on a rotating sphere at around the critical Reynolds number

Negative Magnus lift acting on a sphere rotating about the axis perpendicular to an incoming flow was investigated using large-eddy simulation at three Reynolds numbers of 1.0 x 10^[4], 2.0 x 10^[5], and 1.14 x 10^[6]. The numerical methods used were first validated on a non-rotating sphere, and the spatial resolution around the sphere was determined so as to reproduce the laminar separation, reattachment, and turbulent transition of the boundary layer observed in the vicinity of the critical Reynolds number. The rotating sphere exhibited a positive or negative Magnus effect depending on the Reynolds number and the imposed rotating speed. At Reynolds numbers in the subcritical or supercritical regimes, the direction of the Magnus lift force was independent of the rotational speed. In contrast, the lift force was negative in the critical regime when particular rotating speeds were imposed. This negative Magnus effect was investigated in the context of suppression or promotion of boundary layer transition around the separation point