Acute metabolic amplification of insulin secretion in mouse islets: Role of cytosolic acetyl-CoA

Regulation of insulin secretion in mouse islets: metabolic amplification by alpha-ketoisocaproate coincides with rapid and sustained increase in acetyl-CoA content

Glucose and alpha-ketoisocaproate, the keto acid analogue of leucine, stimulate insulin secretion in the absence of other exogenous fuels. Their mitochondrial metabolism in the beta-cell raises the cytosolic ATP/ADP ratio, thereby providing the triggering signal for the exocytosis of the insulin granules. However, additional amplifying signals are required for the full extent of insulin secretion stimulated by these fuels. While it is generally recognized that the amplifying signals are also derived from the mitochondrial metabolism, their exact nature is still unclear. The current study tests the hypothesis that the supply of cytosolic acetyl-CoA is a signal in the amplifying pathway. The contents of acetyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA plus CoA-SH were measured in isolated mouse islets. Insulin secretion was recorded in isolated perifused islets. In islets, the ATP-sensitive K+ channels of which were pharmacologically closed and which were preincubated without exogenous fuel, 10 mmol/L alpha-ketoisocaproate enhanced the acetyl-CoA content after 5 and 20 min incubations and decreased the acetyl-CoA plus CoA-SH within 5 min, but not after 20 min. In islets not exposed to drugs, the preincubation with 3 mmol/L glucose, a non-triggering concentration, elevated the acetyl-CoA content. This content was further increased after 5 min and 20 min incubations with 30 mmol/L glucose, concurrent with a strong increase in insulin secretion. Alpha-ketoisocaproate and glucose increase the supply of acetyl-CoA in the beta-cell cytosol during both phases of insulin secretion. Most likely, this increase provides a signal for the metabolic amplification.

Contribution of Mitochondria to Insulin Secretion by Various Secretagogues

Significance: Mitochondria determine glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic β-cells by elevating ATP synthesis. As the metabolic and redox hub, mitochondria provide numerous links to the plasma membrane channels, insulin granule vesicles (IGVs), cell redox, NADH, NADPH, and Ca²⁺ homeostasis, all affecting insulin secretion. Recent Advances: Mitochondrial redox signaling was implicated in several modes of insulin secretion (branched-chain ketoacid [BCKA]-, fatty acid [FA]-stimulated). Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ influx was found to enhance GSIS, reflecting cytosolic Ca²⁺ oscillations induced by action potential spikes (intermittent opening of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ and K⁺ channels) or the superimposed Ca²⁺ release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1) was reported to tune the glucose sensitivity range for GSIS. Mitochondrial protein kinase A was implicated in preventing the IF1-mediated inhibition of the ATP synthase. Critical Issues: It is unknown how the redox signal spreads up to the plasma membrane and what its targets are, what the differences in metabolic, redox, NADH/NADPH, and Ca²⁺ signaling, and homeostasis are between the first and second GSIS phase, and whether mitochondria can replace ER in the amplification of IGV exocytosis. Future Directions: Metabolomics studies performed to distinguish between the mitochondrial matrix and cytosolic metabolites will elucidate further details. Identifying the targets of cell signaling into mitochondria and of mitochondrial retrograde metabolic and redox signals to the cell will uncover further molecular mechanisms for insulin secretion stimulated by glucose, BCKAs, and FAs, and the amplification of secretion by glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) and metabotropic receptors. They will identify the distinction between the hub β-cells and their followers in intact and diabetic states. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 36, 920-952.

What Is the Metabolic Amplification of Insulin Secretion and Is It (Still) Relevant?

The pancreatic beta-cell transduces the availability of nutrients into the secretion of insulin. While this process is extensively modified by hormones and neurotransmitters, it is the availability of nutrients, above all glucose, which sets the process of insulin synthesis and secretion in motion. The central role of the mitochondria in this process was identified decades ago, but how changes in mitochondrial activity are coupled to the exocytosis of insulin granules is still incompletely understood. The identification of ATP-sensitive K⁺-channels provided the link between the level of adenine nucleotides and the electrical activity of the beta cell, but the depolarization-induced Ca²⁺-influx into the beta cells, although necessary for stimulated secretion, is not sufficient to generate the secretion pattern as produced by glucose and other nutrient secretagogues. The metabolic amplification of insulin secretion is thus the sequence of events that enables the secretory response to a nutrient secretagogue to exceed the secretory response to a purely depolarizing stimulus and is thus of prime importance. Since the cataplerotic export of mitochondrial metabolites is involved in this signaling, an orienting overview on the topic of nutrient secretagogues beyond glucose is included. Their judicious use may help to define better the nature of the signals and their mechanism of action.

The Pancreatic β-Cell: The Perfect Redox System

Pancreatic β-cell insulin secretion, which responds to various secretagogues and hormonal regulations, is reviewed here, emphasizing the fundamental redox signaling by NADPH oxidase 4- (NOX4-) mediated H₂O₂ production for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). There is a logical summation that integrates both metabolic plus redox homeostasis because the ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel (K_ATP) can only be closed when both ATP and H₂O₂ are elevated. Otherwise ATP would block K_ATP, while H₂O₂ would activate any of the redox-sensitive nonspecific calcium channels (NSCCs), such as TRPM2. Notably, a 100%-closed K_ATP ensemble is insufficient to reach the -50 mV threshold plasma membrane depolarization required for the activation of voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels. Open synergic NSCCs or Cl^- channels have to act simultaneously to reach this threshold. The resulting intermittent cytosolic Ca²⁺-increases lead to the pulsatile exocytosis of insulin granule vesicles (IGVs). The incretin (e.g., GLP-1) amplification of GSIS stems from receptor signaling leading to activating the phosphorylation of TRPM channels and effects on other channels to intensify integral Ca²⁺-influx (fortified by endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺). ATP plus H₂O₂ are also required for branched-chain ketoacids (BCKAs); and partly for fatty acids (FAs) to secrete insulin, while BCKA or FA β-oxidation provide redox signaling from mitochondria, which proceeds by H₂O₂ diffusion or hypothetical SH relay via peroxiredoxin "redox kiss" to target proteins.

Formation of βTC3 and MIN6 Pseudoislets Changes the Expression Pattern of Gpr40, Gpr55, and Gpr119 Receptors and Improves Lysophosphatidylcholines-Potentiated Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion

The impaired spatial arrangement and connections between cells creating islets of Langerhans as well as altered expression of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) often lead to dysfunction of insulin-secreting pancreatic β cells and can significantly contribute to the development of diabetes. Differences in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) are noticeable not only in diabetic individuals but also in model pancreatic β cells, e.g., βTC3 and MIN6 β cell lines with impaired and normal insulin secretion, respectively. Now, we compare the ability of GPCR agonists (lysophosphatidylcholines bearing fatty acid chains of different lengths) to potentiate GSIS in βTC3 and MIN6 β cell models, cultured as adherent monolayers and in a form of pseudoislets (PIs) with pancreatic MS1 endothelial cells. Our aim was also to investigate differences in expression of the GPCRs responsive to LPCs in these experimental systems. Aggregation of β cells into islet-like structures greatly enhanced the expression of Gpr40, Gpr55, and Gpr119 receptors. In contrast, the co-culture of βTC3 cells with endothelial cells converted the GPCR expression pattern closer to the pattern observed in MIN6 cells. Additionally, the efficiencies of various LPC species in βTC3-MS1 PIs also shifted toward the MIN6 cell model.

Fresh and cultured mouse islets differ in their response to nutrient stimulation

Observing different kinetics of nutrient-induced insulin secretion in fresh and cultured islets under the same condition we compared parameters of stimulus secretion coupling in freshly isolated and 22-h-cultured NMRI mouse islets. Stimulation of fresh islets with 30 mM glucose after perifusion without nutrient gave a continuously ascending secretion rate. In 22-h-cultured islets the same protocol produced a brisk first phase followed by a moderately elevated plateau, a pattern regarded to be typical for mouse islets. This was also the response of cultured islets to the nutrient secretagogue alpha-ketoisocaproic acid, whereas the secretion of fresh islets increased similarly fast but remained strongly elevated. The responses of fresh and cultured islets to purely depolarizing stimuli (tolbutamide or KCl), however, were closely similar. Signs of apoptosis and necrosis were rare in both preparations. In cultured islets, the glucose-induced rise of the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration started from a lower value and was larger as was the increase of the ATP/ADP ratio. The prestimulatory level of mitochondrial reducing equivalents, expressed as the NAD(P)H/FAD fluorescence ratio, was lower in cultured islets, but increased more strongly than in fresh islets. When culture conditions were modified by replacing RPMI with Krebs-Ringer medium and FCS with BSA, the amount of released insulin varied widely, but the kinetics always showed a predominant first phase. In conclusion, the secretion kinetics of fresh mouse islets is more responsive to variations of nutrient stimulation than cultured islets. The more uniform kinetics of the latter may be caused by a different use of endogenous metabolites.

Disruption of beta cell acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 in mice impairs insulin secretion and beta cell mass

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin to maintain glucose homeostasis, and beta cell failure is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Glucose triggers insulin secretion in beta cells via oxidative mitochondrial pathways. However, it also feeds mitochondrial anaplerotic pathways, driving citrate export and cytosolic malonyl-CoA production by the acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) enzyme. This pathway has been proposed as an alternative glucose-sensing mechanism, supported mainly by in vitro data. Here, we sought to address the role of the beta cell ACC1-coupled pathway in insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis in vivo.

METHODS

Acaca, encoding ACC1 (the principal ACC isoform in islets), was deleted in beta cells of mice using the Cre/loxP system. Acaca floxed mice were crossed with Ins2cre mice (βACC1KO; life-long beta cell gene deletion) or Pdx1creER mice (tmx-βACC1KO; inducible gene deletion in adult beta cells). Beta cell function was assessed using in vivo metabolic physiology and ex vivo islet experiments. Beta cell mass was analysed using histological techniques.

RESULTS

βACC1KO and tmx-βACC1KO mice were glucose intolerant and had defective insulin secretion in vivo. Isolated islet studies identified impaired insulin secretion from beta cells, independent of changes in the abundance of neutral lipids previously implicated as amplification signals. Pancreatic morphometry unexpectedly revealed reduced beta cell size in βACC1KO mice but not in tmx-βACC1KO mice, with decreased levels of proteins involved in the mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR)-dependent protein translation pathway underpinning this effect.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Our study demonstrates that the beta cell ACC1-coupled pathway is critical for insulin secretion in vivo and ex vivo and that it is indispensable for glucose homeostasis. We further reveal a role for ACC1 in controlling beta cell growth prior to adulthood.

A 3D microfluidic perfusion system made from glass for multiparametric analysis of stimulus-secretioncoupling in pancreatic islets

Microfluidic perfusion systems (MPS) are well suited to perform multiparametric measurements with small amounts of tissue to function as an Organ on Chip device (OOC). Such microphysiolgical characterization is particularly valuable in research on the stimulus-secretion-coupling of pancreatic islets. Pancreatic islets are fully functional competent mini-organs, which serve as fuel sensors and transduce metabolic activity into rates of hormone secretion. To enable the simultaneous measurement of fluorescence and oxygen consumption we designed a microfluidic perfusion system from borosilicate glass by 3D femtosecond laser ablation. Retention of islets was accomplished by a plain well design. The characteristics of flow and shear force in the microchannels and wells were simulated and compared with the measured exchange of the perfusion media. Distribution of latex beads, MIN6 cell pseudo islets and isolated mouse islets in the MPS was characterized in dependence of flow rate and well depth. Overall, the observations suggested that a sufficient retention of the islets at low shear stress, together with sufficient exchange of test medium, was achieved at a well depth of 300 μm and perfusion rates between 40 and 240 μl/min. This enabled multiparametric measurement of oxygen consumption, NAD(P)H autofluorescence, cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration, and insulin secretion by isolated mouse islets. After appropriate correction for different lag times, kinetics of these processes could be compared. Such measurements permit a more precise insight into metabolic changes underlying the regulation of insulin secretion. Thus, rapid prototyping using laser ablation enables flexible adaption of borosilicate MPS designs to different demands of biomedical research.

Fenofibrate attenuates fatty acid-induced islet β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis via inhibiting the NF-κB/MIF dependent inflammatory pathway

BACKGROUND

Fatty acid-induced lipotoxicity and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) affect pancreatic β-cell function, and may promote the development of diabetes mellitus. However, the association of lipotoxicity with MIF and the effect of Fenofibrate on β-cell function remain unknown.

METHODS

LPL+/- mice and MIN6 cells stimulated with palmitic acid (PA) were utilized as models of lipid metabolism disorders. Factors associated with insulin secretion and apoptosis were assessed in the presence or absence of Fenofibrate. The possible mechanisms of lipotoxicity-induced β-cell dysfunction were also explored.

RESULTS

Fenofibrate effectively improved lipid accumulation in pancreatic β-cells, increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and β-cell mass, and significantly downregulated pro-apoptotic molecules, at the gene and protein levels, both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, elevated MIF levels in serum from LPL+/- mice and PA-treated MIN6 cells were starkly decreased after Fenofibrate administration. Mechanistic analysis indicated that NF-κB signaling was remarkably triggered, which could further activate MIF transcription. Furthermore, Fenofibrate exerted beneficial effects on fatty acid-induced β-cell dysfunction likely by inhibiting the NF-κB/MIF dependent inflammatory response.

CONCLUSIONS

Fenofibrate ameliorates lipotoxicity-induced β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis by inhibiting the NF-κB/MIF inflammatory pathway. These findings provide novel insights into the treatment of lipotoxicity-induced metabolic disorders.

Mechanisms of the amplifying pathway of insulin secretion in the β cell

Pancreatic islet β cells secrete insulin in response to nutrient secretagogues, like glucose, dependent on calcium influx and nutrient metabolism. One of the most intriguing qualities of β cells is their ability to use metabolism to amplify the amount of secreted insulin independent of further alterations in intracellular calcium. Many years studying this amplifying process have shaped our current understanding of β cell stimulus-secretion coupling; yet, the exact mechanisms of amplification have been elusive. Recent studies utilizing metabolomics, computational modeling, and animal models have progressed our understanding of the metabolic amplifying pathway of insulin secretion from the β cell. New approaches will be discussed which offer in-roads to a more complete model of β cell function. The development of β cell therapeutics may be aided by such a model, facilitating the targeting of aspects of the metabolic amplifying pathway which are unique to the β cell.

Metabolic amplification of insulin secretion is differentially desensitized by depolarization in the absence of exogenous fuels

OBJECTIVE

The metabolic amplification of insulin secretion is the sequence of events which enables the secretory response to a fuel secretagogue to exceed the secretory response to a purely depolarizing stimulus. The signals in this pathway are incompletely understood. Here, we have characterized an experimental procedure by which the amplifying response to glucose is reversibly desensitized, while the response to α-ketoisocaproic acid (KIC) is unchanged.

MATERIALS/METHODS

Insulin secretion, NAD(P)H- and FAD-autofluorescence, Fura-2 fluorescence and oxygen consumption were measured in perifused NMRI mouse islets. The ATP- and ADP-contents were measured in statically incubated mouse islets. All islets were freshly isolated.

RESULTS

While the original observation on the dissociation between glucose- and KIC-amplification was obtained with islets that had been exposed to a high concentration of the sulfonylurea glipizide in the absence of glucose, we now show that in the absence of exogenous fuel a moderate depolarization, irrespective of its mechanism, progressively decreased the amplification in response to both glucose and KIC. However, the amplification in response to glucose declined faster, so a time window exists where glucose was already inefficient, whereas KIC was of unimpaired efficiency. Measurements of adenine nucleotides, NAD(P)H- and FAD-autofluorescence, and oxygen consumption point to a central role of the mitochondrial metabolism in this process. The desensitization could be quickly reversed by increasing oxidative deamination of glutamate and consequently anaplerosis of the citrate cycle.

CONCLUSION

Depolarization in the absence of exogenous fuel may be a useful model to identify those signals which are indispensable for the generation of metabolic amplification.

Toward Connecting Metabolism to the Exocytotic Site

Within cells the regulated exocytosis of secretory granules controls multiple physiological functions, including endocrine hormone secretion. Release of the glucose-regulating hormone insulin from pancreatic islet β cells is critical for whole-body metabolic homeostasis. Impaired insulin secretion appears early in the progression to type 2 diabetes (T2D). Key mechanisms that control the β-cell exocytotic response, mediating the long-known but little understood metabolic amplification of insulin secretion, are becoming clearer. Recent insights indicate a convergence of metabolism-driven signals, such as lipid-derived messengers and redox-dependent deSUMOylation, at the plasma membrane to augment Ca²⁺-dependent insulin exocytosis. These pathways have important implications for the metabolic control of hormone secretion, for the functional compensation that occurs in obesity, and for impaired insulin secretion in diabetes.