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Obesity and lipid metabolism dysregulation are often associated with insulin resistance, and can lead to type 2 diabetes. However, mechanisms linking insulin resistance, high levels of plasma free fatty acids (FFA), and β cell failure remain unclear. The aim of this work was to search for proteins whose synthesis was modified by a short exposure to FFA. This could help in the future to identify molecular mechanisms underlying islet dysfunction in the presence of FFA. Therefore, we assessed by mass spectrometry de novo protein synthesis of freshly isolated rat islets after palmitate short exposure. Quantitative proteome and secretome analyses were performed by combining metabolic incorporation of azidohomoalanine (AHA) and pulse labeling with stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC). We showed that pancreatic islets, in response to 4-h exposure to palmitate, increased the synthesis of ribosomal proteins and proteins of the cytoskeleton, and increased their secretion of proteins involved in insulin synthesis and insulin secretion, as well as insulin itself. First, these results show that de novo protein quantification analysis by LC-MS/MS is a useful method to investigate cellular modifications induced by FFA on pancreatic islets. Also, these results show that short exposure to palmitate increases the expression of ribosomal proteins and proteins involved in insulin secretion, and it remains to be determined if these effects are responsible or linked to the harmful effect of palmitate on β cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic islets adapt to the increase in insulin demand during pregnancy by upregulating β-cell number, insulin synthesis, and secretion. These changes require prolactin receptor (PrlR) signaling, as mice with PrlR deletion are glucose intolerant with a lower β-cell mass. Prolactin also prevents β-cell apoptosis. Many genes participate in these adaptive changes in the islet, and Lrrc55 is one of the most upregulated genes with unknown function in islets. Because Lrrc55 expression increases in parallel to the increase in β-cell number and insulin production during pregnancy, we hypothesize that Lrrc55 might regulate β-cell proliferation/apoptosis (thus β-cell number) and insulin synthesis. Here, we found that Lrrc55 expression was upregulated by >60-fold during pregnancy in a PrlR-dependent manner, and this increase was restricted only to the islets. Overexpression of Lrrc55 in β-cells had minimal effect on β-cell proliferation and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion but protected β-cells from glucolipotoxicity-induced reduction in insulin gene expression. Moreover, Lrrc55 protects β-cells from glucolipotoxicity- induced apoptosis, with upregulation of prosurvival signals and downregulation of proapoptotic signals of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway. Furthermore, Lrrc55 attenuated calcium depletion induced by glucolipotoxicity, which may contribute to its antiapoptotic effect. Hence our findings suggest that Lrrc55 is a novel prosurvival factor that is upregulated specifically in islets during pregnancy, and it prevents conversion of adaptive unfolded protein response to unresolved ER stress and apoptosis in β-cells. Lrrc55 could be a potential therapeutic target in diabetes by reducing ER stress and promoting β-cell survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human islet research is providing new insights into human islet biology and diabetes, using islets isolated at multiple US centers from donors with varying characteristics. This creates challenges for understanding, interpreting, and integrating research findings from the many laboratories that use these islets. In what is, to our knowledge, the first standardized assessment of human islet preparations from multiple isolation centers, we measured insulin secretion from 202 preparations isolated at 15 centers over 11 years and noted five distinct patterns of insulin secretion. Approximately three quarters were appropriately responsive to stimuli, but one quarter were dysfunctional, with unstable basal insulin secretion and/or an impairment in stimulated insulin secretion. Importantly, the patterns of insulin secretion by responsive human islet preparations (stable Baseline and Fold stimulation of insulin secretion) isolated at different centers were similar and improved slightly over the years studied. When all preparations studied were considered, basal and stimulated insulin secretion did not correlate with isolation center, biological differences of the islet donor, or differences in isolation, such as Cold Ischemia Time. Dysfunctional islet preparations could not be predicted from the information provided by the isolation center and had altered expression of genes encoding components of the glucose-sensing pathway, but not of insulin production or cell death. These results indicate that insulin secretion by most preparations from multiple centers is similar but that in vitro responsiveness of human islets cannot be predicted, necessitating preexperimental human islet assessment. These results should be considered when one is designing, interpreting, and integrating experiments using human islets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood glucose concentration is tightly regulated by the rate of insulin secretion and clearance, a process partially controlled by sensory neurons serving as metabolic sensors in relevant tissues. The activity of these neurons is regulated by the products of metabolism which regulate transmitter release, and recent evidence suggests that neuronally expressed ion channels of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family function in this critical process. Here, we report the novel finding that the cold and menthol-gated channel TRPM8 is necessary for proper insulin homeostasis. Mice lacking TRPM8 respond normally to a glucose challenge while exhibiting prolonged hypoglycemia in response to insulin. Additionally, Trpm8-/- mice have increased rates of insulin clearance compared with wild-type animals and increased expression of insulin-degrading enzyme in the liver. TRPM8 channels are not expressed in the liver, but TRPM8-expressing sensory afferents innervate the hepatic portal vein, suggesting a TRPM8-mediated neuronal control of liver insulin clearance. These results demonstrate that TRPM8 is a novel regulator of serum insulin and support the role of sensory innervation in metabolic homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to its primary role in regulating glucose production from the liver, glucagon has many other actions, reflected by the wide tissue distribution of the glucagon receptor (Gcgr). To investigate the role of glucagon in the regulation of insulin secretion and whole body glucose homeostasis in vivo, we generated mice overexpressing the Gcgr specifically on pancreatic β-cells (RIP-Gcgr). In vivo and in vitro insulin secretion in response to glucagon and glucose was increased 1.7- to 3.9-fold in RIP-Gcgr mice compared with controls. Consistent with the observed increase in insulin release in response to glucagon and glucose, the glucose excursion resulting from both a glucagon challenge and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT) was significantly reduced in RIP-Gcgr mice compared with controls. However, RIP-Gcgr mice display similar glucose responses to an insulin challenge. β-Cell mass and pancreatic insulin content were also increased (20 and 50%, respectively) in RIP-Gcgr mice compared with controls. When fed a high-fat diet (HFD), both control and RIP-Gcgr mice developed similar degrees of obesity and insulin resistance. However, the severity of both fasting hyperglycemia and impaired glucose tolerance (lOT) were reduced in RIP-Gcgr mice compared with controls. Furthermore, the insulin response of RIPGcgr mice to an TPGTT was twice that of controls when fed the HFD. These data indicate that increased pancreatic β-cell expression of the Ocgr increased insulin secretion, pancreatic insulin content, β-cell mass, and, when mice were fed a HFD, partially protected against hyperglycemia and IGT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved glucose tolerance to sequential glucose loading (Staub-Traugott effect) is an important determinant of day-to-day glycemic exposure. Its mechanisms have not been clearly established. We recruited 17 healthy volunteers to receive two sequential oral glucose tolerance tests (OGT1's), at time 0 mm and 180 mm (Study 1). The protocol was repeated on a separate day (Study Ii) except that plasma glucose was clamped at 8.3 mmol/l between 60 and 180 mm. 3-Cell function was analyzed by mathematical modeling of C-peptide concentrations. In a subgroup, glucose kinetics were measured by a triple-tracer technique (infusion of [6,6-2H2]glucose and labeling of the 2 glucose loads with [l-2H]glucose and [U-13C]glucose). In both Studies I and II, the plasma glucose response to the second OGTT equaled 84 ± 2% (P = 0.003) of the response to the first OGTT. Absolute insulin secretion was lower (37.8 ± 4.3 vs. 42.8 ± 5.1 nmol/m2, P = 0.02), but glucose potentiation (i.e., higher secretion at the same glycemia) was stronger (1.08 ± 0.02- vs. 0.92 ± 0.02-fold, P = 0.006), the increment being higher in Study!! (+36 ± 5%) than Study! (+19 ± 6%, P < 0.05). In pooled data, a higher glucose area during the first OGTT was associated with a higher potentiation during the second OGTT (rho0.60, P = 0.002). Neither insulin clearance nor glucose clear- ance differed between loads, and appearance of glucose over 3 h totalled 60 ± 6 g for the first load and 52 ± 5 g for the second load (P not significant). Fasting endogenous glucose production [13.3 ± 0.6 μmol·min-1·kg fat-free mass (FFM)-1] averaged 6.0 ± 3.8 μmol·min-1kg FFM-1 between 0 and 180 mm and 1.7 ± 2.6 between 180 and 360 mm (P < 0.03). Glucose potentiation and stronger suppression of endogenous glucose release are the main mechanisms underlying the Staub-Traugott effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key and highly regulated enzyme that is required for the biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids is stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), which catalyzes the D[sup9]-cis desaturation of a range of fatty acyl-CoA substrates. The preferred substrates are palmitoyl- and stearoyl-CoA, which are converted into palmitoleoyl- and oleoyl-CoA respectively. Oleate is the most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid in dietary fat and is therefore readily available. Studies of mice that have a naturally occurring mutation in the SCD-1 gene isoform as well as a mouse model with a targeted disruption of the SCD gene (SCD-1[sup-I-]) have revealed the role of de novo synthesized oleate and thus the physiological importance of SCD-1 expression. SCD-1 deficiency results in reduced body adiposity, increased insulin sensitivity, and resistance to diet- induced obesity. The expression of several genes of lipid oxidation are upregulated, whereas lipid synthesis genes are downregulated. SCD-l was also found to be a component of the novel metabolic response to the hormone leptin. Therefore, SCD-I appears to be an important metabolic control point, and inhibition of its expression could be of benefit for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. In this article, we summarize the recent and timely advances concerning the important role of SCD in the biochemistry and physiology of lipid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent data have shown that individuals with low insulin sensitivity (SO also have reduced whole body maximal oxygen uptake. The objectives of this study were to determine 1) whether muscle mitochondrial function was independently related to SI after being adjusted for known determinants of SI and 2) whether lower SI among African-American (AA) vs. Caucasian-American (CA) women was due to lower muscle mitochondrial function among AA women. Subjects were 37 CA and 22 AA premenopausal women (age: 33.6 ± 6.3 yr). Mitochondrial function [time constant of ADP (ADPtc)] was assessed during a 90-s unilateral isometric contraction using 31p magnetic resonance spectroscopy, S1 with an intravenous glucose tolerance test, body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with computed tomography. ANOVA was used to compare AA and CA groups, and multiple linear regression modeling was used to identify independent predictors of SI. Between-race comparisons indicated that muscle oxidative capacity was lower among AAs vs. CAs (ADPtc: 25.6 ± 9.8 vs. 21.4 ± 9.9 s). Multiple linear regression models for the dependent variable S1 contained 1) VAT and race and 2) VAT, race, and ADPtc. Significant independent effects for all predictor variables were observed in both the first (r² = 0.345) and second (r² = 0.410) models. The partial correlation for race was lower in the second model (-0.404 vs. -0.300), suggesting that muscle mitochondrial function contributed to the racial difference in SI. Lower muscle mitochondrial function among AAs may in part explain lower SI among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural and endocrine factors (i.e., Ach and GLP-1) restore defective glucose-stimulated insulin release in pancreatic islets lacking sulfonylurea type 1 receptors (SUR1-/-) (Doliba NM, Qin w, Vatamaniuk MZ, Li C, Zelent D, Najafi H, Buettger CW, Collins HW, Carr RD, Magnuson MA, and Matschinsky FM. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 286: E834–E843, 2004). The goal of the present study was to assess fuel-induced respiration in SUR1-/- islets and to correlate it with changes in intracellular Ca2+, insulin, and glucagon secretion. By use of a method based on O2 quenching of phosphorescence, the O2 consumption rate (OCR) of isolated islets was measured online in a perifusion system. Basal insulin release (IR) was 7–10 times higher in SUR1-/- compared with control (CON) islets, but the OCR was comparable. The effect of high glucose (16.7 mM) on IR and OCR was markedly reduced in SUR1-/- islets compared with CON. Ach (0.5 μM) in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose caused a large burst of IR in CON and SUR1-/- islets with minor changes in OCR in both groups of islets. In SUR1-/- islets, high glucose failed to inhibit glucagon secretion during stimulation with amino acids or Ach. We conclude that 1) reduced glucose responsiveness of SUR1-/- islets may be in part due to impaired energetics, as evidenced by significant decrease in glucose-stimulated OCR; 2) elevated intracellular Ca2+ levels may contribute to altered insulin and glucagon secretion in SUR1-/- islets; and 3) The amplitudes of the changes in OCR during glucose and Ach stimulation do not correlate with IR in normal and SUR1-/- islets suggesting that the energy requirements for exocytosis are minor compared with other ATP-consuming reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that Topiramate (TPM) treatment normalizes whole body insulin sensitivity in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed male Wistar rats. Thus drug treatment markedly lowered glucose and insulin levels during glucose tolerance tests and caused increased insulin sensitization in adipose and muscle tissues as assessed by euglycemic clamp studies. The insulin-stimulated glucose disposal rate increased twofold (indicating enhanced muscle insulin sensitivity), and suppression of circulating FFAs increased by 200 to 300%, consistent with increased adipose tissue insulin sensitivity. There were no effects of TPM on hepatic insulin sensitivity in these TPM-treated HFD-fed rats. In addition, TPM administration resulted in a three- to fourfold increase in circulating levels of total and high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin (Acrp30). Western blot analysis revealed normal AMPK (Thr172) phosphorylation in liver with a twofold increased phospho-AMPK in skeletal muscle in TPM-treated rats. In conclusion, 1) TPM treatment prevents overall insulin resistance in HFD male Wistar rats; 2) drug treatment improved insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue associated with enhanced AMPK phosphorylation: and 3) the tissue ‘specific’ effects are associated with increased serum levels of adiponectin, particularly the HMW component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously demonstrated that fetuses from undernourished pregnant rats exhibited increased β-cell mass and hyperinsulinemia, whereas keeping food restriction until adult age caused reduced β-cell mass, hypoinsulinemia, and decreased insulin secretion. Because these alterations can be related to insulin availability, we have now investigated early and long-term effects of protein calorie food restriction on insulin mRNA levels as well as the possible mechanisms that could modulate the endogenous insulin mRNA content. We used fetuses at 21.5 days of gestation proceeding from food-restricted rats during the last week of pregnancy and 70-day-old rats undernourished from day 14 of gestation until adult age and with respective controls. Insulin mRNA levels, glucose transporters, and total glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative fluxes were evaluated. We additionally analyzed undernutrition effects on signals implicated in glucose-mediated insulin gene expression, especially pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1), stress-activated protein kinase-2 (p38/SAPK2), and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. Undernourished fetuses showed increased insulin mRNA, oxidative glucose metabolism, and p38/SAPK2 levels, whereas undernutrition until adult age provoked a decrease in insulin gene expression, oxidative glucose metabolism, and PDX-1 levels. The results indicate that food restriction caused changes in insulin gene expression and content leading to alterations in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The molecular events, increased p38/SAPK2 levels in fetuses and decreased PDX-1 levels in adults, seem to be the responsible for the altered insulin mRNA expression. Moreover, because PDX-1 activation appears to be regulated by glucose-derived metabolite(s), the altered glucose oxidation caused by undernutrition could in some manner affect insulin mRNA expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]