Using beta-cell growth factors to enhance human pancreatic Islet transplantation

Phospho‑regulation of Cdc14A by polo‑like kinase 1 is involved in β‑cell function and cell cycle regulation

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of polo‑like kinase 1 (PLK1) and the phosphorylation of human cell division cycle protein 14A (Cdc14A) by PLK1 on β‑cell function and cell cycle regulation. Mouse β‑TC3 cells were incubated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knock down the expression of PLK1. Cell cycle analysis was performed using flow cytometry, and cell proliferation and apoptosis was determined. Insulin secretion was evaluated by a radioimmunoassay under both low and high glucose conditions. Mouse β‑TC3 cells were transfected with a wild type or a non‑phosphorylatable Cdc14A mutant (Cdc14AS351A/363A; Cdc14AAA) to investigate whether the phosphorylation of Cdc14A is involved in cellular regulation of PLK1 under high glucose conditions. It was found that PLK1 siRNA significantly promoted cellular apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation, decreased insulin secretion and reduced Cdc14A expression under both low and high glucose conditions. Cdc14A overexpression promoted β‑TC3 cell proliferation and insulin secretion, while Cdc14AAA overexpression inhibited cell proliferation and insulin secretion under high glucose conditions. PLK1 siRNA partially reversed the proliferation‑promoting effects of Cdc14A and further intensified the inhibition of proliferation by Cdc14AAA under high glucose conditions. Similarly, Cdc14A overexpression partially reversed the insulin‑inhibiting effects of PLK1 siRNA, while Cdc14AAA overexpression showed a synergistic inhibitory effect on insulin secretion with PLK1 siRNA under high glucose conditions. In conclusion, PLK1 promoted cell proliferation and insulin secretion while inhibiting cellular apoptosis in β‑TC3 cell lines under both low and high glucose conditions. In addition, the phospho‑regulation of Cdc14A by PLK1 may be involved in β‑TC3 cell cycle regulation and insulin secretion under high glucose conditions.

Use of additives, scaffolds and extracellular matrix components for improvement of human pancreatic islet outcomes in vitro: A systematic review

Pancreatic islet transplantation is an established treatment to restore insulin independence in type 1 diabetic patients. Its success rates have increased lately based on improvements in immunosuppressive therapies and on islet isolation and culture. It is known that the quality and quantity of viable transplanted islets are crucial for the achievement of insulin independence and some studies have shown that a significant number of islets are lost during culture time. Thus, in an effort to improve islet yield during culture period, researchers have tested a variety of additives in culture media as well as alternative culture devices, such as scaffolds. However, due to the use of different categories of additives or devices, it is difficult to draw a conclusion on the benefits of these strategies. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to summarize the results of studies that described the use of medium additives, scaffolds or extracellular matrix (ECM) components during human pancreatic islets culture. PubMed and Embase repositories were searched. Of 5083 articles retrieved, a total of 37 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. After data extraction, articles were grouped as follows: 1) "antiapoptotic/anti-inflammatory/antioxidant," 2) "hormone," 3) "sulphonylureas," 4) "serum supplements," and 5) "scaffolds or ECM components." The effects of the reviewed additives, ECM or scaffolds on islet viability, apoptosis and function (glucose-stimulated insulin secretion - GSIS) were heterogeneous, making any major conclusion hard to sustain. Overall, some "antiapoptotic/anti-inflammatory/antioxidant" additives decreased apoptosis and improved GSIS. Moreover, islet culture with ECM components or scaffolds increased GSIS. More studies are needed to define the real impact of these strategies in improving islet transplantation outcomes.

Insulin receptor-overexpressing β-cells ameliorate hyperglycemia in diabetic rats through Wnt signaling activation

To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of β-cells with insulin receptor (IR) overexpression on diabetes mellitus (DM), rat insulinoma (INS-1) cells were engineered to stably express human insulin receptor (INS-IR cells), and subsequently transplanted into streptozotocin- induced diabetic rats. Compared with INS-1 cells, INS-IR cells showed improved β-cell function, including the increase in glucose utilization, calcium mobilization, and insulin secretion, and exhibited a higher rate of cell proliferation, and maintained lower levels of blood glucose in diabetic rats. These results were attributed to the increase of β-catenin/PPARγ complex bindings to peroxisome proliferator response elements in rat glucokinase (GK) promoter and the prolongation of S-phase of cell cycle by cyclin D1. These events resulted from more rapid and higher phosphorylation levels of insulin-signaling intermediates, including insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1/IRS-2/phosphotylinositol 3 kinase/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT) 1, and the consequent enhancement of β-catenin nuclear translocation and Wnt responsive genes including GK and cyclin D1. Indeed, the higher functionality and proliferation shown in INS-IR cells were offset by β-catenin, cyclin D1, GK, AKT1, and IRS-2 gene depletion. In addition, the promotion of cell proliferation and insulin secretion by Wnt signaling activation was shown by 100 nM insulin treatment, and to a similar degree, was shown in INS-IR cells. In this regard, this study suggests that transferring INS-IR cells into diabetic animals is an effective and feasible DM treatment. Accordingly, the method might be a promising alternative strategy for treatment of DM given the adverse effects of insulin among patients, including the increased risk of modest weight gain and hypoglycemia. Additionally, this study demonstrates that the novel mechanism of cross-talk between insulin and Wnt signaling plays a primary role in the higher therapeutic efficacy of IR-overexpressing β-cells.

Treatment of streptozotocin induced diabetes in male rats by immunoisolated transplantation of islet cells

Insulin injection is the main way to combat against insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus effects. Today in some laboratories in the world, the investigators are trying to find some treatments for this disease with insulin-secreting pancreatic islet cells transplantation. Donor tissue in each step of work was prepared from 36 adult male wistar Rats weighted 250-300 grams (75-90 days). Transplantation was done in rats after 2-4 weeks induction of diabetes with 60mg/kg of streptozotocin injection by intravenous method. Encapsulation of pancreatic islet cells allows for transplantation in the absence of immunosuppression. This technique that is called "immunoisolation" is based on the principle that transplanted tissue is protected for the host immune system by an artificial or natural membrane. In this study, the levels of insulin, C-peptide and glucose in diabetic rats have been reached to normal range as compared to un-diabetic rats in 20 days after transplantation of islet cells, so that testis is immunoisolated place for islet cells transplantation. Inside the testis subcutaneously and intrapretoneally implantation of pure islet cells graft, that is a natural immunoisolation method, rapidly and permanently normalized the diabetic state of streptozocin-administered animals.

Human placental lactogen (hPL-A) activates signaling pathways linked to cell survival and improves insulin secretion in human pancreatic islets

The search for factors either promoting islets proliferation or survival during adult life is a major issue for both type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus. Among factors with mitogenic activity on pancreatic β-cells, human placental lactogen (hPL) showed stronger activity when compared to the other lactogen hormones: growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL). The aim of the present work is to elucidate the biological and molecular events of hPL isoform A (hPL-A) activity on human cultured islets. We used pure human pancreatic islets and insulinoma cell lines (βTC-1 and RIN, murine and rat respectively) stimulated with hPL-A recombinant protein and we compared hPL-A activity with that of hGH. We showed that hPL-A inhibits apoptosis, both in insulinoma and human islets, by the phosphorylation of AKT protein. Indeed, the antiapoptotic role of hPL-A was mediated by PI3K, p38 and it was independent by PKA, Erk1/2. Compared with hGH, hPL-A modulated at different intervals and/or intensity by the phosphorylation of JAKs/STATs and MAPKinases. Moreover, hPL-A induced PDX-1 intracellular expression, improving beta cell activity and ameliorating insulin secretion in response to high glucose stimulation. Our data support the idea that hPL-A is involved in the regulation of beta cells activity. Importantly, we found that hPL-A can preserve and improve the ability of purified human pancreatic islets cultured to secrete insulin in vitro.

Tobacco as biofactory for biologically active hPL production: a human hormone with potential applications in type-1 diabetes

Human placental lactogen (hPL) is a peptidic hormone that belongs to the short list of growth factors that could treat type-1 diabetes through pancreatic islet transplantation. Placental lactogen has the capacity to improve islet survival and function before or after transplantation. In this study, transgenic tobacco plants were used as a novel expression system for the production of recombinant hPL protein (rhPL). The expression vector pNEKhPL2 containing hPL cDNA was introduced into tobacco plants; the transcriptional activity was confirmed by real-time PCR, and the rhPL levels reached 1% of the total soluble protein (TSP) content in plants cultivated in the greenhouse. In vitro bioassays using the rat insulinoma (INS-1) cell line showed that recombinant protein was able to induce cell proliferation and activate the JAK-2/STAT-5 signal transduction pathway, demonstrating that plant cells can produce the biologically active hPL protein. To further characterize the plant expression system for hPL production, we analyzed the stability of the protein during the life cycle of tobacco plants as well as the transmission of the transgenic trait to the progeny. The recombinant protein was stably accumulated in young leaves, reaching the maximum level in the first month (6.51 μg/g of fresh weight), but showing a decreasing trend of 26% from the initial sampling time until the end of plant's life cycle. The progeny of the selected pNEKhPL2 plant showed in vitro expression levels of up to 1.1% of TSP. Our results therefore indicate that transgenic plants are a suitable expression system for hPL production.

Hnf1alpha (MODY3) controls tissue-specific transcriptional programs and exerts opposed effects on cell growth in pancreatic islets and liver

Heterozygous HNF1A mutations cause pancreatic-islet beta-cell dysfunction and monogenic diabetes (MODY3). Hnf1alpha is known to regulate numerous hepatic genes, yet knowledge of its function in pancreatic islets is more limited. We now show that Hnf1a deficiency in mice leads to highly tissue-specific changes in the expression of genes involved in key functions of both islets and liver. To gain insights into the mechanisms of tissue-specific Hnf1alpha regulation, we integrated expression studies of Hnf1a-deficient mice with identification of direct Hnf1alpha targets. We demonstrate that Hnf1alpha can bind in a tissue-selective manner to genes that are expressed only in liver or islets. We also show that Hnf1alpha is essential only for the transcription of a minor fraction of its direct-target genes. Even among genes that were expressed in both liver and islets, the subset of targets showing functional dependence on Hnf1alpha was highly tissue specific. This was partly explained by the compensatory occupancy by the paralog Hnf1beta at selected genes in Hnf1a-deficient liver. In keeping with these findings, the biological consequences of Hnf1a deficiency were markedly different in islets and liver. Notably, Hnf1a deficiency led to impaired large-T-antigen-induced growth and oncogenesis in beta cells yet enhanced proliferation in hepatocytes. Collectively, these findings show that Hnf1alpha governs broad, highly tissue-specific genetic programs in pancreatic islets and liver and reveal key consequences of Hnf1a deficiency relevant to the pathophysiology of monogenic diabetes.

Rapamycin inhibits growth factor-induced cell cycle regulation in pancreatic beta cells

A progressive decline in islet function is a major obstacle to success of islet transplantation. The cause of this decline is islet function is unclear, but immunosuppressive agents may contribute. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and betacellulin are important for islet cell survival and/or proliferation. In the present study, we performed studies of IGF-I and betacellulin on progression of islet cells through the cell cycle and the impact of immunosuppressive agents. Treatment of INS-1 cells for 24 hours with 20 ng/mL betacellulin or 50 ng/mL IGF-1 increased cells in S phase by ~2-fold. Treatment of INS-1 cells with IGF-I or betacellulin also increased cyclin D1 expression and nuclear exclusion of the cyclindependent kinase inhibitors p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1). In INS-1 cells and islets, betacellulin- and IGF-I increased the increase in p70(s6 kinase) phosphorylation stimulated by betacellulin- and IGF-I in INS-1 cells. Rapamycin also inhibited betacellulin- and IGF-I IN IGF-1 cells. Rapamycin also inhibited betacellulin- and IGF-I-induced entry of cells into S phase and 5'-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation as well as the effect of betacellulin and IGF-I on cyclin D1 expression and nuclear exclusion of p21(Cip1) and p(27Kip1). Together, these data suggest that the effect of betacellulin and IGF-I on islet cell growth and proliferation is mediated, in part, via signaling through mammalian target of rapamycin. As rapamycin is used to treat islet transplant recipients, these results suggest that rapamycin could have deleterious effects on islet proliferation and function over time.

Dominant negative mutant forms of the cAMP response element binding protein induce apoptosis and decrease the anti-apoptotic action of growth factors in human islets

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Transplantation of islets is a viable option for the treatment of diabetes. A significant proportion of islets is lost during isolation, storage and after transplantation as a result of apoptosis. cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) is an important cell survival factor. The aim of the present study was to determine whether preservation of CREB function is needed for survival of human islets.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To determine the effects of downregulation of CREB activity on beta cell apoptosis in a transplantation setting, adenoviral vectors were used to express two dominant negative mutant forms of CREB in human islets isolated from cadaveric donors. Markers of apoptosis were determined in these transduced islets under basal conditions and following treatment with growth factor.

RESULTS

Expression of CREB mutants in human islets resulted in significant (p < 0.001) activation of caspase-9, a key regulatory enzyme in the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, when compared with islets transduced with adenoviral beta galactosidase. Immunocytochemical analysis showed the activation of caspase-9 to be predominantly in beta cells. Other definitive markers of apoptosis such as parallel activation of caspase-3, accumulation of cleaved poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase and nuclear condensation were also observed. Furthermore, the anti-apoptotic action of growth factors exendin-4 and betacellulin in human islets exposed to cytokines was partially lost when CREB function was impaired.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Our findings suggest that impairment of CREB-mediated transcription could lead to loss of islets by apoptosis with potential implications in islet transplantation as well as in the mechanism of beta cell loss leading to diabetes.

Tissue-specific deletion of the retinoblastoma protein in the pancreatic beta-cell has limited effects on beta-cell replication, mass, and function

Animal studies show that G(1/S) regulatory molecules (D-cyclins, cdk-4, p18, p21, p27) are critical for normal regulation of beta-cell proliferation, mass, and function. The retinoblastoma protein, pRb, is positioned at the very end of a cascade of these regulatory proteins and is considered the final checkpoint molecule that maintains beta-cell cycle arrest. Logically, removal of pRb from the beta-cell should result in unrestrained beta-cell replication, increased beta-cell mass, and insulin-mediated hypoglycemia. Because global loss of both pRb alleles is embryonic lethal, this hypothesis has not been tested in beta-cells. We developed two types of conditional knockout (CKO) mice in which both alleles of the pRb gene were inactivated specifically in beta-cells. Surprisingly, although the pRb gene was efficiently recombined in beta-cells of both CKO models, changes in beta-cell mass, beta-cell replication rates, insulin concentrations, and blood glucose levels were limited or absent. Other pRb family members, p107 and p130, were not substantially upregulated. In contrast to dogma, the pRb protein is not essential to maintain cell cycle arrest in the pancreatic beta-cell. This may reflect fundamental inaccuracies in models of beta-cell cycle control or complementation for pRb by undefined proteins.

Activation of the Reg family genes by pancreatic-specific IGF-I gene deficiency and after streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mouse pancreas

We have recently reported that Pdx1-Cre-mediated whole pancreas inactivation of IGF-I gene [in pancreatic-specific IGF-I gene-deficient (PID) mice] results in increased beta-cell mass and significant protection against both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Because the phenotype is unlikely a direct consequence of IGF-I deficiency, the present study was designed to explore possible activation of proislet factors in PID mice by using a whole genome DNA microarray. As a result, multiple members of the Reg family genes (Reg2, -3alpha, and -3beta, previously not known to promote islet cell growth) were significantly upregulated in the pancreas. This finding was subsequently confirmed by Northern blot and/or real-time PCR, which exhibited 2- to 8-fold increases in the levels of these mRNAs. Interestingly, these Reg family genes were also activated after streptozotocin-induced beta-cell damage and diabetes (wild-type T1D mice) when islet cells were undergoing regeneration. Immunohistochemistry revealed increased Reg proteins in exocrine as well as endocrine pancreas and suggested their potential role in beta-cell neogenesis in PID or T1D mice. Previously, other Reg proteins (Reg1 and islet neogenesis-associated protein) have been shown to promote islet cell replication and neogenesis. These uncharacterized Reg proteins may play a similar but more potent role, not only in normal islet cell growth in PID mice, but also in islet cell regeneration after T1D.

Regulation of pancreatic beta-cell mass

Beta-cell mass regulation represents a critical issue for understanding diabetes, a disease characterized by a near-absolute (type 1) or relative (type 2) deficiency in the number of pancreatic beta cells. The number of islet beta cells present at birth is mainly generated by the proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic progenitor cells, a process called neogenesis. Shortly after birth, beta-cell neogenesis stops and a small proportion of cycling beta cells can still expand the cell number to compensate for increased insulin demands, albeit at a slow rate. The low capacity for self-replication in the adult is too limited to result in a significant regeneration following extensive tissue injury. Likewise, chronically increased metabolic demands can lead to beta-cell failure to compensate. Neogenesis from progenitor cells inside or outside islets represents a more potent mechanism leading to robust expansion of the beta-cell mass, but it may require external stimuli. For therapeutic purposes, advantage could be taken from the surprising differentiation plasticity of adult pancreatic cells and possibly also from stem cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that it is feasible to regenerate and expand the beta-cell mass by the application of hormones and growth factors like glucagon-like peptide-1, gastrin, epidermal growth factor, and others. Treatment with these external stimuli can restore a functional beta-cell mass in diabetic animals, but further studies are required before it can be applied to humans.

Beta-cell-specific ablation of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor results in reduced islet size, impaired insulin secretion, and glucose intolerance

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its c-met receptor consist of a paired signaling system that has been implicated in the regulation of pancreatic beta-cell survival, proliferation, and function. To define the role of HGF/c-met signaling in beta-cell biology in vivo, we have generated conditional knockout mice in which the c-met receptor gene was specifically inactivated in pancreatic beta cells by the Cre-loxP system. Mice with beta-cell-specific deletion of the c-met receptor (betamet-/-) displayed slight growth retardation, mild hyperglycemia, and decreased serum insulin levels at 6 months of age when compared with their control littermates. Deficiency of the c-met receptor in beta cells resulted in a complete loss of acute-phase insulin secretion in response to glucose and an impaired glucose tolerance. Glucose transporter-2 expression was down-regulated in the beta cells of betamet-/- mice. Compared to controls, betamet-/- mice exhibited reduced islet size and decreased insulin content in the pancreas, but displayed normal islet morphology. Therefore, HGF/c-met signaling plays an imperative role in controlling islet growth, in regulating beta-cell function, and in maintaining glucose homeostasis.

Targeted inactivation of hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-met in beta-cells leads to defective insulin secretion and GLUT-2 downregulation without alteration of beta-cell mass

Overexpression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the beta-cell of transgenic mice enhances beta-cell proliferation, survival, and function. In the current studies, we have used conditional ablation of the c-met gene to uncover the physiological role of HGF in beta-cell growth and function. Mice in which c-met is inactivated in the beta-cell (MetCKO mice) display normal body weight, blood glucose, and plasma insulin compared with control littermates. In contrast, MetCKO mice displayed significantly diminished glucose tolerance and reduced plasma insulin after a glucose challenge in vivo. This impaired glucose tolerance in MetCKO mice was not caused by insulin resistance because sensitivity to exogenous insulin was similar in both groups. Importantly, in vitro glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in MetCKO islets was decreased by approximately 50% at high glucose concentrations compared with control islets. Furthermore, whereas insulin and glucokinase expression in MetCKO islets were normal, GLUT-2 expression was decreased by approximately 50%. These changes in beta-cell function in MetCKO mice were not accompanied by changes in total beta-cell mass, islet morphology, islet cell composition, and beta-cell proliferation. Interestingly, however, MetCKO mice display an increased number of small islets, mainly single and doublet beta-cells. We conclude that HGF/c-met signaling in the beta-cell is not essential for beta-cell growth, but it is essential for normal glucose-dependent insulin secretion.

Overexpression of cyclin D1 in pancreatic beta-cells in vivo results in islet hyperplasia without hypoglycemia

Cyclin D1 can stimulate proliferation by driving cells from the G1 into the S-phase of the mammalian cell cycle. Previous animal studies have implicated the G1-S transition as a key regulatory checkpoint governing the proliferation of pancreatic islet cells. We expressed cyclin D1 in the beta-cells of mice and islet hyperplasia developed in a time-dependent manner. The hyperplastic beta-cells exhibited higher rates of proliferation. However, blood glucose levels in fasting as well as nonfasting conditions remained normal. Furthermore, glucose tolerance tests demonstrated nearly normal responses, and diabetes did not develop in any of the animals. No islet cell tumors were observed, even among animals >2 years of age. Under our experimental conditions, the proliferative stimulus provided by cyclin D1 is not tumorigenic, does not result in diabetes, and does not result in hypoglycemia. Cyclin D1 may thus be considered a potential candidate to augment the beta-cell population ex vivo as a prelude to islet transplantation for diabetes.

The diabetes-linked transcription factor PAX4 promotes {beta}-cell proliferation and survival in rat and human islets

The mechanism by which the β-cell transcription factor Pax4 influences cell function/mass was studied in rat and human islets of Langerhans. Pax4 transcripts were detected in adult rat islets, and levels were induced by the mitogens activin A and betacellulin. Wortmannin suppressed betacellulin-induced Pax4 expression, implicating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway. Adenoviral overexpression of Pax4 caused a 3.5-fold increase in β-cell proliferation with a concomitant 1.9-, 4-, and 5-fold increase in Bcl-xL (antiapoptotic), c-myc, and Id2 mRNA levels, respectively. Accordingly, Pax4 transactivated the Bcl-xL and c-myc promoters, whereas its diabetes-linked mutant was less efficient. Bcl-xL activity resulted in altered mitochondrial calcium levels and ATP production, explaining impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion in transduced islets. Infection of human islets with an inducible adenoviral Pax4 construct caused proliferation and protection against cytokine-evoked apoptosis, whereas the mutant was less effective. We propose that Pax4 is implicated in β-cell plasticity through the activation of c-myc and potentially protected from apoptosis through Bcl-xL gene expression.

Pancreatic-specific inactivation of IGF-I gene causes enlarged pancreatic islets and significant resistance to diabetes

The dogma that IGF-I stimulates pancreatic islet growth has been challenged by combinational targeting of IGF or IGF-IR (IGF receptor) genes as well as beta-cell-specific IGF-IR gene deficiency, which caused no defect in islet cell growth. To assess the physiological role of locally produced IGF-I, we have developed pancreatic-specific IGF-I gene deficiency (PID) by crossing Pdx1-Cre and IGF-I/loxP mice. PID mice are normal except for decreased blood glucose level and a 2.3-fold enlarged islet cell mass. When challenged with low doses of streptozotocin, control mice developed hyperglycemia after 6 days that was maintained at high levels for at least 2 months. In contrast, PID mice only exhibited marginal hyperglycemia after 12 days, maintained throughout the experiment. Fifteen days after streptozotocin, PID mice demonstrated significantly higher levels of insulin production. Furthermore, streptozotocin-induced beta-cell apoptosis (transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling [TUNEL] assay) was significantly prevented in PID mice. Finally, PID mice exhibited a delayed onset of type 2 diabetes induced by a high-fat diet, accompanied by super enlarged pancreatic islets, increased insulin mRNA levels, and preserved sensitivity to insulin. Our results suggest that locally produced IGF-I within the pancreas inhibits islet cell growth; its deficiency provides a protective environment to the beta-cells and potential in combating diabetes.

Induction of beta-cell proliferation and retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation in rat and human islets using adenovirus-mediated transfer of cyclin-dependent kinase-4 and cyclin D1

The major regulator of the gap-1/synthesis phase (G(1)/S) cell cycle checkpoint is the retinoblastoma protein (pRb), and this is regulated in part by the activities of cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk)-4 and the D cyclins. Surprisingly, given the potential importance of beta-cell replication for islet replacement therapy, pRb presence, phosphorylation status, and function have not been explored in beta-cells. Here, adenoviruses expressing cdk-4 and cyclin D(1) were used to explore rat and human pRb phosphorylation and beta-cell cycle control. pRb is present in rat and human islets, and overexpression of cyclin D(1)/cdk-4 led to strikingly enhanced pRb phosphorylation in both species. Combined overexpression of both cdk-4 and cyclin D(1) caused a threefold increase in [(3)H]thymidine incorporation. This increase in proliferation was confirmed independently using insulin and bromodeoxyuridine immunohistochemistry, where human beta-cell replication rates were increased 10-fold. Cdk-4 or cyclin D(1) overexpression did not adversely effect beta-cell differentiation or function. The key cell cycle regulatory protein, pRb, can be harnessed to advantage using cyclin D(1)/cdk-4 for the induction of human and rodent beta-cell replication, enhancing replication without adversely affecting function or differentiation. This approach will allow detailed molecular study of the cellular mechanisms regulating the cell cycle in beta-cells, beta-cell lines, and stem cell-derived beta-cells.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein induces insulin expression through activation of MAP kinase-specific phosphatase-1 that dephosphorylates c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase in pancreatic beta-cells

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) increases the content and mRNA level of insulin in a mouse beta-cell line, MIN6, and primary-cultured mouse islets. We examined the mechanism of PTHrP-induced insulin expression. The PTHrP effect was markedly augmented by SB203580, a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor, and SB203580 itself increased insulin expression extensively, even without PTHrP. Because SB203580 inhibits both p38 and c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinases (JNKs), we investigated the JNK-specific inhibitor SP600125. SP600125 also increased insulin content and its mRNA level. PTHrP induced dephosphorylation of JNK1/2, and PTHrP-induced insulin expression was blocked by a dominant-negative type JNK-APF. We suspected that dual specificity MAP kinase phosphatases (MKPs) may be involved in the PTHrP-induced insulin expression by inactivating JNK1/2. MIN6 cells contained at least five MKPs, among which only MKP-1 was inducible by PTHrP. PTHrP-induced insulin expression was blocked by the MKP-1 expression inhibitor Ro-31-8220, indicating that the PTHrP effect is mediated by MKP-1. Indeed, adenoviral MKP-1 expression increased insulin expression by decreasing a phosphorylation form of JNKs and a resulting phosphorylated form of c-jun in MIN6 cells. The phosphorylated form of c-jun is known to repress cAMP-dependent insulin gene promoter activity. Thus, MKP-1 controls the insulin expression by downregulating a JNK/c-jun pathway.

Pituitary tumor transforming gene-null male mice exhibit impaired pancreatic beta cell proliferation and diabetes

The mammalian securin, pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG), regulates sister chromatid separation during mitosis. Mice or cell lines deficient in PTTG expression, however, are surprisingly viable. Here we show that PTTG disruption in mice (PTTG-/-) severely impairs glucose homeostasis leading to diabetes during late adulthood, especially in males associated with nonautoimmune insulinopenia and reversed alphabeta cell ratio. Islet beta cell mass in PTTG-/- mice was already diminished before development of frank diabetes and only increased minimally during growth. BrdUrd incorporation of islet cells in PTTG-null mice was approximately 65% lower (P < 0.005) than in the WT pancreas, whereas apoptosis rates were similar. PTTG-/- beta cells had pleiotropic nuclei, suggesting defects in cell division. The results indicated that securin is indispensable for normal pancreatic beta cell proliferation.

Islet beta cell expression of constitutively active Akt1/PKB alpha induces striking hypertrophy, hyperplasia, and hyperinsulinemia

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase-Akt/PKB pathway mediates the mitogenic effects various nutrients and growth factors in cultured cells. To study its effects in vivo in pancreatic islet beta cells, we created transgenic mice that expressed a constitutively active Akt1/PKB alpha linked to an Insulin gene promoter. Transgenic mice exhibited a grossly visible increase in islet mass, largely due to proliferation of insulin-containing beta cells. Morphometric analysis verified a six-fold increase in beta cell mass/pancreas, a two-fold increase in 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation, a four-fold increase in the number of beta cells per pancreas area, and a two-fold increase in cell size in transgenic compared with wild-type mice at 5 weeks. At least part of the increase in beta cell number may be accounted for by neogenesis, defined by criteria that include beta cells proliferating from ductular epithelium, and by a six-fold increase in the number of single and doublet beta cells scattered throughout the exocrine pancreas of the transgenic mice. Glucose tolerance was improved, and fasting as well as fed insulin was greater compared with wild-type mice. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was maintained in transgenic mice, which were resistant to streptozotocin-induced diabetes. We conclude that activation of the Akt1/PKB alpha pathway affects islet beta cell mass by alteration of size and number.

Transgenic overexpression of hepatocyte growth factor in the beta-cell markedly improves islet function and islet transplant outcomes in mice

Recent advances in human islet transplantation have highlighted the need for expanding the pool of beta-cells available for transplantation. We have developed three transgenic models in which growth factors (hepatocyte growth factor [HGF], placental lactogen, or parathyroid hormone-related protein) have been targeted to the beta-cell using rat insulin promoter (RIP). Each displays an increase in islet size and islet number, and each displays insulin-mediated hypoglycemia. Of these three models, the RIP-HGF mouse displays the least impressive phenotype under basal conditions. In this study, we show that this mild basal phenotype is misleading and that RIP-HGF mice have a unique and salutary phenotype. Compared with normal islets, RIP-HGF islets contain more insulin per beta-cell (50 +/- 5 vs. 78 +/- 9 ng/islet equivalent [IE] in normal vs. RIP-HGF islets, P < 0.025), secrete more insulin in response to glucose in vivo (0.66 +/- 0.06 vs. 0.91 +/- 0.10 ng/ml in normal vs. RIP-HGF mice, P < 0.05) and in vitro (at 22.2 mmol/l glucose: 640 +/- 120.1 vs. 1,615 +/- 196.9 pg. microg protein(-1). 30 min(-1) in normal vs. RIP-HGF islets, P < 0.01), have two- to threefold higher GLUT2 and glucokinase steady-state mRNA levels, take up and metabolize glucose more effectively, and most importantly, function at least twice as effectively after transplantation. These findings indicate that HGF has surprisingly positive effects on beta-cell mitogenesis, glucose sensing, beta-cell markers of differentiation, and transplant survival. It appears to have a unique and unanticipated effective profile as an islet mass- and function-enhancing agent in vivo.