Effects of ageing and senescence on pancreatic ß-cell function.

Ageing is generally associated with deterioration of organ function and regenerative potential. In the case of pancreatic ß-cells, an age-related decline in proliferative potential is well documented, and was proposed to contribute to the increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the elderly. The effects of ageing on ß-cell function, namely glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), have not been studied as extensively. Recent work revealed that, surprisingly, ß-cells of mature mice and humans secrete more insulin than young ß-cells in response to high glucose concentrations, potentially serving to counteract age-related peripheral insulin resistance. This functional change appears to be orchestrated by p16(Ink4A) -driven cellular senescence and downstream remodelling of chromatin structure and DNA methylation, enhancing the expression of genes controlling ß-cell function. We propose that activation of the cellular senescence program drives life-long functional maturation of ß-cells, due to ß-cell hypertrophy, enhanced glucose uptake and more efficient mitochondrial metabolism, in parallel to locking these cells in a non-replicative state. We speculate that the beneficial aspects of this process can be harnessed to enhance GSIS. Other age-related mechanisms, which are currently poorly understood, act to increase basal insulin secretion levels also in low glucose conditions. This leads to an overall reduction in the amplitude of insulin secretion between low and high glucose at old age, which may contribute to a deterioration in metabolic control.

Evidence from mouse and man for a role of neuregulin 3 in nicotine dependence.

Addiction to nicotine and the ability to quit smoking are influenced by genetic factors. We used functional genomic approaches (chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and whole-genome sequencing) to identify cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) targets following chronic nicotine administration and withdrawal (WD) in rodents. We found that chronic nicotine and WD differentially modulate CREB binding to the gene for neuregulin 3 (NRG3). Quantitative analysis of saline, nicotine and nicotine WD in two biological replicates corroborate this finding, with NRG3 increases in both mRNA and protein following WD from chronic nicotine treatment. To translate these data for human relevance, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across NRG3 were examined for association with prospective smoking cessation among smokers of European ancestry treated with transdermal nicotine in two independent cohorts. Individual SNP and haplotype analysis support the association of NRG3 SNPs and smoking cessation success. NRG3 is a neural-enriched member of the epidermal growth factor family, and a specific ligand for the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB4, which is also upregulated following nicotine treatment and WD. Mice with significantly reduced levels of NRG3 or pharmacological inhibition of ErbB4 show similar reductions in anxiety following nicotine WD compared with control animals, suggesting a role for NRG3 in nicotine dependence. Although the function of the SNP in NRG3 in humans is not known, these data suggest that Nrg3/ErbB4 signaling may be an important factor in nicotine dependence.

Pancreatic islet and progenitor cell surface markers with cell sorting potential.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of the study was to identify surface bio-markers and corresponding antibody tools that can be used for the imaging and immunoisolation of the pancreatic beta cell and its progenitors. This may prove essential to obtain therapeutic grade human beta cells via stem cell differentiation. METHODS: Using bioinformatics-driven data mining, we generated a gene list encoding putative plasma membrane proteins specifically expressed at distinct stages of the developing pancreas and islet beta cells. In situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry were used to further prioritise and identify candidates. RESULTS: In the developing pancreas seizure related 6 homologue like (SEZ6L2), low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 11 (LRP11), dispatched homologue 2 (Drosophila) (DISP2) and solute carrier family 30 (zinc transporter), member 8 (SLC30A8) were found to be expressed in early islet cells, whereas discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 1 (DDR1) and delta/notch-like EGF repeat containing (DNER) were expressed in early pancreatic progenitors. The expression pattern of DDR1 overlaps with the early pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1)⁺/NK6 homeobox 1 (NKX6-1)⁺ multipotent progenitor cells from embryonic day 11, whereas DNER expression in part overlaps with neurogenin 3 (NEUROG3)⁺ cells. In the adult pancreas SEZ6L2, LRP11, DISP2 and SLC30A8, but also FXYD domain containing ion transport regulator 2 (FXYD2), tetraspanin 7 (TSPAN7) and transmembrane protein 27 (TMEM27), retain an islet-specific expression, whereas DDR1 is undetectable. In contrast, DNER is expressed at low levels in peripheral mouse and human islet cells. Re-expression of DDR1 and upregulation of DNER is observed in duct-ligated pancreas. Antibodies to DNER and DISP2 have been successfully used in cell sorting. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Extracellular epitopes of SEZ6L2, LRP11, DISP2, DDR1 and DNER have been identified as useful tags by applying specific antibodies to visualise pancreatic cell types at specific stages of development. Furthermore, antibodies recognising DISP2 and DNER are suitable for FACS-mediated cell purification.

Transcriptomes of the major human pancreatic cell types.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We sought to determine the mRNA transcriptome of all major human pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cell subtypes, including human alpha, beta, duct and acinar cells. In addition, we identified the cell type-specific distribution of transcription factors, signalling ligands and their receptors. METHODS: Islet samples from healthy human donors were enzymatically dispersed to single cells and labelled with cell type-specific surface-reactive antibodies. Live endocrine and exocrine cell subpopulations were isolated by FACS and gene expression analyses were performed using microarray analysis and quantitative RT-PCR. Computational tools were used to evaluate receptor-ligand representation in these populations. RESULTS: Analysis of the transcriptomes of alpha, beta, large duct, small duct and acinar cells revealed previously unrecognised gene expression patterns in these cell types, including transcriptional regulators HOPX and HDAC9 in the human beta cell population. The abundance of some regulatory proteins was different from that reported in mouse tissue. For example, v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homologue B (avian) (MAFB) was detected at equal levels in adult human alpha and beta cells, but is absent from adult mouse beta cells. Analysis of ligand-receptor interactions suggested that EPH receptor-ephrin communication between exocrine and endocrine cells contributes to pancreatic function. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This is the first comprehensive analysis of the transcriptomes of human exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cell types-including beta cells-and provides a useful resource for diabetes research. In addition, paracrine signalling pathways within the pancreas are shown. These results will help guide efforts to specify human beta cell fate by embryonic stem cell or induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation or genetic reprogramming.

Transcriptional regulation of α-cell differentiation.

The development of the endocrine pancreas and the differentiation of its five cell types, α, ß, δ, ε and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells, are a highly complex and tightly regulated process. Proper differentiation and function of α- and ß-cells are critical for blood glucose homeostasis. These processes are governed by multiple transcription factors and other signalling systems, and its dysregulation results in diabetes. The differentiation of α-cells and the maintenance of α-cell function can be influenced at several stages during development and in the maturing islet. Many transcription factors, such as neurogenin 3 (Ngn3), pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) and regulatory factor x6 (Rfx6), play a crucial role in the determination of the endocrine cell fate, while other transcription factors, such as aristaless-related homeobox (Arx) and forkhead box A2 (Foxa2), are implicated in the initial or terminal differentiation of α-cells. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that preproglucagon transcription, and therefore the maintenance of α-cell function, is regulated by several factors, including forkhead box A1 (Foxa1), paired box 6 (Pax6), brain4 (Brn4) and islet-1 (Isl-1). Detailed information about the regulation of normal and abnormal α-cell differentiation gives insight into the pathogenesis of diabetes, identifies further targets for diabetes treatment and provides clues for the reprogramming of α- to ß-cells for replacement therapy.

Disease-associated loci are significantly over-represented among genes bound by transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) in vivo.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) has been strongly implicated in type 2 diabetes and cancer. Our goal was to identify the DNA sequences bound by this transcription factor in vivo. METHODS: We applied chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing to globally identify and map human DNA sequences bound by TCF7L2 in the colorectal carcinoma cell line, HCT116, where it is abundantly expressed. RESULTS: We identified 1,095 discrete binding sites across the genome, of which a subset were within 5 kb of 548 annotated NCBI Reference Sequence (RefSeq) genes. Despite using a cancer cell line, the most significant functions represented using pathway analysis software were related to diabetes, genetic disorders and coronary artery disease. As one of the enriched categories was related to genetic disorders, we queried our results against all published genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and found a highly significant over-representation of reported loci from among the genes bound by TCF7L2 within 5 kb (p = 7.50 × 10⁻¹5). This observation was primarily driven by excess loci revealed from GWAS of metabolic and cardiovascular traits; however, there was no or only minor enrichment of GWAS-derived loci for cancer, and inflammatory or neurological diseases. Of the specific traits, the most enriched loci were for type 2 diabetes and height. When defining the distance from genes at 50 kb or 500 kb, this enrichment pattern persisted, with some additional evidence for enrichment of cancer-related loci. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: A highly significant proportion of genes bound by TCF7L2 are known disease-associated loci. These findings suggest that TCF7L2 is a central node in the regulation of human diabetes and other disease-associated genes.

Krüppel-like factor 4 exhibits antiapoptotic activity following gamma-radiation-induced DNA damage.

In response to gamma-radiation-induced DNA damage, organisms either activate cell cycle checkpoint and repair machinery or undergo apoptosis to eliminate damaged cells. Although previous studies indicated that the tumor suppressor p53 is critically involved in mediating both responses, how a cell decides which pathway to take is not well established. The zinc-finger-containing transcription factor, Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), is a crucial mediator for the checkpoint functions of p53 after gamma-irradiation and does so by inhibiting the transition from the G(1) to S and G(2) to M phases of the cell cycle. Here, we determined the role of KLF4 in modulating the apoptotic response following gamma-irradiation. In three independent cell systems including colorectal cancer cells and mouse embryo fibroblasts in which expression of KLF4 could be manipulated, we observed that gamma-irradiated cells underwent apoptosis if KLF4 was absent. In the presence of KLF4, the degree of apoptosis was significantly reduced and cells resorted to checkpoint arrest. The mechanism by which KLF4 accomplished this antiapoptotic effect is by activating expression of the cell cycle arrest gene, p21(WAF1/CIP1), and by inhibiting the ability of p53 to transactivate expression of the proapoptotic gene, BAX. Results of our study illustrate an unexpected antiapoptotic function of KLF4, heretofore considered a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer, and suggest that KLF4 may be an important determinant of cell fate following gamma-radiation-induced DNA damage.

The Foxa family of transcription factors in development and metabolism.

The Foxa subfamily of winged helix/forkhead box (Fox) transcription factors has been the subject of genetic and biochemical study for over 15 years. During this time its three members, Foxa1, Foxa2 and Foxa3, have been found to play important roles in multiple stages of mammalian life, beginning with early development, continuing during organogenesis, and finally in metabolism and homeostasis in the adult. Foxa2 is required for the formation of the node and notochord, and in its absence severe defects in gastrulation, neural tube patterning, and gut morphogenesis result in embryonic lethality. Foxa1 and Foxa2 cooperate to establish competence in foregut endoderm and are required for normal development of endoderm-derived organs such as the liver, pancreas, lungs, and prostate. In post-natal life, members of the Foxa family control glucose metabolism through the regulation of multiple target genes in the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue. Insight into the unique molecular basis of Foxa function has been obtained from recent genetic and genomic data, which identify the Foxa proteins as 'pioneer factors' whose binding to promoters and enhancers enable chromatin access for other tissue-specific transcription factors.

Stage-specific regulation of respiratory epithelial cell differentiation by Foxa1.

Foxa1 is a member of the winged helix family of transcription factors that is expressed in epithelial cells of the conducting airways and in alveolar type II cells of the lung. To determine the role of Foxa1 during lung morphogenesis, histology and gene expression were assessed in lungs from Foxa1-/- gene-targeted mice from embryonic day (E) 16.5 to postnatal day (PN) 13. Deletion of Foxa1 perturbed maturation of the respiratory epithelium at precise times during lung morphogenesis. While dilatation of peripheral lung saccules was delayed in Foxa1-/- mice at E16.5, sacculation was unperturbed later in development (E17.5-E18.5). At PN5, alveolarization was markedly delayed in Foxa1-/- mice; however, by PN13 lung histology was comparable to wild-type controls. Clara cell secretory protein (CCSP), prosurfactant protein (SP)-C, and SP-B protein content and immunostaining were decreased in Foxa1-/- mice between E16.5 and E18.5 but normalized after birth. Timing and sites of expression of thyroid transcription factor-1, Foxj1, and beta-tubulin were unaltered in lungs of Foxa1-/- mice. In vitro, Foxa1 regulated the activity of CCSP and SP-A, SP-B, SP-C, and SP-D promoters as assessed by luciferase reporter assays in HeLa, H441, and MLE15 cells. Although Foxa1 regulates respiratory epithelial differentiation and structural maturation of the lung at precise developmental periods, the delay in maturation is subsequently compensated at times to enable respiratory function and restore normal lung structure after birth.

Foxa3 (hepatocyte nuclear factor 3gamma ) is required for the regulation of hepatic GLUT2 expression and the maintenance of glucose homeostasis during a prolonged fast.

The winged helix transcription factors, hepatocyte nuclear factors 3alpha, -beta, and -gamma (HNF-3, encoded by the Foxa1, -a2, and -a3 genes, respectively), are expressed early in embryonic endoderm and play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in liver and pancreas. Foxa1 has been shown to be required for glucagon secretion in the pancreas, whereas Foxa2 is critical for the regulation of insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. Here we address the role of Foxa3 in the maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Mice homozygous for a null mutation in Foxa3 appear normal under fed conditions. However, when fasted, Foxa3(-/-) mice have a significantly lower blood glucose compared with control mice. The fasting hypoglycemia in Foxa3(-/-) mice could not be attributed to defects in pancreatic hormone secretion, ketone production, or hepatic glycogen breakdown. Surprisingly, mRNA levels for several gluconeogenic enzymes were up-regulated appropriately in fasted Foxa3(-/-) mice, despite the fact that the corresponding genes had been shown to be activated by FOXA proteins in vitro. However, the mRNA for the plasma membrane glucose transporter GLUT2 was decreased by 64% in the fasted and 93% in the fed state, suggesting that efflux of newly synthesized glucose is limiting in Foxa3(-/-) hepatocytes. Thus, Foxa3 is the dominating transcriptional regulator of GLUT2 expression in hepatocytes in vivo. In addition, we investigated the hepatic transcription factor network in Foxa3(-/-) mice and found that the normal activation of HNF-4alpha, HNF-1alpha, and PGC-1 induced by fasting is attenuated in mice lacking Foxa3.

Foxl1 controls the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway by modulating the expression of proteoglycans in the gut.

Foxl1 is a winged helix transcription factor expressed in the mesenchyme of the gastrointestinal tract. Foxl1 null mice display severe structural defects in the epithelia of the stomach, duodenum, and jejunum. Here we addressed the molecular mechanisms by which Foxl1 controls gastrointestinal differentiation. First we showed that the abnormalities found in the epithelia of the null mice are the result of an increase in the number of proliferating cells and not a change in the rate of cell migration. Next we investigated the regulatory circuits affected by Foxl1. We focused on the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway as a possible target of Foxl1 as it has been shown to play a central role in gastrointestinal proliferation. We demonstrated that Foxl1 activates the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway by increasing extracellular proteoglycans, which act as co-receptors for Wnt. Thus we establish that Foxl1 is involved in the regulation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, providing a novel link in mesenchymal/epithelial cross-talk in the gut. Moreover, we provide the first example implicating proteoglycans in the regulation of cellular proliferation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Ron-mediated cytoplasmic signaling is dispensable for viability but is required to limit inflammatory responses.

Ron receptor activation induces numerous cellular responses in vitro, including proliferation, dissociation, and migration. Ron is thought to be involved in blood cell development in vivo, as well as in many aspects of the immune response including macrophage activation, antigen presentation, and nitric oxide regulation. In previous studies to determine the function of Ron in vivo, mice were generated with a targeted deletion of the extracellular and transmembrane regions of this gene. Mice homologous for this deletion appear to die early during embryonic development. To ascertain the in vivo function of Ron in more detail, we have generated mice with a germline ablation of the tyrosine kinase domain. Strikingly, our studies indicate that this domain of Ron, and therefore Ron cytoplasmic signaling, is not essential for embryonic development. While mice deficient in this domain are overtly normal, mice lacking Ron signaling have an altered ability to regulate nitric oxide levels and, in addition, have enhanced tissue damage following acute and cell-mediated inflammatory responses.

Tissue-specific deletion of Foxa2 in pancreatic beta cells results in hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.

We have used conditional gene ablation to uncover a dramatic and unpredicted role for the winged-helix transcription factor Foxa2 (formerly HNF-3 beta) in pancreatic beta-cell differentiation and metabolism. Mice that lack Foxa2 specifically in beta cells (Foxa2(loxP/loxP); Ins.Cre mice) are severely hypoglycemic and show dysregulated insulin secretion in response to both glucose and amino acids. This inappropriate hypersecretion of insulin in the face of profound hypoglycemia mimics pathophysiological and molecular aspects of familial hyperinsulinism. We have identified the two subunits of the beta-cell ATP-sensitive K(+) channel (K(ATP)), the most frequently mutated genes linked to familial hyperinsulinism, as novel Foxa2 targets in islets. The Foxa2(loxP/loxP); Ins.Cre mice will serve as a unique model to investigate the regulation of insulin secretion by the beta cell and suggest the human FOXA2 as a candidate gene for familial hyperinsulinism.

Insulin resistance and a diabetes mellitus-like syndrome in mice lacking the protein kinase Akt2 (PKB beta).

Glucose homeostasis depends on insulin responsiveness in target tissues, most importantly, muscle and liver. The critical initial steps in insulin action include phosphorylation of scaffolding proteins and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. These early events lead to activation of the serine-threonine protein kinase Akt, also known as protein kinase B. We show that mice deficient in Akt2 are impaired in the ability of insulin to lower blood glucose because of defects in the action of the hormone on liver and skeletal muscle. These data establish Akt2 as an essential gene in the maintenance of normal glucose homeostasis.

Fas-induced apoptosis in mouse hepatocytes is dependent on C/EBPbeta.

Apoptotic cell death in the liver in response to activation of the Fas pathway has been implicated in human disease states as well as liver remodeling and tissue repair. C/EBPbeta, a member of the CCAAT enhancer binding protein family of bZIP transcription factors has been linked to both growth response and apoptotic targets in the liver, and, therefore, is a likely candidate for the regulation of apoptotic liver injury. We investigated differences in apoptotic cell death in the livers of C/EBPbeta-null mice using the Jo-2 agonistic anti-Fas antibody. Apoptotic injury was dramatically reduced in C/EBPbeta -/- livers as shown by a nearly 20-fold reduction in apoptotic hepatocytes 6 hours post-Jo-2 treatment in C/EBPbeta -/- hepatocytes compared with controls (P < .04) and reduced activation of caspase 3. Bid cleavage occurred in Jo-2 treated C/EBPbeta -/- livers indicating a block of Fas-induced injury distal to the death-inducing signaling complex. The level of the antiapoptotic protein bcl-x(L) was increased greater than tenfold in the mutant animals (P < .04), which can, at least in part, account for the protection from Fas-mediated apoptosis. In contrast, bcl-x(L) mRNA levels were unchanged. These observations link C/EBPbeta to Fas-induced hepatocyte apoptosis through a mechanism that likely involves translational or posttranslational regulation of bcl-x(L).

The hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF3 or FOXA) family in metabolism.

The genes encoding hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF3) proteins play a pivotal role in the regulation of metabolism and in the differentiation of metabolic tissues such as the pancreas and liver. HNF3 transcription factors bind to cis-regulatory elements in hundreds of genes encoding gluconeogenic and glycolytic enzymes, serum proteins and hormones. Genetic analysis in mice has shown that HNF3 beta is necessary for the development of the foregut endoderm, from which the liver and pancreas arise. HNF3 alpha is required for the full activation of glucagon in the pancreas, whereas HNF3 gamma induces the activation of gluconeogenic enzymes to prevent hypoglycemia during fasting.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 3beta (Foxa2) is dispensable for maintaining the differentiated state of the adult hepatocyte.

Liver-specific gene expression is controlled by a heterogeneous group of hepatocyte-enriched transcription factors. One of these, the winged helix transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 3beta (HNF3beta or Foxa2) is essential for multiple stages of embryonic development. Recently, HNF3beta has been shown to be an important regulator of other hepatocyte-enriched transcription factors as well as the expression of liver-specific structural genes. We have addressed the role of HNF3beta in maintenance of the hepatocyte phenotype by inactivation of HNF3beta in the liver. Remarkably, adult mice lacking HNF3beta expression specifically in hepatocytes are viable, with histologically normal livers and normal liver function. Moreover, analysis of >8,000 mRNAs by array hybridization revealed that lack of HNF3beta affects the expression of only very few genes. Based on earlier work it appears that HNF3beta plays a critical role in early liver development; however, our studies demonstrate that HNF3beta is not required for maintenance of the adult hepatocyte or for normal liver function. This is the first example of such functional dichotomy for a tissue specification transcription factor.