Inflammatory Cytokines Stimulate Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Expression and Release from Pancreatic Beta Cells.

The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) play important roles in the progressive loss of beta-cell mass and function during development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We have recently showed that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 and -4 are expressed in pancreatic islets and inhibit beta-cell growth and function. In this study, we describe that IL-1ß and IFN-γ induce the expression of BMP-2 suggesting a possible role for BMP-2 in mediating the effects of IL-1ß and IFN-γ on beta-cell apoptosis and dysfunction. IL-1ß increased BMP-2 mRNA levels 6- and 3-fold in isolated islets of Langerhans from neonatal rat and human. Downstream target genes of the BMP pathway were also increased by cytokine treatment and could be reversed by neutralization of endogenous BMP activity. Nuclear factor kappa B- (NFκB) binding sites were identified in the rat BMP-2 promoter, and reporter assays verified the role of NFκB in cytokine-induced BMP-2 expression. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed NFκB binding to BMP-2 promoter upon IL-1ß stimulation in beta cells. In conclusion, we suggest that NFκB stimulates BMP-2 mRNA expression in rat and human beta cells upon cytokine exposure.

Bone morphogenetic protein 4 inhibits insulin secretion from rodent beta cells through regulation of calbindin1 expression and reduced voltage-dependent calcium currents.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Type 2 diabetes is characterised by progressive loss of pancreatic beta cell mass and function. Therefore, it is of therapeutic interest to identify factors with the potential to improve beta cell proliferation and insulin secretion. Bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) expression is increased in diabetic animals and BMP4 reduces glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Here, we investigate the molecular mechanism behind this inhibition. METHODS: BMP4-mediated inhibition of GSIS was investigated in detail using single cell electrophysiological measurements and live cell Ca(2+) imaging. BMP4-mediated gene expression changes were investigated by microarray profiling, quantitative PCR and western blotting. RESULTS: Prolonged exposure to BMP4 reduced GSIS from rodent pancreatic islets. This inhibition was associated with decreased exocytosis due to a reduced Ca(2+) current through voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels. To identify proteins involved in the inhibition of GSIS, we investigated global gene expression changes induced by BMP4 in neonatal rat pancreatic islets. Expression of the Ca(2+)-binding protein calbindin1 was significantly induced by BMP4. Overexpression of calbindin1 in primary islet cells reduced GSIS, and the effect of BMP4 on GSIS was lost in islets from calbindin1 (Calb1) knockout mice. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: We found BMP4 treatment to markedly inhibit GSIS from rodent pancreatic islets in a calbindin1-dependent manner. Calbindin1 is suggested to mediate the effect of BMP4 by buffering Ca(2+) and decreasing Ca(2+) channel activity, resulting in diminished insulin exocytosis. Both BMP4 and calbindin1 are potential pharmacological targets for the treatment of beta cell dysfunction.

Divalent metal transporter 1 regulates iron-mediated ROS and pancreatic ß cell fate in response to cytokines.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to target-cell damage in inflammatory and iron-overload diseases. Little is known about iron transport regulation during inflammatory attack. Through a combination of in vitro and in vivo studies, we show that the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1ß induces divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) expression correlating with increased ß cell iron content and ROS production. Iron chelation and siRNA and genetic knockdown of DMT1 expression reduce cytokine-induced ROS formation and cell death. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in the absence of cytokines in Dmt1 knockout islets is defective, highlighting a physiological role of iron and ROS in the regulation of insulin secretion. Dmt1 knockout mice are protected against multiple low-dose streptozotocin and high-fat diet-induced glucose intolerance, models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively. Thus, ß cells become prone to ROS-mediated inflammatory damage via aberrant cellular iron metabolism, a finding with potential general cellular implications.

Inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB pathway prevents beta cell failure and diet induced diabetes in Psammomys obesus.

BACKGROUND: High doses of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin and salicylates, improve glucose metabolism in insulin resistant and type 2 diabetic patients. It has also been shown that the glucose lowering effect is related to the unspecific ability of these drugs to inhibit inhibitor kinaseß (IKKß). In this study we have investigated the effect of a selective IKKß-inhibitor on beta cell survival and the prevention of diet induced type 2 diabetes in the gerbil Psammomys obesus (P. obesus). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: P. obesus were fed a diabetes inducing high energy diet for one month in the absence or presence of the IKKß-inhibitor. Body mass, blood glucose, HbA(1C), insulin production and pancreatic insulin stores were measured. The effects on beta cell survival were also studied in INS-1 cells and primary islets. The cells were exposed to IL-1ß and subsequently reactive oxygen species, insulin release and cell death were measured in the absence or presence of the IKKß-inhibitor. In primary islets and beta cells, IL-1ß induced the production of reactive oxygen species, reduced insulin production and increased beta cell death, which were all reversed by pre-treatment with the IKKß-inhibitor. In P. obesus the IKKß-inhibitor prevented the development of hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, and maintained pancreatic insulin stores with no effect on body weight. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Inhibition of IKKß activity prevents diet-induced diabetes in P. obesus and inhibits IL-1ß induced reactive oxygen species, loss of insulin production and beta cell death in vitro.

Inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB or Bax prevents endoplasmic reticulum stress- but not nitric oxide-mediated apoptosis in INS-1E cells.

Accumulating evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by mechanisms that include ER Ca(2+) depletion via NO-dependent down-regulation of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase 2b (SERCA2b) contributes to beta-cell death in type 1 diabetes. To clarify whether the molecular pathways elicited by NO and ER Ca(2+) depletion differ, we here compare the direct effects of NO, in the form of the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP), with the effects of SERCA2 inhibitor thapsigargin (TG) on MAPK, nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB), Bcl-2 proteins, ER stress, and apoptosis. Exposure of INS-1E cells to TG or SNAP caused caspase-3 cleavage and apoptosis. Both TG and SNAP induced activation of the proapoptotic transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP). However, other classical ER stress-induced markers such as up-regulation of ER chaperone Bip and alternative splicing of the transcription factor Xbp-1 were exclusively activated by TG. TG exposure caused NFkappaB activation, as assessed by IkappaB degradation and NFkappaB DNA binding. Inhibition of NFkappaB or the Bcl-2 family member Bax pathways protected beta-cells against TG- but not SNAP-induced beta-cell death. These data suggest that NO generation and direct SERCA2 inhibition cause two quantitative and qualitative different forms of ER stress. In contrast to NO, direct ER stress induced by SERCA inhibition causes activation of ER stress signaling pathways and elicit proapoptotic signaling via NFkappaB and Bax.