Role of FXR in ß-cells of lean and obese mice.

We have recently shown that the bile acid (BA) taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC) acutely stimulates insulin secretion via activation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). Aims of the current investigation were to discriminate between nongenomic (≤1 h) and genomic effects (24-48 h) of BAs on ß-cells and to evaluate whether FXR can modulate the adverse effects of a high-fat diet (HFD). TCDC (500 nM) as well as glycine-conjugated and unconjugated CDC (chenodeoxycholate) increased insulin secretion in acute incubations but did not evoke additional effects after 1-2 days of preincubation. The BAs did not stimulate ß-cells of FXR-knockout (KO) mice and activation of the G protein-coupled BA receptor TGR5 was ineffective, suggesting that FXR is the sole BA receptor in ß-cells activated by TCDC and its analogues. As opposed to lean mice, obese FXR-KO mice did not show HFD-induced glucose intolerance and increased fasting glucose. The beneficial impact of FXR-KO on glucose metabolism cannot be explained by an adaptive compensation of insulin secretion or ß-cell mass. Interestingly, in contrast to its effect on islets from lean mice, the FXR agonist GW4064 was ineffective in stimulating insulin secretion of islets from wild type mice fed a HFD or isolated islets kept in a glucolipotoxic medium. Additional feeding of CDC restored the effect of GW4064. CDC prevented HFD-induced impairment of glucose tolerance and in vitro effects of glucolipotoxicity. The data show that the FXR is the most important BA receptor in ß-cells and that FXR signaling in ß-cells is impaired by overnutrition, which alters activatability of the FXR.

Bile acids acutely stimulate insulin secretion of mouse ß-cells via farnesoid X receptor activation and K(ATP) channel inhibition.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated with alterations in bile acid (BA) signaling. The aim of our study was to test whether pancreatic ß-cells contribute to BA-dependent regulation of glucose homeostasis. Experiments were performed with islets from wild-type, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) knockout (KO), and ß-cell ATP-dependent K(+) (K(ATP)) channel gene SUR1 (ABCC8) KO mice, respectively. Sodium taurochenodeoxycholate (TCDC) increased glucose-induced insulin secretion. This effect was mimicked by the FXR agonist GW4064 and suppressed by the FXR antagonist guggulsterone. TCDC and GW4064 stimulated the electrical activity of ß-cells and enhanced cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)). These effects were blunted by guggulsterone. Sodium ursodeoxycholate, which has a much lower affinity to FXR than TCDC, had no effect on [Ca(2+)](c) and insulin secretion. FXR activation by TCDC is suggested to inhibit K(ATP) current. The decline in K(ATP) channel activity by TCDC was only observed in ß-cells with intact metabolism and was reversed by guggulsterone. TCDC did not alter insulin secretion in islets of SUR1-KO or FXR-KO mice. TCDC did not change islet cell apoptosis. This is the first study showing an acute action of BA on ß-cell function. The effect is mediated by FXR by nongenomic elements, suggesting a novel link between FXR activation and K(ATP) channel inhibition.