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The insulin receptor signaling pathway is present in beta-cells and is believed to be important in beta-cell function. We show here that insulin directly regulates beta-cell function in isolated rodent islets. Long-term insulin treatment caused a sustained increase in [Ca(2+)](i) and enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in rat islets, but failed to increase insulin content. Chronic activation of insulin receptor signaling by IRS-1 overexpression in the beta-cell inhibited gene expression of SERCA3, an endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase. Insulin gene transcription was stimulated by insulin receptor signaling and insulin mimetic compound (L-783 281) in a glucose- and Grb2-dependent manner. Thus, beta-cell SERCA3 is a target for insulin regulation, which implies that beta-cell Ca(2+) homeostasis is regulated in an autocrine feedback loop by insulin. This study identifies a novel regulatory pathway of insulin secretion at the molecular level with two main components: (1) regulation of intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis via SERCA3 and (2) regulation of insulin gene expression.

Leucine or the nonmetabolized leucine analog +/- 2-amino-2-norbornane-carboxylic acid (BCH) (both at 10 mmol/l) induced biphasic insulin secretion in the presence of 2 mmol/l glutamine (Q2) in cultured mouse islets pretreated for 40 min without glucose but with Q2 present. The beta-cell response consisted of an initial peak of 20- to 25-fold above basal and a less marked secondary phase. However, BCH produced only a delayed response, while leucine was totally ineffective when islets were pretreated with 25 mmol/l glucose plus Q2. With Q2, 10 mmol/l BCH or leucine caused a nearly threefold increase, a twofold increase, or had no effect on cytosolic Ca2+ levels in islets pretreated for 40 min with 0, 5, or 15 mmol/l glucose, respectively. Thus, pretreatment of islets with high glucose inhibited BCH- and leucine-induced cytosolic Ca2+ changes and insulin release. Glucose decreased glutamine oxidation in cultured rat islets when BCH was present at 10 mmol/l, but not in its absence, with a lowest effective level of approximately 0.1 mmol/l, a maximum of 18-30 mmol/l, and an inhibitory concentration, 50%, of approximately 3 mmol/l. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that glucose inhibits glutaminolysis in pancreatic beta-cells in a concentration-dependent manner and hence blocks leucine-stimulated insulin secretion. We postulate that in the basal interprandial state, glutaminolysis of beta-cells is partly turned on because glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is activated by a decreased P-potential due to partial fuel depletion and sensitization to endogenous activators such as leucine. Additionally, it may contribute significantly to basal insulin release, which is known to be responsible for about half of the insulin released daily. The data explain "leucine-hypersensitivity" of beta-cells during hypoglycemia and contribute to the elucidation of the GDH-linked syndrome of hyperinsulinism associated with elevated serum ammonia levels. Thus, understanding the precise regulation and role of beta-cell glutaminolysis is probably central to our concept of normal blood glucose control.

Activation of the sphingomyelin/ceramide pathway may mediate interleukin-1-induced beta-cell death (Welsh, N: Interleuken-1beta-induced ceramide and diacylglycerol generation may lead to activation of the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and the transcription factor ATF-2 in the insulin-producing cell line RINm5F. J Biol Chem 271: 8307-8312, 1996). In this report, we have examined this pathway in more detail. Culture of beta-TC3 cells with 25 micromol/l ceramide analogs (N-acetyl- and N-hexanoylsphingosine) for 72 h did not significantly affect glucose- and carbachol-induced insulin secretion. Dihydroceramide (N-acetyl- or N-hexanoylsphinganine), a structurally similar analog, had no effect on agonist-induced secretion. However, ceramide analogs both time- and dose-dependently decreased cell viability, while the dihydroceramide analog had no effect. The ceramide effect on cell viability mimicked the effect of the cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IFN-gamma, reported stimulators of sphingomyelin hydrolysis. Cytokines, however, failed to stimulate sphingomyelin metabolism. Furthermore, using two different methods to quantitate ceramide, cytokines failed to cause an increase in beta-cell ceramide content versus unstimulated or time-matched vehicle controls. Taken together, these data suggest that although ceramide analogs mimic the cytotoxic effect of cytokines, activation of the sphingomyelin/ceramide signaling pathway is not involved in cytokine-induced beta-cell death.

There has been a large amount of recent literature suggesting that omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids found in fish oils should be incorporated into the diet for the purpose of decreasing serum cholesterol levels. Inclusion of these fatty acids in the diet has been shown to decrease total serum cholesterol as well as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Some of these trials have been complicated by the fact that many of the subjects are afflicted with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Unfortunately, the effects of omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids on insulin secretion have not been well characterized. In this study, we have examined the effect of a common omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5), on insulin secretion. Using the beta-TC3 insulinoma cell line as a model system for studying insulin exocytosis, C20:5 selectively potentiated glucose-induced insulin secretion. At the same concentration at which it significantly increased glucose-induced insulin secretion, C20:5 did not affect glucose metabolism or intracellular free calcium concentrations. C20:5 also augmented potassium-induced insulin secretion. These data suggest that C20:5, an abundant omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid, acts to augment insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner.

Glucose controls insulin release by beta-cells at two sites at least. By controlling the membrane potential, it controls the influx of Ca2+ and the rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+ which triggers exocytosis. At this level, the principal targets of glucose are the K(+)-ATP channels whose activity may be modulated by changes in the ATP/ADP ratio. A second, newly identified, mechanism of regulation is independent of changes in beta-cell membrane potential and of changes in Cai2+. It is not sufficient to induce insulin release, but serves to increase the response. This appears to be achieved through an amplification of the effectiveness of Cai2+ on the secretory process and may also depend on the changes in energy state of beta-cells.

Glucose stimulation of insulin release involves closure of ATP-sensitive K+ channels (K(+)-ATP channels), depolarization, and Ca2+ influx in B cells. However, by using diazoxide to open K(+)-ATP channels, and 30 mM K to depolarize the membrane, we could demonstrate that another mechanism exists, by which glucose can control insulin release independently from changes in K(+)-ATP channel activity and in membrane potential (Gembal et al. 1992. J. Clin. Invest. 89:1288-1295). A similar approach was followed here to investigate, with mouse islets, the nature of this newly identified mechanism. The membrane potential-independent increase in insulin release produced by glucose required metabolism of the sugar and was mimicked by other metabolized secretagogues. It also required elevated levels of cytoplasmic Cai2+, but was not due to further changes in Cai2+. It could not be ascribed to acceleration of phosphoinositide metabolism, or to activation of protein kinases A or C. Thus, glucose did not increase inositol phosphate levels and hardly affected cAMP levels. Moreover, increasing inositol phosphates by vasopressin or cAMP by forskolin, and activating protein kinase C by phorbol esters did not mimic the action of glucose on release, and down-regulation of protein kinase C did not prevent these effects. On the other hand, it correlated with an increase in the ATP/ADP ratio in islet cells. We suggest that the membrane potential-independent control of insulin release exerted by glucose involves changes in the energy state of B cells.

The effects of vanadate (Na3VO4) on pancreatic B-cell function were studied in normal mouse islets. Vanadate did not affect basal insulin release but potentiated the effect of 7-30 mM glucose at concentrations of 0.1-1 mM. This effect was progressive and slowly reversible. It was abolished by omission of extracellular Ca2+ but unaffected by blockers of adrenergic or muscarinic receptors. Comparison of the changes in membrane potential, 86Rb efflux and 45Ca efflux that vanadate and ouabain produced in B-cells made it possible to exclude the hypothesis that vanadate increases insulin release by blocking the sodium pump. Vanadate was also without effect on cAMP levels. On the other hand, it markedly changed the characteristics of the Ca(2+)-dependent electrical activity and of the oscillations of cytoplasmic Ca2+ recorded in B-cells stimulated by 15 mM glucose. In the steady state, Ca2+ influx was increased by vanadate, and this resulted in a rise in cytoplasmic Ca2+. The exact mechanisms underlying these changes could not be established but a blockade of K channels was excluded. In the presence of LiCl, vanadate markedly increased inositol phosphate levels in islet cells. This effect was attenuated but not suppressed by omission of Ca2+. A small increase in inositol bisphosphate was still produced by vanadate in the absence of LiCl. These results suggest that vanadate both stimulates phosphoinositide breakdown and inhibits inositol phosphate degradation. In conclusion, vanadate does not induce insulin release, but markedly potentiates the stimulation by glucose. This property is not due to an inhibition of the sodium pump or to a rise in cAMP concentration. It results from a complex interplay between changes in B-cell membrane potential, phosphoinositide metabolism and Ca2+ handling.

Oxytocin (OT) produced a dose-dependent increase in somatostatin, glucagon and insulin release by isolated mouse islets. A small effect on somatostatin release was observed with 0.1 nM-OT, but 1-10 nM-OT was required to affect A- and B- cells significantly. The effects of OT on somatostatin and glucagon release were similar in the presence of 3 mM- and 10 mM-glucose. No change in insulin release was produced by OT in 3 mM-glucose, but a stimulation was still observed in the presence of a maximally effective concentration of glucose (30 mM). The increase in insulin release produced by OT (in 15 mM-glucose) was accompanied by small accelerations of 86Rb and 45Ca efflux from islet cells. Omission of extracellular Ca2+ accentuated the effect of OT on 86Rb efflux, attenuated that on 45Ca efflux, and abolished that on release. OT never inhibited 86Rb efflux. It did not affect the resting potential of B-cells, but slightly increased the Ca2(+)-dependent electrical activity induced by 15 mM-glucose. OT did not affect cyclic AMP levels, but increased inositol phosphate levels in islet cells. It is suggested that the amplification of glucose-induced insulin release that OT produces is due to a stimulation of phosphoinositide metabolism, and presumably an activation of protein kinase C, rather than to a change in cyclic AMP levels or a direct action on the membrane potential. Since OT is present in the pancreas, it is possible that it exerts a neuropeptidergic control of the islet function.

The mechanisms by which arginine-vasopressin (AVP) affects pancreatic B-cell function were studied in normal mouse islets. AVP produced a dose-dependent (0.1-1000 nM; EC50 approximately 1-2 nM) amplification of glucose-induced insulin release. This amplification was of slow onset and reversibility. AVP was ineffective when the concentration of glucose was less than 7 mM, but was still very effective in 30 mM glucose. The increase in insulin release produced by AVP was accompanied by small accelerations of 86Rb and 45Ca efflux from islet cells. Omission of extracellular Ca2+ accentuated the effect of AVP on 86Rb efflux, attenuated that on 45Ca efflux, and abolished that on release. Under no condition did AVP inhibit 86Rb efflux. AVP did not significantly affect cAMP levels, but increased inositol phosphate levels in islet cells, even in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. AVP did not affect the membrane potential in unstimulated B-cells and augmented glucose-induced electrical activity only slightly. This was not due to a direct action on ATP-sensitive K+ channels as revealed by patch-clamp recordings (whole cell and outside-out patches). In conclusion, AVP is not an initiator of insulin release, but it potently amplifies glucose-induced insulin release in normal mouse B-cells. This effect involves a stimulation of phosphoinositide metabolism, and presumably an activation of protein kinase C, rather than a change in cAMP levels or a direct control of the membrane potential.