GRB10 regulates β-cell mass by inhibiting β-cell proliferation and stimulating β-cell dedifferentiation

Decreased functional β-cell mass is the hallmark of diabetes, but the cause of this metabolic defect remains elusive. Here, we show that the levels of the growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (GRB10), a negative regulator of insulin and mTORC1 signaling, are markedly induced in islets of diabetic mice and high glucose-treated insulinoma cell line INS-1 cells. β-cell-specific knockout of Grb10 in mice increased β-cell mass and improved β-cell function. Grb10-deficient β-cells exhibit enhanced mTORC1 signaling and reduced β-cell dedifferentiation, which could be blocked by rapamycin. On the contrary, Grb10 overexpression induced β-cell dedifferentiation in MIN6 cells. Our study identifies GRB10 as a critical regulator of β-cell dedifferentiation and β-cell mass, which exerts its effect by inhibiting mTORC1 signaling.     

Differentiation of 2-cell and 8-cell mouse embryos arrested by cytoskeletal inhibitors

Mouse embryos at the 2-cell stage were cultured in the presence of cytochalasin B (CB), cytochalasin D (CD), colchicine (COL) or colcemid (COM) for up to 72 h. Cleavage was arrested in the 2-cell and 8-cell embryos cultured in CB or CD but the blastomeres continued to differentiate, since chromosome replication occurred in the blastomeres at approximately the same time as control embryos underwent cleavage; an increase in the incorporation of [³H]uridine into RNA was also detected. Furthermore, the cleavage-arrested embryos acquired the necessary information to undergo morphogenesis; these embryos when explanted to fresh medium after 48 h culture in CB or CD underwent compaction within 15–60 min and started to cavitate to produce trophoblastic vesicles within 5–6 h at the same time as when the control embryos were undergoing compaction and beginning to form blastocoelic cavities. In contrast, the embryos arrested in the presence of COM or COL showed none of these differentiative, biochemical or morphogenetic changes. Hence, differentiation of blastomeres and morphogenesis is apparently coupled with nuclear divisions and the information does not reside within the blastomeres at the 2-cell or 8-cell stage. The trophoblastic vesicles produced after cleavage arrest subsequently gave rise to only trophoblast giant cells and no embryonic derivatives were detected.     

Effects of phlorizin and ouabain on the polarity of mouse 4-cell/16-cell stage blastomere heterokaryons

Cell polarity is thought to be required for the efficient production of nascent blastocoele fluid, which begins at the 16-cell stage of mouse preimplantation development. In this study the 4-cell/16-cell blastomere heterokaryon was used to test the hypothesis that solute transport across the apical membrane domain induces the apical-basal axis of organelle distribution across polar 16-cell-stage blastomeres. Fusion of 4-cell/16-cell blastomere pairs resulted in a population of heterokaryons of which 65% were polar (contain an apical plasma membrane domain from a polar 16-cell-stage plasma membrane insert) and 30% were apolar (contain an apolar 16-cell-stage plasma membrane insert). Polar heterokaryons were distinguished from apolar ones by labeling their apical domains with fluorescent succinylated concanavalin A. In polar heterokaryons, both nuclei (labeled with Hoeschst 33242) were immediately subjacent to the apical plasma membrane domain, while in apolar heterokaryons both nuclei were located centrally. Two inhibitors of apical transmembrane solute transport--phlorizin, which inhibits brush border (apical) Na+/glucose symporters, and ouabain, which inhibits Na+/K+-ATPase, thereby modifying the transmembrane Na+ gradient--were examined for their effect on nuclear position in polar and apolar heterokaryons after a 4-hr incubation in either inhibitor. Both ouabain (L.M. Wiley, 1984, Dev. Biol. 105, 330-342) and phlorizin (this study) had a biphasic effect on the rate of nascent blastocoele fluid accumulation such that at lower concentrations (ouabain, 10(-5) M; phlorizin, 10(-6) M) fluid accumulation was accelerated and at higher concentrations (both inhibitors, 10(-4) M) fluid accumulation was delayed. In polar heterokaryons, both concentrations of each inhibitor caused the nuclei to become displaced basally from their normal location against the apical plasma membrane domain. Both nuclei, however, remained on the axis of polarity passing through the apical domain. The magnitude of displacement was greater at higher concentrations of either inhibitor. Neither inhibitor affected nuclear position in apolar heterokaryons. These observations agree with the hypothesis that apical plasma membrane solute transport maintains the asymmetric organelle distribution across the apical-basal axis of polar 16-cell-stage blastomeres.     

Factors affecting electrofusion of 2-cell mouse embryos

Parameters of electrofusion of 2-cell mouse embryos were optimized for application as a model for nuclear transplantation. There was considerable lysis of embryos with M(2) as the medium for fusion; however, 100% fusion (n = 58) was obtained with a single 0.31-kv / cm, 1280-musec pulse. With mannitol and sucrose solutions as the medium, a wide range of field strengths (0.31-1.41 kv / cm for 0.26 M sucrose solution and 0.31 to 2.04 kv / cm for 0.3 M mannitol solution) and durations of the electrical pulse (10-1280 musec) resulted in high rates of fusion (often 100%). Likewise, osmolarity of sucrose and mannitol solutions did not affect the rate of fusion using a 0.47-kv / cm pulse. With a field strength of 2.04 kv / cm, the proportion of embryos that fused in mannitol solution increased (P<0.05) and the proportion that were lysed decreased (P<0.05) as osmolarity increased. Both fused (162 642 , 25%) and control embryos (32 72 , 44%) continued to develop in culture for 48 h, after which they began to compact. Fused embryos were only at the 4-cell stage by this time, while control embryos were at the 8-cell stage. Optimal pulse durations are plotted for field strengths between 0.31 and 1.41 kv / cm with 0.26 M sucrose as fusion medium.     

Development of 4-cell mouse embryos after re-vitrification

This paper reports studies on the effects of re-vitrification by the CPS (Closed Pulled Straw) method on the development of 4-cell stage mouse embryos. The procedure involved culturing 2-cell mouse embryos in G-1 medium until the 4-cell stage followed by the division of the normal 4-cell stage embryos into a control group (non-vitrified) and two experimental subgroups (vitrified and re-vitrified). Embryos in the vitrified subgroup were cryopreserved by the CPS vitrification method. In the second experimental subgroup (re-vitrified), embryos that were already vitrified were warmed and cryopreserved again by the same method. There was no significant reduction in the rate of blastocyst formation after vitrification and re-vitrification. However, re-vitrification reduced the total cell number, ICM (inner cell mass) percent and blastocyst diameter (P<0.05). These results showed that vitrification and re-vitrification by the CPS method did not negatively affect the development of vitrified-warmed 4-cell mouse embryos, whereas re-vitrification significantly reduced both the cell number and diameter of blastocysts.     

Growth Factor-Dependent Proliferation of the Pancreatic β-cell Line βTC-tet: An Assay for β-cell Mitogenic Factors

The ability to expand normal pancreatic islet β cells in culture would significantly advance the prospects of cell therapy for diabetes. A number of growth factors can stimulate limited islet cell replication, however other factors may exist which are more effective β-cell-specific mitogens. The search for novel β-cell growth factors has been hampered by the lack of a β-cell-specific proliferation assay. We developed a simple and sensitive assay for β-cell growth factors based on a conditionally-transformed mouse β-cell line (βTC-tet). These cells express the SV40 T antigen (Tag) oncoprotein under control of the tetracycline (Tc) operon regulatory system. In the presence of Tc, Tag expression is tightly shut off and the cells undergo complete growth arrest. Here we show that the growth-arrested cells can proliferate in response to growth factors in the absence of Tag. Using this assay, a number of growth factors previously shown to be mitogenic to a mixed islet cell population were found to induce proliferation of pure β cells. We conclude that growth-arrested βTC-tet cells can be employed in a survey of factors from various sources for identifying novel factors with β-cell mitogenic activity.     

Lentinan protects against pancreatic β-cell failure in chronic ethanol consumption-induced diabetic mice via enhancing β-cell antioxidant capacity

Chronic ethanol consumption is a well-established independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, increasing studies have confirmed that excessive heavy ethanol exerts direct harmful effect on pancreatic β-cell mass and function, which may be a mechanism of pancreatic β-cell failure in T2DM. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Lentinan (LNT), an active ingredient purified from the bodies of Lentinus edodes, on pancreatic β-cell apoptosis and dysfunction caused by ethanol and the possible mechanisms implicated. Functional studies reveal that LNT attenuates chronic ethanol consumption-induced impaired glucose metabolism in vivo. In addition, LNT ameliorates chronic ethanol consumption-induced β-cell dysfunction, which is characterized by reduced insulin synthesis, defected insulin secretion and increased cell apoptosis. Furthermore, mechanistic assays suggest that LNT enhances β-cell antioxidant capacity and ameliorates ethanol-induced oxidative stress by activating Nrf-2 antioxidant pathway. Our results demonstrated that LNT prevents ethanol-induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis, and therefore may be a potential pharmacological agent for preventing pancreatic β-cell failure associated with T2DM and stress-induced diabetes.     

Dynamics of insulin sensitivity, -cell function, and -cell mass during the development of diabetes in fa/fa rats

Both male Zucker Fatty (mZF) and lower-fat-fed female Zucker diabetic fatty (LF-fZDF) rats are obese but remain normoglycemic. Male ZDF (mZDF) and high-fat-fed female ZDF rats (HF-fZDF) are also obese but develop diabetes between 7 and 10 wk of age. Although these models have been well studied, the mechanisms governing the adaptations to obesity in the normoglycemic animals, and the failure of adaptation in the animals that develop diabetes, remain unclear. Here we use quantitative morphometry and our recently developed coupled beta-cell mass (beta(m)), insulin, and glucose model to elucidate the dynamics of insulin sensitivity (S(I)), beta-cell secretory capacity (beta(sc)), and beta(m) in these four animal models. Both groups that remained normoglycemic with increasing obesity (mZF, LF-fZDF) exhibited increased beta(m) and constant beta(sc) in response to a falling S(I). In rats that developed hyperglycemia (mZDF, HF-fZDF), there was a greater reduction in S(I) and slower expansion of beta(m), with constant beta(sc). beta(sc) decreased after glucose levels rose above 20 mM. Taken together, these data suggest that excessive insulin resistance and insufficient beta(m) adaptation play a primary role in the pathogenesis of diabetes.     

Shortened {beta}-cell lifespan leads to {beta}-cell deficit in a rodent model of type 2 diabetes

Since the fundamental defect in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is β-cell failure, there is increasing interest in the capacity, if any, for β-cell regeneration. Insights into typical β-cell age and lifespan during normal development and how these are influenced in diabetes is desirable to realistically establish the prospects for β-cell regeneration as means to reverse the deficit in β-cell mass in diabetes. We assessed the mean β-cell age and lifespan by the classical McKendrick-von Foester equation that describes the age-based heterogeneity of β-cells in terms of the time-varying β-cell formation and loss estimated by a β-cell turnover model. This modeling approach was applied to evaluate β-cell lifespan in a rodent model of type 2 diabetes in comparison with nondiabetic controls. When rats were 10 mo old, mean β-cell lifespan was 1 mo vs. 6 mo in rats with type 2 diabetes vs. controls. A shortened β-cell lifespan in a rat model of type 2 diabetes results in a decrease in mean β-cell age and thus contributes to decreased β-cell mass.     

离子浓度对小鼠2-细胞胚胎电融合的影响

四倍体胚胎的制备已经成为生物学家研究小鼠以及其它哺乳动物发育生物学的有力工具。目前,制备小鼠四倍体胚胎最常用的方法是电融合法,其中电融合液中的离了种类和离子浓度是影响胚胎电融合成败的关键因素。本文比较了Ca^2＋、Mg^2＋、Sr^＋、Na^＋、K^＋、Li^＋等阳离子对小鼠2-细胞胚胎电融合的影响。结果发现,在100V／mm电场强度、50μsec脉冲时程和2次脉冲的电融合条件下,少量二价阳离子的存在是胚胎融合所必须的,当Ca^2＋为0．1mM时,可使全部胚胎发生电融合,而一价阳离子的存在不利于胚胎的电融合。随着各种离子浓度的大幅升高,胚胎的融合率急剧下降、胚胎死亡数量增加以及死亡程度加剧。     

Ligand-activated signal transduction in the 2-cell embryo

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is an autocrine trophic/survival factor for the preimplantation embryo. PAF induced an increase in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the 2-cell embryo that had an absolute requirement for external calcium. L-type calcium channel blockers (diltiazem, verapamil, and nimodipine) significantly inhibited PAF-induced Ca2+ transients, but inhibitors of P/Q type (omega-agatoxin; omega-conotoxin MVIIC), N-type (omega-conotoxin GVIA), T-type (pimozide), and store-operated channels (SKF 96365 and econazole) did not block the transient. mRNA and protein for the alpha1-C subunit of L-type channels was expressed in the 2-cell embryo. The L-type calcium channel agonist (+/-) BAY K 8644 induced [Ca2+]i transients and, PAF and BAY K 8644 each caused mutual heterologous desensitization of each other's responses. Depolarization of the embryo (75 mM KCl) induced a [Ca2+]i transient that was inhibited by diltiazem and verapamil. Whole-cell patch-clamp measurements detected a voltage-gated channel (blocked by diltiazem, verapamil, and nifedipine) that was desensitized by prior responses of embryos to exogenous or embryo-derived PAF. Replacement of media Ca2+ with Mn2+ allowed Mn2+ influx to be observed directly; activation of a diltiazem-sensitive influx channel was an early response to PAF. The activation of a voltage-gated L-type calcium channel in the 2-cell embryo is required for normal signal transduction to an embryonic trophic factor.     

褪黑素对小鼠2-细胞期胚胎发育的影响

目的：研究褪黑素对小鼠2-细胞期胚胎发育的影响。方法：在培养液中添加不同浓度褪黑素,在不同的作用时间点,观察并记录小鼠胚胎囊胚率、孵出率,研究其变化情况。结果：不同浓度褪黑素对小鼠2-细胞期胚胎存在双向作用,在10-13-10-5M之间促进细胞囊胚形成和孵出,在10-9M时促进效应达到最高,而在10-3M时则呈现出一定的毒性作用。结论：褪黑素对小鼠胚胎发育影响与褪黑素浓度密切相关。     

Phosphorylated inositol compounds in beta -cell stimulus-response coupling

Pancreatic beta-cell function is essential for the regulation of glucose homeostasis in humans, and its impairment leads to the development of type 2 diabetes. Inputs from glucose and cell surface receptors act together to initiate the beta-cell stimulus-response coupling that ultimately leads to the release of insulin. Phosphorylated inositol compounds have recently emerged as key players at all levels of the stimulus-secretion coupling process. In this current review, we seek to highlight recent advances in beta-cell phosphoinositide research by dividing our examination into two sections. The first involves the events that lead to insulin secretion. This includes both new roles for inositol polyphosphates, particularly inositol hexakisphosphate, and both conventional and 3-phosphorylated inositol lipids. In the second section, we deal with the more novel concept of the autocrine role of insulin. Here, released insulin initiates signal transduction cascades, principally through the activity of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. This new round of signal transduction has been established to activate key beta-cell genes, particularly the insulin gene itself. More controversially, this insulin feedback has also been suggested to either terminate or enhance insulin secretion events.     

褪黑素对小鼠2- 细胞期胚胎发育的影响

目的:研究褪黑素对小鼠2-细胞期胚胎发育的影响。方法:在培养液中添加不同浓度褪黑素,在不同的作用时间点,观察并记录小鼠胚胎囊胚率、孵出率,研究其变化情况。结果:不同浓度褪黑素对小鼠2-细胞期胚胎存在双向作用,在10-13-10-5M之间促进细胞囊胚形成和孵出,在10-9M时促进效应达到最高,而在10-3M时则呈现出一定的毒性作用。结论:褪黑素对小鼠胚胎发育影响与褪黑素浓度密切相关。     

Role of adenosine signalling and metabolism in β-cell regeneration

Glucose homeostasis, which is controlled by the endocrine cells of the pancreas, is disrupted in both type I and type II diabetes. Deficiency in the number of insulin-producing β cells – a primary cause of type I diabetes and a secondary contributor of type II diabetes – leads to hyperglycemia and hence an increase in the need for insulin. Although diabetes can be controlled with insulin injections, a curative approach is needed. A potential approach to curing diabetes involves regenerating the β-cell mass, e.g. by increasing β-cell proliferation, survival, neogenesis or transdifferentiation. The nucleoside adenosine and its cognate nucleotide ATP have long been known to affect insulin secretion, but have more recently been shown to increase β-cell proliferation during homeostatic control and regeneration of the β-cell mass. Adenosine is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties, and agonism of adenosine receptors can promote the survival of β-cells in an inflammatory microenvironment. In this review, both intracellular and extracellular mechanisms of adenosine and ATP are discussed in terms of their established and putative effects on β-cell regeneration.