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Olfactory receptors (ORs) are extensively expressed in olfactory as well as non-olfactory tissues. Although many OR transcripts are expressed in non-olfactory tissues, only a few studies demonstrate the functional role of ORs. Here, we verified that mouse pancreatic α-cells express potential OR-mediated downstream effectors. Moreover, high levels of mRNA for the olfactory receptors Olfr543, Olfr544, Olfr545, and Olfr1349 were expressed in α-cells as assessed using RNA-sequencing, microarray, and quantitative real-time RT-PCR analyses. Treatment with dicarboxylic acids (azelaic acid and sebacic acid) increased intracellular Ca 2+ mobilization in pancreatic α-cells. The azelaic acid-induced Ca 2+ response as well as glucagon secretion was concentration- and time-dependent manner. Olfr544 was expressed in α-cells, and the EC 50 value of azelaic acid to Olfr544 was 19.97 μM, whereas Olfr545 did not respond to azelaic acid. Our findings demonstrate that Olfr544 responds to azelaic acid to regulate glucagon secretion through Ca 2+ mobilization in α-cells of the mouse pancreatic islets, suggesting that Olfr544 may be an important therapeutic target for metabolic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) regulates several cellular functions, but its physiological role in pancreatic islet cells remains to be investigated. In this study, we confirmed the presence of PPAR-γ in rat isolated islets and examined its role on insulin and glucagon secretion by using PPAR-γ-overexpressed islets. PPAR-γ overexpression significantly suppressed insulin secretion induced by stimulatory concentration of glucose (p<0.05). In addition, insulin secretion evoked by high potassium depolarization also was significantly decreased from PPAR-γ-overexpressed islets (p<0.05). On the other hand, no significant change in glucagon release was observed after high potassium depolarization between PPAR-γ-overexpressed and control islets. Insulin and glucagon content in islets was not statistically different between the two groups. In addition, the expression of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) was found to be induced in PPAR-γ-overexpressed islets. This result clearly indicates that the deteriorative effect of PPAR-γ overexpression on the secretory machinery is selective for pancreatic β-cells. And it is possible that its site of action can be located in the energy-consuming exocytotic process of insulin secretory granules, and that the reduction of ATP production through increased UCP-2 reduces insulin exocytosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]