Increases in glucose or fatty acids affect metabolism via changes in long-chain acyl-CoA formation and chronically elevated fatty acids increase total cellular CoA. Understanding the response of pancreatic beta cells to increased amounts of fuel and the role that altered insulin secretion plays in the development and maintenance of obesity and Type 2 diabetes is important. Data indicate that the activated form of fatty acids acts as an effector molecule in stimulus-secretion coupling. Glucose increases cytosolic long-chain acylCoA because it increases the "switch" compound malonyl-CoA that blocks mitochondrial β-oxidation, thus implementing a shift from fatty acid to glucose oxidation. We present arguments in support of the following: (i) A source of fatty acid either exogenous or endogenous (derived by lipolysis of triglyceride) is necessary to support normal insulin secretion; (ii) a rapid increase of fatty acids potentiates glucose-stimulated secretion by increasing fatty acyl-CoA or complex lipid concentrations that act distally by modulating key enzymes such as protein kinase C or the exocytotic machinery; (iii) a chronic increase of fatty acids enhances basal secretion by the same mechanism, but promotes obesity and a diminished response to stimulatory glucose; (iv) agents which raise cAMP act as incretins, at least in part, by stimulating lipolysis via beta-cell hormone-sensitive lipase activation. Furthermore, increased triglyceride stores can give higher rates of lipolysis and thus influence both basal and stimulated insulin secretion. These points highlight the important roles of NEFA, LC-CoA, and their esterified derivatives in affecting insulin secretion in both normal and pathological states. [Diabetologia (2003[Diabetologia ( ) 46:1297[Diabetologia ( -1312

Glucose-induced insulin secretion is associated with inhibition of free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation, increased esterification and complex lipid formation by pancreatic beta-cells. Abundant evidence favors a role for cytosolic long-chain acyl-CoA (LC-CoA), including the rapid rise in malonyl CoA, the inhibitory effect of hydroxycitrate or acetyl CoA carboxylase knockout, both of which prevent malonyl CoA formation, and the stimulatory effect of exogenous FFA. On the other hand, some evidence opposes the concept, including the fall in total LC-CoA levels in response to glucose, the stimulatory effect of LC-CoA on K(ATP) channels and the lack of inhibition of glucose-stimulated secretion either by overexpression of malonyl CoA decarboxylase, which markedly lowers malonyl CoA levels, or by triacsin C, which blocks FFA conversion to LC-CoA. Alternative explanations for these data are presented. A revised model of nutrient-stimulated secretion involving two arms of signal transduction that occur simultaneously is proposed. One arm depends on modulation of the K(ATP) channel evoked by changes in the ATP/ADP ratio. The other arm depends upon anaplerotic input into the tricarboxylic acid cycle, generation of excess citrate, and increases in cytosolic malonyl-CoA. Input from this arm is increased LC-CoA. Signaling through both arms would be required for normal secretion. LC-CoA esters and products formed from them are potent regulators of enzymes and channels. It is hypothesized that their elevations directly modulate the activity of enzymes, genes and various beta-cell functions or modify the acylation state of key proteins involved in regulation of ion channels and exocytosis.

Chronic elevation in glucose has pleiotropic effects on the pancreatic ␤-cell including a high rate of insulin secretion at low glucose, ␤-cell hypertrophy, and hyperplasia. These actions of glucose are expected to be associated with the modulation of the expression of a number of glucose-regulated genes that need to be identified. To further investigate the molecular mechanisms implicated in these adaptation processes to hyperglycemia, we have studied the regulation of genes encoding key glycolytic enzymes in the glucose-responsive ␤-cell line INS-1. Glucose (from 5 to 25 mM) induced phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) isoform C, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (4-fold), and L-pyruvate kinase (L-PK) (7-fold) mRNAs. In contrast the expression level of the glucokinase (Gk) and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase transcripts remained unchanged. Following a 3-day exposure to elevated glucose, a similar induction was observed at the protein level for PFK-1 (isoforms C, M, and L), GAPDH, and L-PK, whereas M-PK expression only increased slightly. The study of the mechanism of GAPDH induction indicated that glucose increased the transcriptional rate of the GAPDH gene but that both transcriptional and post transcriptional effects contributed to GAPDH mRNA accumulation. 2-Deoxyglucose did not mimic the inductive effect of glucose, suggesting that increased glucose metabolism is involved in GAPDH gene induction. These changes in glycolytic enzyme expression were associated with a 2-3-fold increase in insulin secretion at low (2-5 mM) glucose. The metabolic activity of the cells was also elevated, as indicated by the reduction of the artificial electron acceptor 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium. A marked deposition of glycogen, which was readily mobilized upon lowering of the ambient glucose, and increased DNA replication were also observed in cells exposed to elevated glucose. The results suggest that a coordinated induction of key glycolytic enzymes as well as massive glycogen deposition are implicated in the adaptation process of the ␤-cell to hyperglycemia to allow for chronically elevated glucose metabolism, which, in this particular fuel-sensitive cell, is linked to metabolic coupling factor production and cell activation.The adaptation of the pancreatic ␤-cell to chronic hyperglycemia is characterized by an augmented secretory function, hypertrophy, and hyperplasia (1, 2). These pleiotropic actions promoted by elevated glucose are expected to be associated with the induction of a number of glucose-regulated genes that must be identified. Elevated circulating glucose has gained recognition over the last few years as a factor contributing to ␤-cell dysfunction and the subsequent development of type 2 diabetes (2-4). However, the link between sustained hyperglycemia and long-term alterations in ␤-cell function is not well understood. In animal models, prolonged hyperglycemia causes both an impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion and the development of peripheral insulin resistance (5, 6). These a...

We review the role of ion channels in regulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells. By controlling ion permeability, ion channels at the membrane play a major role in regulating both electrical activity and signal transduction in the beta-cell. A proximal step in the cascade of events required for stimulus-secretion coupling is the closure of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, resulting in cell depolarization. Of particular relevance is the finding that this channel is directly regulated by a metabolite of glucose, which is the primary insulin secretagogue. In addition, this channel, or a closely associated protein, contains the sulfonylurea-binding site. Another K+ channel, the Ca2(+)-activated K+ channel, may be involved in cell repolarization to create homeostasis. Voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels are activated by cell depolarization and regulate Ca2+ influx into the cell. By controlling cytosolic free-Ca2+ levels ([Ca2+]i), these channels play an important role in transducing the initial stimulus to the effector systems that modulate insulin secretion. The link between a rise in [Ca2+]i and the terminal event of exocytosis is the least-understood aspect of stimulus-secretion coupling. However, phosphorylation studies have identified substrate proteins that may correspond to those involved in smooth muscle contraction, suggesting an analogy in the processes of stimulus secretion and excitation contraction. The advent of new methodology, particularly the patch-clamp technique, has fostered a more detailed characterization of the beta-cell ion channels. Furthermore, biochemical and molecular approaches developed for the structural analysis of ion channels in other tissues can now be applied to the isolation and characterization of the beta-cell ion channels. This is of particular significance because there appear to be tissue-specific variations in the different types of ion channels. Given the importance of ion channels in cell physiology, a knowledge of the structure and properties of these channels in the beta-cell is required for understanding the abnormalities of insulin secretion that occur in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Ultimately, these studies should also provide new therapeutic approaches to the treatment of this disease.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is the most potent physiological incretin for insulin secretion from the pancreatic ␤-cell, but its mechanism of action has not been established. It interacts with specific cell-surface receptors, generates cAMP, and thereby activates protein kinase A (PKA). Many changes in pancreatic ␤-cell function have been attributed to PKA activation, but the contribution of each one to the secretory response is unknown. We show here for the first time that GLP-1 rapidly released free fatty acids (FFAs) from cellular stores, thereby lowering intracellular pH (pH i ) and stimulating FFA oxidation in clonal ␤-cells (HIT). Similar changes were observed with forskolin, suggesting that stimulation of lipolysis was a function of PKA activation in ␤-cells. G lucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is the most potent potentiator of glucose-induced insulin secretion that has been described (1,2). This peptide causes the elevation of cAMP and the activation of protein kinase A (PKA) (3); however, it releases insulin only in the presence of stimulatory glucose (4) and thus serves as an incretin rather than a secretagogue (5). Activation of PKA leads to phosphorylation of multiple ␤-cell proteins, many of which have been hypothesized to play a role in insulin secretion (6-8). The nature of the endogenous substrates for PKA that may potentiate insulin secretion is unknown. Because the islet contains large stores of triglycerides (9), particularly in diabetes (10), another possible role of the normal rise in cAMP could be to stimulate lipolysis (via lipase activation), thereby providing the cell with free fatty acids (FFAs). Recent research on hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in ␤-cells yielded results consistent with that notion (11). The released FFAs may directly effect secretion, or they may do so indirectly via generation of other lipids, including the putative long-chain acyl CoA (LC-CoA) signal, diacylglycerol (DAG), and phosphatidic acid (PA) (12). The acute addition of exogenous FFAs is also known to enhance glucose-stimulated secretion (9,13-15).We have shown in previous studies that added FFAs cause acidification in ␤-cells (16) and fat cells (17) as a consequence of the flip-flop mechanism of diffusion across the plasma membrane (16,17). Furthermore, we have shown in adipocytes that the elevation of cAMP stimulates lipolysis, with a resulting decrease in the intracellular pH (pH i ) caused by the release of FFAs, which become partially ionized (17). Therefore, in this study we assessed whether GLP-1 has a similar effect on lipolysis in ␤-cells. Our data show a decrease in pH i and a release of FFAs by agents that increase cAMP, presumably via activation of HSL. Furthermore, the incretin effect was largely diminished by a lipase inhibitor, whereas glucose-stimulated secretion was less affected. These findings indicate that cAMP-mediated lipolysis may play an important role in ␤-cell signal transduction and the incretin effect of GLP-1. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSGrowth and incubation of cells. Clonal pancr...

Normal insulin secretion is oscillatory in vivo, and the oscillations are impaired in type II diabetes. We and others have shown oscillations in insulin secretion from isolated perifused islets stimulated with glucose, and in this study we show oscillations in insulin secretion from the glucose-sensitive clonal beta-cell line INS-1. We have proposed that the oscillatory insulin secretion may be caused by spontaneous oscillations of glycolysis and the ATP:ADP ratio in the beta-cell, analogous to those seen in glycolyzing muscle extracts. The mechanism of the latter involves autocatalytic activation of the key regulatory enzyme, phosphofructokinase (PFK), by its product fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (F16BP). However, of the three PFK subunit isoforms (M-[muscle], L-[liver], and C-type, predominant in fibroblasts), only M-type is activated by micromolar F16BP at near-physiological conditions. We therefore studied PFK isoforms in the beta-cell. Western analysis of PFK subunits in isolated rat islets and INS-1 cells showed the presence of M-type, as well as C-type and perhaps lesser amounts of L-type. Kinetic studies of PFK activity in INS-1 cell extracts showed strong activation by micromolar concentrations of F16BP at near-physiological concentrations of ATP (several millimolar) and AMP and fructose 6-phosphate (micromolar), indicative of the M-type isoform. Activation by submicromolar concentrations of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (F26BP) and potent inhibition by citrate were also observed. The F16BP-stimulatable activity was about one-half of the F26BP-stimulatable activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The present study was undertaken to determine the main metabolic secretory signals generated by the mitochondrial substrate MeS (methyl succinate) compared with glucose in mouse and rat islets and to understand the differences. Glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism both have key roles in the stimulation of insulin secretion by glucose. Both fuels elicited comparable oscillatory patterns of Ca 2+ and changes in plasma and mitochondrial membrane potential in rat islet cells and clonal pancreatic β-cells (INS-1). Saturation of the Ca 2+ signal occurred between 5 and 6 mM MeS, while secretion reached its maximum at 15 mM, suggesting operation of a K ATP -channel-independent pathway. Additional responses to MeS and glucose included elevated NAD(P)H autofluorescence in INS-1 cells and islets and increases in assayed NADH and NADPH and the ATP/ADP ratio. Increased NADPH and ATP/ADP ratios occurred more rapidly with MeS, although similar levels were reached after 5 min of exposure to each fuel, whereas NADH increased more with MeS than with glucose. Reversal of MeS-induced cell depolarization by Methylene Blue completely inhibited MeS-stimulated secretion, whereas basal secretion and KCl-induced changes in these parameters were not affected. MeS had no effect on secretion or signals in the mouse islets, in contrast with glucose, possibly due to a lack of malic enzyme. The data are consistent with the common intermediates being pyruvate, cytosolic NADPH or both, and suggest that cytosolic NADPH production could account for the more rapid onset of MeS-induced secretion compared with glucose stimulation.

Culturing clonal β-cells (HIT-T15) overnight in the presence of phorbol ester [phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)] enhanced insulin secretion while causing downregulation of some protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms and most PKC activity. We show here that this enhanced secretion required the retention of PMA in the cell. Hence, it could not be because of long-lived phosphorylation of cellular substrates by the isoforms that were downregulated, namely PKC-α, -βII, and -ε, but could be because of the continued activation of the two remaining diacylglycerol-sensitive isoforms δ and μ. The enhanced secretion did not involve changes in glucose metabolism, cell membrane potential, or intracellular Ca2+handling, suggesting a distal effect. PMA washout caused the loss of the enhanced response, but secretion was then stimulated by acute readdition of PMA or bombesin. The magnitude of this restimulation appeared dependent on the mass of PKC-α, which was rapidly resynthesized during PMA washout. Therefore, stimulation of insulin secretion by PMA, and presumably by endogenous diacylglycerol, involves the activation of PKC isoforms δ and/or μ, and also PKC-α.