Genetic disruption of protein phosphatase 5 in mice prevents high-fat diet feeding-induced weight gain.

The role of serine/threonine protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) in the development of obesity and insulin resistance associated with high-fat diet-feeding (HFD) was examined using PP5-deficient mice (Ppp5c(-/-)). Despite similar caloric intake, Ppp5c(-/-) mice on HFD gained markedly less weight and did not accumulate visceral fat compared to wild-type littermates (Ppp5c(+/+)). On a control diet, Ppp5c(-/-) mice had markedly improved glucose control compared to Ppp5c(+/+) mice, an effect diminished by HFD. However, even after 10 weeks of HFD glucose control in Ppp5c(-/-) mice was similar to that observed in Ppp5c(+/+) mice on the control diet. Thus, PP5 deficiency confers protection against HFD-induced weight gain in mice.

Serine/threonine protein phosphatase 5 regulates glucose homeostasis in vivo and apoptosis signalling in mouse pancreatic islets and clonal MIN6 cells.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: During the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, beta cells are often exposed to a high glucose/hyperlipidaemic environment, in which the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are elevated. In turn, ROS can trigger an apoptotic response leading to beta cell death, by activating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling cascades. Here we test the hypothesis that serine/threonine protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) acts to suppress proapoptotic c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signalling in beta cells. METHODS: Ppp5c(-/-) and Ppp5c(+/+) mice were subjected to intraperitoneal glucose (IPGTT) or insulin tolerance tests. Pancreatic islets from Ppp5c(-/-) and Ppp5c(+/+) mice or MIN6 cells treated with short-interfering RNA targeting PP5 were exposed to palmitate or H(2)O(2) to activate MAPK signalling. Changes in protein phosphorylation, mRNA expression, apoptosis and insulin secretion were detected by western blot analysis, quantitative RT-PCR or ELISA. RESULTS: Ppp5c(-/-) mice weighed less and exhibited reduced fasting glycaemia and improved glucose tolerance during IPGTT, but retained normal insulin sensitivity and islet volume. Comparison of MAPK signalling in islets from Ppp5c(-/-) mice and MIN6 cells revealed that the lack of PP5 was associated with enhanced H(2)O(2)-induced phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun. Cells with reduced PP5 also showed enhanced JNK phosphorylation and apoptosis after palmitate treatment. PP5 suppression in MIN6 cells correlated with hypersecretion of insulin in response to glucose. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: PP5 deficiency in mice is associated with reduced weight gain, lower fasting glycaemia, and improved glucose tolerance during IPGTT. At a molecular level, PP5 helps suppress apoptosis in beta cells by a mechanism that involves regulation of JNK phosphorylation.

Phenotyping of individual pancreatic islets locates genetic defects in stimulus secretion coupling to Niddm1i within the major diabetes locus in GK rats.

The major diabetes quantitative trait locus (Niddm1), which segregates in crosses between GK rats affected with spontaneous type 2-like diabetes and normoglycemic F344 rats, encodes at least two different diabetes susceptibility genes. Congenic strains for the two subloci (Niddm1f and Niddm1i) have been generated by transfer of GK alleles onto the genome of F344 rats. Whereas the Niddm1f phenotype implicated insulin resistance, the Niddm1i phenotype displayed diabetes related to insulin deficiency. Individual islets from 16-week-old congenic rats were characterized for insulin release and oxygen tension (pO(2)). In the presence of 3 mmol/l glucose, insulin release from Niddm1f and Niddm1i islets was approximately 5 pmol. g(-1). s(-1) and pO(2) was 120 mmHg. Similar recordings were obtained from GK and F344 islets. When glucose was raised to 11 mmol/l, insulin release increased significantly in Niddm1f and F344 islets but was essentially unchanged in islets from GK and Niddm1i. The high glucose concentration lowered pO(2) to the same extent in islets from all strains. Addition of 1 mmol/l tolbutamide to the perifusion medium further increased pulsatile insulin release threefold in all islets. The pulse frequency was approximately 0.4 min(-1). alpha-Ketoisocaproate (11 mmol/l) alone increased pulsatile insulin release eightfold in islets from Niddm1f, Niddm1i, and control F344 rats but had no effect on insulin release from GK islets. These secretory patterns in response to alpha-ketoisocaproate were paralleled by reduction of pO(2) in Niddm1f, Niddm1i, and control F344 islets and no change of pO(2) in GK islets. The results demonstrate that Niddm1i carries alleles of gene(s) that reduce glucose-induced insulin release and that are amenable to molecular identification by genetic fine mapping.

Glucose-regulated pulsatile insulin release from mouse islets via the K(ATP) channel-independent pathway.

OBJECTIVE: Regulation of insulin release by glucose involves dual pathways, including or not inhibition of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels (K(ATP) channels). Whereas the K(ATP) channel-dependent pathway produces pulsatile release of insulin it is not clear whether the independent pathway also generates such kinetics. DESIGN AND METHODS: To clarify this matter, insulin secretion and cytoplasmic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) were studied in perifused pancreatic islets from ob/ob mice. Insulin release was measured by ELISA technique and [Ca(2+)](i) by dual-wavelength fluorometry. RESULTS: Insulin secretion was pulsatile (0.2--0.3/min) at 3 mmol/l glucose when [Ca(2+)](i) was low and stable. Stimulation with 11 mmol/l of the sugar increased the amplitude of the insulin pulses with maintained frequency and induced oscillations in [Ca(2+)](i). Permanent opening of the K(ATP) channels with diazoxide inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion back to basal levels with maintained pulsatility despite stable and basal [Ca(2+)](i) levels. Increase of the K(+) concentration to 30.9 mmol/l in the continued presence of diazoxide and 11 mmol/l glucose restored the secretory rate with maintained pulsatility and caused stable elevation in [Ca(2+)](i). Simultaneous introduction of diazoxide and elevation of K(+) augmented average insulin release almost 30-fold in 3 mmol/l glucose with maintained pulse frequency. Subsequent elevation of the glucose concentration to 11 and 20 mmol/l increased the release levels. After prolonged exposure to diazoxide, elevated K(+) and 20 mmol/l glucose, the pulse frequency decreased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Not only glucose signaling via the K(ATP) channel-dependent but also that via the independent pathway generates amplitude-modulated pulsatile release of insulin from isolated islets.

Oscillations in oxygen tension and insulin release of individual pancreatic ob/ob mouse islets.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The role of beta-cell metabolism for generation of oscillatory insulin release was investigated by simultaneous measurements of oxygen tension (pO2) and insulin release from individual islets of Langerhans. METHODS: Individual islets isolated from the ob/ob-mice were perifused. Insulin in the perifusate was measured with a sensitive ELISA and PO2 with a modified Clark-type electrode inserted into the islets. RESULTS: In the presence of 3 mmol/l D-glucose, PO2 was 102 +/- 9 mmHg and oscillatory (0.26 +/- 0.04 oscillations/min). Corresponding insulin measurements showed oscillatory release with similar periodicity (0.25 +/- 0.02 oscillations/min). When the D-glucose concentration was increased to 11 mmol/l, PO2 decreased by 30% to 72 +/- 10 mmHg with maintained frequency of the oscillations. Corresponding insulin secretory rate rose from 5 +/- 2 to 131 +/- 16 pmol x g(-1) x s(-1) leaving the frequency of the insulin pulses unaffected. The magnitude of glucose-induced change in pO2 varied between islets but was positively correlated to the amount of insulin released (r2 = 0.85). When 1 mmol/l tolbutamide was added to the perifusion medium containing 11 mmol/l glucose no change in average oscillatory pO2 was observed despite a doubling in the secretory rate. When 8 mmol/l 3-oxymethyl glucose was added to perifusion medium containing 3 mmol/l D-glucose, neither pO2 nor insulin release of the islets were changed. Temporal analysis of oscillations in pO2 and insulin release revealed that maximum respiration correlated to maximum or close to maximum insulin release. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: The temporal relation between oscillations in pO2 and insulin release supports a role for metabolic oscillations in the generation of pulsatile insulin release.