Expression, biosynthesis and release of preadipocyte factor-1/ delta-like protein/fetal antigen-1 in pancreatic beta-cells: possible physiological implications.

Preadipocyte factor-1 (Pref-1)/delta-like protein/fetal antigen-1 (FA1) is a member of the epidermal growth factor-like family. It is widely expressed in embryonic tissues, whereas in adults it is confined to the adrenal gland, the anterior pituitary, the endocrine pancreas, the testis and the ovaries. We have previously cloned Pref-1 from neonatal rat islets stimulated by GH. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the biosynthesis and release of Pref-1/FA1 in beta-cells and to determine if Pref-1/FA1 is mediating the mitogenic effect of GH in insulin-producing cells. First we studied the biosynthesis and processing of Pref-1 to the soluble form, FA1, in pancreatic islets and insulinoma cells transfected with Pref-1 cDNA. We measured the release of FA1 by ELISA and the possible effect of FA1 in GH-stimulated beta-cell proliferation by incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in insulin-positive islet cells. We found that Pref-1 was synthesized in normal islets and in RINm5F insulinoma cells and released into the medium in two forms, of which one corresponded to FA1. Both the expression of the mRNA for Pref-1 and the release of the soluble form(s) were stimulated by GH and prolactin (PRL). Whereas 2 h exposure to high glucose or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine stimulated insulin release, only a small change was seen in FA1 release, suggesting that the FA1 is released by a different pathway than insulin. However, long-term exposure (48 h) to high glucose increased FA1 secretion, indicating that FA1 is regulated by glucose. Neither FA1 nor conditioned medium from GH-stimulated islets depleted for GH was able to increase beta-cell replication and overexpression of Pref-1 resulted in attenuated proliferation of the RINm5F cells. By immunocytochemistry of GH-stimulated islet cells no correlation between high Pref-1 expression and BrdU incorporation was observed and there was an inverse relationship between the levels of insulin and Pref-1. These results indicate that Pref-1/FA1 is not mediating the mitogenic effect of GH and PRL. Therefore the function of Pref-1 in the beta-cell remains unknown.

Regulation of beta-cell mass by hormones and growth factors.

Substantial new information has accumulated on molecular mechanisms of pancreas development, regulation of beta-cell gene expression, and the role of growth factors in the differentiation, growth, and regeneration of beta-cells. The present review focuses on some recent studies on the mechanism of action of cytokines such as growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) in beta-cell proliferation and gene expression-in particular, the role of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins. The implication of the discovery of suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins for the interaction between stimulatory and inhibitory cytokines, including GH, PRL, leptin, and the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 and interferon-gamma, in beta-cell survival is not yet clear. Recent studies indicate a role of cell adhesion molecules and the delta-like protein preadipocyte factor 1/fetal antigen 1 (Pref-1/FA-1) in cytokine-induced beta-cell growth and development. Surprisingly, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) was recently found to stimulate not only insulin secretion but also beta-cell replication and differentiation, which may present a new perspective in treatment of type 2 diabetes. Together with the intriguing reports on positive effects of insulin on both beta-cell growth and function, a picture is emerging of an integrated network of signaling events acting in concert to control beta-cell mass adaptation to insulin demand.

Growth hormone- and prolactin-induced proliferation of insulinoma cells, INS-1, depends on activation of STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5).

GH and PRL stimulate proliferation and insulin production of pancreatic beta-cells. Whereas GH- and PRL-regulated transcription of the insulin gene in insulinoma cells has been shown to depend on STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5), the signaling pathways involved in GH/PRL-induced beta-cell replication are unknown. The roles of various signaling pathways in human GH (hGH)-induced DNA synthesis were studied by analysis of the effect of specific inhibitors in both the insulin-producing cell line, INS-1, and in primary beta-cells. The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)-inhibitor, PD98059, as well as the mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 (MAPKp38) inhibitor, SB203580, partially inhibited hGH- induced proliferation in INS-1 cells but had no significant effect in primary beta-cells. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, blocked both basal and hGH-induced proliferation in INS-1 cells, but had no inhibitory effect in primary beta-cells. Wortmannin, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, inhibited hGH-induced proliferation neither in INS-1 cells nor in primary beta-cells, whereas the tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, completely inhibited hGH- induced proliferation in both primary beta-cells and INS-1 cells. To analyze the possible role of STAT5 in hGH-induced proliferation, a dominant negative STAT5 mutant, STAT5Delta749, was expressed in INS-1 cells under the control of a doxycycline- inducible promoter by stable transfection. Two clones were found to exhibit dose-dependent, doxycycline-inducible expression of STAT5Delta749 and suppression of hGH-stimulated transcriptional activation of a STAT5-regulated PRL receptor (PRLR) promoter-reporter construct. Furthermore, induction of STAT5Delta749 expression completely inhibited hGH-induced DNA synthesis. Analysis of endogenous gene expression revealed a doxycycline-dependent inhibition of hGH-stimulated PRLR and cyclin D2 mRNA levels. Our results suggest that GH/PRL-induced beta-cell proliferation is dependent on the Janus Kinase2 (JAK2)/STAT5 signaling pathway but not the MAPK, PI3K, and PKC signaling pathways. Furthermore, the cell cycle regulator cyclin D2 may be a crucial target gene for STAT5 in this process.