Effect of perchlorate on calcium uptake and insulin secretion in mouse pancreatic islets.

Microdissected beta-cell-rich pancreatic islets of non-inbred ob/ob mice were used in studies of how perchlorate (CIO4-) affects stimulus-secretion coupling in beta-cells. CIO4- at 16 mM potentiated D-glucose-induced insulin release, without inducing secretion at non-stimulatory glucose concentrations. The potentiation mainly applied to the first phase of stimulated insulin release. In the presence of 20 mM-glucose, the half-maximum effect of CIO4- was reached at 5.5 mM and maximum effect at 12 mM of the anion. The potentiation was reversible and inhibitable by D-mannoheptulose (20 mM) or Ca2+ deficiency. CIO4- at 1-8 mM did not affect glucose oxidation. The effects on secretion were paralleled by a potentiation of glucose-induced 45Ca2+ influx during 3 min. K+-induced insulin secretion and 45Ca2+ uptake were potentiated by 8-16 mM-CIO4-. The spontaneous inactivation of K+-induced (20.9 mM-K+) insulin release was delayed by 8 mM-CIO4-. The anion potentiated the 45Ca2+ uptake induced by glibenclamide, which is known to depolarize the beta-cell. Insulin release was not affected by 1-10 mM-trichloroacetate. It is suggested that CIO4- stimulates the beta-cell by affecting the gating of voltage-controlled Ca2+ channels.     

Stress-induced dissociations between intracellular calcium signaling and insulin secretion in pancreatic islets

In healthy pancreatic islets, glucose-stimulated changes in intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) provide a reasonable reflection of the patterns and relative amounts of insulin secretion. We report that [Ca²⁺]_i in islets under stress, however, dissociates with insulin release in different ways for different stressors. Islets were exposed for 48 h to a variety of stressors: cytokines (low-grade inflammation), 28 mM glucose (28G, glucotoxicity), free fatty acids (FFAs, lipotoxicity), thapsigargin (ER stress), or rotenone (mitochondrial stress). We then measured [Ca²⁺]_i and insulin release in parallel studies. Islets exposed to all stressors except rotenone displayed significantly elevated [Ca²⁺]_i in low glucose, however, increased insulin secretion was only observed for 28G due to increased nifedipine-sensitive calcium-channel flux. Following 3–11 mM glucose stimulation, all stressors substantially reduced the peak glucose-stimulated [Ca²⁺]_i response (first phase). Thapsigargin and cytokines also substantially impacted aspects of calcium influx and ER calcium handling. Stressors did not significantly impact insulin secretion in 11 mM glucose for any stressor, although FFAs showed a borderline reduction, which contributed to a significant decrease in the stimulation index (11:3 mM glucose) observed for FFAs and also for 28G. We also clamped [Ca²⁺]_i using 30 mM KCl + 250 μM diazoxide to test the amplifying pathway. Only rotenone-treated islets showed a robust increase in 3–11 mM glucose-stimulated insulin secretion under clamped conditions, suggesting that low-level mitochondrial stress might activate the metabolic amplifying pathway. We conclude that different stressors dissociate [Ca²⁺]_i from insulin secretion differently: ER stressors (thapsigargin, cytokines) primarily affect [Ca²⁺]_i but not conventional insulin secretion and ‘metabolic’ stressors (FFAs, 28G, rotenone) impacted insulin secretion.     

Tetracaine stimulates insulin secretion from the pancreatic beta-cell by release of intracellular calcium

The role of intracellular calcium stores in stimulus-secretion coupling in the pancreatic beta-cell is largely unknown. We report here that tetracaine stimulates insulin secretion from collagenase-isolated mouse islets of Langerhans in the absence of glucose or extracellular calcium. We also found that the anesthetic evokes a dose-dependent rise of the intracellular free-calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured rat and mouse beta-cells. The tetracaine-specific [Ca2+]i rise also occurs in the absence of glucose, or in beta-cells depolarized by exposure to a Ca(2+)-deficient medium (< 1 microM) or elevated [K+]o. Furthermore, tetracaine (> or = 300 microM) depolarized the beta-cell membrane in mouse pancreatic islets, but inhibited Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in HIT cells, an insulin-secreting cell line. From these data we conclude that tetracaine-enhancement of insulin release occurs by mechanisms that are independent of Ca2+ entry across the cell membrane. The tetracaine-induced [Ca2+]i rise in cultured rat beta-cells and insulin secretion from mouse islets is insensitive to dantrolene (20 microM), a drug that inhibits Ca2+ release evoked by cholinergic agonists in the pancreatic beta-cell, and thapsigargin (3 microM), a blocker of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ pump. We conclude that the Ca2+ required for tetracaine-potentiated insulin secretion is released from intracellular Ca2+ stores other than the ER. Furthermore, tetracaine-induced Ca2+ release was unaffected by the mitochondrial electron transfer inhibitors NaN3 and rotenone. Taken together, these data show that a calcium source other than the ER and mitochondria can affect beta-cell insulin secretion.     

Inorganic nitrite stimulates pancreatic islet blood flow and insulin secretion

Reactive nitrogen and oxygen species have been proposed to be involved in control of insulin release from the pancreatic β cell. Recent evidence suggests that the supposedly inert anions nitrate and nitrite are metabolized in blood and tissues to form nitric oxide (NO) and other bioactive nitrogen oxides. Here we present evidence for a novel stimulatory role of nitrite in influencing pancreatic islet physiology via a dual mechanism, involving both indirect enhancement (through microcirculation redistribution) and direct insulinotropic effects on the β cell. In rats, intraperitoneal injection of sodium nitrite increased pancreatic islet blood flow by 50% and serum insulin concentrations by 30%, while whole pancreatic blood flow and glycemia remained unaffected. Nitrite also dose dependently enhanced insulin secretion from rat β cells in vitro under nonstimulatory glucose concentrations. This effect was not mimicked by nitrate and was abolished by the guanylyl cyclase (GC) inhibitor ODQ and the NO scavenger cPTIO. It was also mimicked by a cyclic GMP agonist (8-CPT-cGMP) and a classical NO donor (NONOate). Interestingly, a reactive oxygen species scavenger (vitamin E analog, Trolox) abolished the insulin secretion induced by nitrite. We conclude that nitrite exerts dual stimulatory effects on pancreatic islet function, including enhancement of islet blood flow and subsequent insulin secretion in vivo and direct stimulation of insulin release in vitro. The insulinotropic effect of nitrite is cGMP-dependent and involves formation of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species.     

Effect of glucose on the intracellular pH of pancreatic islet cells.

To characterize the effect of glucose on the intracellular pH (pHi) of pancreatic islet cells, we measured the accumulation of 14C-labelled 5,5-dimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione ( [14C]DMO) in beta-cell-rich islets from ob/ob mice. D-Glucose (20 mM) stimulated insulin release and enhanced the [14C]DMO equilibrium uptake corresponding to an increase of pHi by about 0.15 unit. The glucose effect on DMO uptake was concentration-dependent, with half-maximal effect at about 4 mM-glucose and maximum effect at about 10 mM-glucose. It was inhibited by 20 mM-mannoheptulose and potentiated by 4 mM-L-5-hydroxytryptophan, but not affected by 2 mM-theophylline. Mannoheptulose is an inhibitor and L-5-hydroxytryptophan and theophylline are potentiators of glucose-stimulated insulin release. The glucose-induced increase in pHi appeared rapidly (7 min) and persisted for at least 30 min and it was observed both in bicarbonate/CO2-buffered and in Hepes [4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulphonic acid]-buffered media. Addition of extracellular bicarbonate buffer lowered the pHi, but did not affect basal insulin release, whereas 5 mM-NH4+ increased pHi and induced a 4-fold increase of basal insulin release. We conclude that, in contrast with previous assumptions, glucose increases intracellular pH in the islet cells. This effect may be coupled to the glucose metabolism and associated with triggering of insulin release.     

Effect of the absence of bicarbonate upon intracellular pH and calcium fluxes in pancreatic islet cells

The removal of extracellular HCO⁻₃ together with a decrease in pCO₂, in order to maintain a normal extracellular pH, caused a sustained increase of intracellular pH in rat pancreatic islets. This increase was more marked in glucose-deprived than in glucose-stimulated islets, and was associated with a facilitation of ⁴⁵Ca efflux from the glucose-deprived islets. Such a facilitation was slightly reduced in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺ and abolished at low extracellular Na⁺ concentration. It failed to occur in glucose-stimulated islets, whether in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. The removal of HCO⁻₃ and decrease in the pCO₂ also reduced the magnitude of both the secondary rise in ⁴⁵Ca efflux and stimulation of insulin release normally evoked by an increase in glucose concentration. These findings suggest that changes in intracellular pH affect both the outflow of Ca²⁺ from islet cells as mediated by Na⁺-Ca²⁺ countertransport and the inflow of Ca²⁺ by gated Ca²⁺ channels. The experimental data are also compatible with the view that islet cells are equipped with an active process of bicarbonate-chloride exchange involved in the regulation of intracellular pH.     

Effects of extracellular calcium on electrical bursting and intracellular and luminal calcium oscillations in insulin secreting pancreatic beta-cells.

The extracellular calcium concentration has interesting effects on bursting of pancreatic beta-cells. The mechanism underlying the extracellular Ca2+ effect is not well understood. By incorporating a low-threshold transient inward current to the store-operated bursting model of Chay, this paper elucidates the role of the extracellular Ca2+ concentration in influencing electrical activity, intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and the luminal Ca2+ concentration in the intracellular Ca2+ store. The possibility that this inward current is a carbachol-sensitive and TTX-insensitive Na+ current discovered by others is discussed. In addition, this paper explains how these three variables respond when various pharmacological agents are applied to the store-operated model.     

Effect of dephostatin on intracellular free calcium concentration and amylase secretion in isolated rat pancreatic acinar cells

This study investigates the effects of dephostatin, a new tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, on intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and amylase secretion in collagenase dispersed rat pancreatic acinar cells. Dephostatin evoked a sustained elevation in [Ca²⁺]_i by mobilizing calcium from intracellular calcium stores in either the absence of extracellular calcium or the presence of lanthanium chloride (LaCl₃). Pretreatment of acinar cells with dephostatin prevented cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-8)-induced signal of [Ca²⁺]_i and inhibited the oscillatory pattern initiated by aluminium fluoride (AlF^- ₄), whereas co-incubation with CCK-8 enhances the plateau phase of calcium response to CCK-8 without modifying the transient calcium spike. The effects of dephostatin on calcium mobilization were reversed by the presence of the sulfhydryl reducing agent, dithiothreitol. Stimulation of acinar cells with thapsigargin in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺ resulted in a transient rise in [Ca²⁺]_i . Application of dephostatin in the continuous presence of thapsigargin caused a small but sustained elevation in [Ca²⁺]_i . These results suggest that dephostatin can mobilize Ca²⁺ from both a thapsigargin-sensitive and thapsigargin-insensitive intracellular stores in pancreatic acinar cells. In addition, dephostatin can stimulate the release of amylase from pancreatic acinar cells and moreover, reduce the secretory response to CCK-8. The results indicate that dephostatin can release calcium from intracellular calcium pools and consequently induces amylase secretion in pancreatic acinar cells. These effects are likely due to the oxidizing effects of this compound.     

Protein prenylation in glucose-induced insulin secretion from the pancreatic islet beta cell: a perspective.

Insulin secretion from the pancreatic beta-cell is regulated principally by the ambient concentration of glucose. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the stimulus-secretion coupling of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) remain only partially understood. Emerging evidence from multiple laboratories suggests key regulatory roles for GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) in the cascade of events leading to GSIS. This class of signaling proteins undergo a series of requisite post-translational modifications (e.g., prenylation) at their C-terminal cysteines, which appear to be necessary for their targeting to respective membranous sites for optimal interaction with their respective effector proteins. This communication represents a perspective on potential regulatory roles for protein prenylation steps (i.e., protein farnesylation and protein geranylgeranylation) in GSIS from the islet beta cell. Possible consequences of protein prenylation and potential mechanisms underlying glucose-induced regulation of prenylation, specifically in the context of GSIS are also discussed.     

Triphenylmethylphosphonium uptake by pancreatic islet cells

Uptake of triphenylmethylphosphonium cation (TPMP⁺) was studied in pancreatic islet cells. Islets rich in β-cells were prepared from non-inbred ob/ob-mice and incubated with [³H]TPMP⁺ and l-[1-¹⁴C]glucose. Conjoined with the Nernst equation, the values for TPMP⁺ uptake in excess of the extracellular (l-glucose) space predicted membrane electric potentials far from those previously recorded with intracellular electrodes. Improved agreement with the electrode data was achieved by correcting for assumed voltage-independent binding of TPMP⁺; plausible correction terms were derived from the kinetics of TPMP⁺ efflux and from the uptake of [³H]TPMP⁺ in islets treated with non-radioactive TPMP⁺ at such a high concentration (50 μM) as to abolish the glucose oxidation. In whole islets the magnitude of the TPMP⁺-derived potentials decreased with increasing extracellular K⁺ in the range 5.9–130 mM, and was diminished by 20 mM d-glucose or 0.5 mM 2,4-dinitrophenol, but not by 20 mM 3-O-methyl-d-glucose, 20 mM d-mannoheptulose alone, or 10 μM chlorotetracycline. The effect of d-glucose was not observed in the presence of d-mannoheptulose and was diminished when 130 mM NaCl in the medium was replaced by sodium isethionate. The magnitude of TPMP⁺ uptake and the effects of K⁺ and dinitrophenol were reproduced with dispersed islet cells from ob/ob-mice and with whole islets of normal inbred NMRI-mice; the d-glucose effect was reproduced with NMRI-mouse islets. The results support our previous hypotheses that the depolarizing and insulin-releasing actions of d-glucose are in part mediated by electrodiffusion mechanisms involving K⁺ and Cl^?.     

Astragalin augments basal calcium influx and insulin secretion in rat pancreatic islets

Astragalin is a flavonol glycoside with several biological activities, including antidiabetic properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of astragalin on glycaemia and insulin secretion, in vivo, and on calcium influx and insulin secretion in isolated rat pancreatic islets, ex vivo. Astragalin (1 and 10 mg / kg) was administered by oral gavage to fasted Wistar rats and serum glucose and plasma insulin were measured. Isolated pancreatic islets were used to measure basal insulin secretion and calcium influx. Astragalin (10 mg/ kg) decreased glycaemia and increased insulin secretion significantly at 15–180 min, respectively, in the glucose tolerance test. In isolated pancreatic cells, astragalin (100 μM) stimulated calcium influx through a mechanism involving ATP-dependent potassium channels, L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels, the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium transport ATPase (SERCA), PKC and PKA. These findings highlight the dietary coadjuvant, astragalin, as a potential insulin secretagogue that may contribute to glucose homeostasis.     

Effects of phosphotyrosine phosphatase inhibition on insulin secretion and intracellular signaling events in rat pancreatic islets

Isolated rat pancreatic islets were incubated at 3.3 (low) and 16.7 (high) mM glucose with different concentrations of the phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitor, peroxovanadate (pV). At low glucose, pV stimulated insulin secretion 2- to 4-fold, but it inhibited insulin secretion at 16.7 mM. The latter effect was not due to an inhibition of glucose metabolism, nor was it inhibited by pertussis toxin pretreatment. In addition, pV stimulated insulin secretion approximately 3-fold in depolarized cells at both low and high glucose. pV markedly increased the tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, including IRS-1 and -2, and also increased the phosphorylation of the downstream kinases PKB/Akt and MAPK. PKB/Akt, but not MAPK, was also phosphorylated in the absence of pV. Intracellular pV-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, including that of IRS-2, was generally increased by high glucose suggesting a further inhibition of PTP and/or enhanced tyrosine kinase activity. Thus, these data suggest that intracellular tyrosine and serine (PKB/Akt) phosphorylation are related to insulin secretion but they do not support a unique and direct link between IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.     

Measurement of glucose uptake and intracellular calcium concentration in single, living pancreatic beta-cells

There has been no method previously to measure both glucose transport and its effect on the various intracellular functions in single, living mammalian cells. A fluorescent derivative of d-glucose, 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1, 3-diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG), that we have developed has made such measurements possible. COS-1 cells that overexpress the human glucose transporter GLUT2 show significantly greater 2-NBDG uptake than mock transfected cells. Using GLUT2-abundant mouse insulin-secreting clonal MIN6 cells, we found that 2-NBDG was incorporated into the cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The 2-NBDG uptake was inhibited by high concentrations of d-glucose in a dose-dependent manner and also was almost completely inhibited by 10 micrometer cytochalasin B. We then measured both glucose uptake and the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in single, living pancreatic islet cells. 2-NBDG and fura-2 were used as the tracer of glucose and indicator of intracellular calcium, respectively. All of the cells that showed an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in response to a high concentration of glucose (16.8 mm) rapidly incorporated significant 2-NBDG. Immunocytochemical examination confirmed these cells to be insulin-positive beta-cells. All of the cells that showed no significant, rapid 2-NBDG uptake lacked such glucose responsiveness of [Ca(2+)](i), indicating that these cells were non-beta-cells such as glucagon-positive alpha-cells. These results show the uptake of glucose causing a concomitant increase of [Ca(2+)](i) in beta-cells. Because 2-NBDG is incorporated into mammalian cells through glucose transporters, it should be useful for the measurement of glucose uptake together with concomitant intracellular activities in many types of single, living mammalian cells.     

Dissociation between intracellular calcium mobilization and insulin secretion in isolated rat islets of Langerhans

The neuropeptide bombesin provoked a dose-dependent stimulation of 45Ca2+ efflux from pre-loaded islets of Langerhans. This response occurred rapidly, was not sustained and did not depend on the presence of extracellular calcium, suggesting that it resulted from the mobilization of intracellular calcium stores. Under conditions when large increases in 45Ca2+ efflux were observed, bombesin completely failed to stimulate the rate of insulin secretion. Similar results were also obtained with the muscarinic cholinergic agonist, carbachol. The data suggest that the release of calcium from intracellular pools is not sufficient to induce an increase in insulin secretion in normal islet cells.     

Effect of colchicine on histamine secretion and calcium uptake in mast cells

The function of contractile system of microtubules on the mechanism of mast cell exocytosis by using colchicine, a depolymerizing alkaloid of the microtubular system, has been studied. The response of histamine release and 45Ca-uptake in isolated rat mast cells treated with colchicine has been determined. The incubation of mast cells in the presence of 10(-8)-10(-3) M colchicine slightly inhibits histamine secretion induced by the stimulant concentration 50 micrograms/ml of compound 48/80 (35 +/- 5%). Similarly colchicine does not significantly affect histamine values spontaneously elicited in unstimulated mast cells; the percentages of secretion are never greater than 10%. However, high doses of this alkaloid are found to markedly inhibit entry of calcium ions into the cell. These results suggest that microtubules do not participate in the secretory process of mast cells, although they significantly decrease calcium uptake. The microtubules might be connected to the membrane, so that the depolymerization of this contractile system could damage the membrane structures through which Ca2+ is transported.     

Inositol trisphosphate independent increase of intracellular free calcium and amylase secretion in pancreatic acini

It is generally believed that the activation of various cell surface receptors results in the phospholipase C-catalyzed production of inositol trisphosphate which, in turn, increases the intracellular concentration of free Ca2+ by stimulating its release from nonmitochondrial sources. We have investigated both the production of inositol trisphosphate and changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in rat pancreatic acini in response to caerulein and CCK-JMV-180, two analogs of cholecystokinin. Both of these analogs cause comparable increases in the rate of amylase secretion and in intracellular Ca2+ concentration but their effects on inositol phosphate generation are dramatically different; caerulein stimulates significant production of inositol phosphates within 1 min of its addition, whereas no detectable levels of inositol phosphates were generated within the same time after addition of CCK-JMV-180. These results suggest that the CCK-JMV-180 stimulated release of intracellular Ca2+ is not mediated by inositol trisphosphate but some other as yet unidentified messenger.     

Significance of ecto-cyclase activity of CD38 in insulin secretion of mouse pancreatic islet cells

Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR), a product of CD38, has a second messenger role for in intracellular Ca(2+) mobilization from microsomes of pancreatic islets as well as from a variety of other cells. ADP-ribosylation of CD38 by ecto-mono ADP-ribosyltransferase in activated T cells results in apoptosis as well as inactivation of its activities. We, therefore, examined the effect of ADP-ribosylation of CD38 in mouse pancreatic islet cells. NAD-dependent inactivation and ADP-ribosylation of CD38, intracellular concentrations of cADPR and Ca(2+), and insulin secretion were measured following incubation of mouse pancreatic islet cells with NAD. ADP-ribosylation of CD38 inactivated its ecto-enzyme activities, and abolished glucose-induced increase of cADPR production, intracellular concentration of Ca(2+), and insulin secretion. Taken together, ecto-cyclase activity of CD38 to produce intracellular cADPR seems to be indispensable for insulin secretion.     

Effect of intracellular sodium on calcium uptake in isolated guinea-pig diaphragm and atria

(1) Effects of cellular sodium on the ⁴⁵Ca uptake of isolated guinea-pig diaphragm and atria were studied. (2) Cellular sodium and calcium contents were higher in diaphragm compared to atria after incubating the tissues in normal Krebs-Henseleit solution. (3) Cellular sodium content in atria and diaphragm were reduced signficantly by incubating the tissues in high potassium Krebs-Henseleit solution ($\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{= 34.7}\text{mM}$), while it was increased by incubating the tissues in the ice-cold low potassium and low calcium Krebs-Henseleit solution ($\text{K}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{= 0.65}\text{mM}$, $\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{= 0.2}\text{mM}$). Cellular potassium content was changed inversely to the sodium content. (4) In atria, cellular content of calcium was not altered significantly by the above conditions. But in diaphragm, the cellular content of calcium was decreased slightly but significantly after incubation in the ice-cold low potassium and low calcium Krebs-Henseleit solution. (5) At normal cellular sodium levels, the ⁴⁵Ca uptake of both tissues was similar. (6) The reduction of the cellular sodium content caused a significant decrease in the ⁴⁵Ca uptake into both tissues. (7) When the cellular sodium content was increased in atrial preparations, a marked increase in the ⁴⁵Ca uptake was observed. On the other hand, in diaphragm preparations, only a slight increase was observed, even when cellular sodium content was much higher than the normal level. (8) These results indicate that even when the intracellular sodium is increased by some physiological of pharmacological events, calcium influx through Na⁺/Ca²⁺ exchange mechanism is very slight and slow in diaphragm.