Progressive reduction in β-cell mass is responsible for the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and alteration in insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2) abundance plays a critical role in this process. IRS-2 expression is stimulated by the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and we recently demonstrated that Ca2+/calmodulin dependent kinase 4 (CaMK4) is upstream of CREB activation in β-cells. This study investigated whether CaMK4 is also a potential target to increase β-cell mass through CREB-mediated IRS-2 expression, by quantifying mouse MIN6 β-cell proliferation and apoptosis following IRS-2 knockdown, CaMKs inhibition and alterations in CaMK4 and CREB expression. Expression of constitutively active CaMK4 (ΔCaMK4) and CREB (CREBDIEDLM) significantly stimulated β-cell proliferation and survival. In contrast, expression of their corresponding dominant negative forms (ΔK75ECaMK4 and CREBM1) and silencing of IRS-2 increased apoptosis and reduced β-cell division. Moreover, CREBDIEDLM and CREBM1 expression completely abolished the effects of ΔK75ECaMK4 and of ΔCaMK4, respectively. Our results indicate that CaMK4 regulates β-cell proliferation and apoptosis in a CREB-dependent manner and that CaMK4-induced IRS-2 expression is important in these processes.

Aims/hypothesis Irs2, which is upregulated by glucose, is important for beta cell plasticity. Cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) stimulates beta cell Irs2 expression and is a major calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase (CaMK) IV target in neurons. We therefore hypothesised that CaMK IV mediates glucose-induced Irs2 expression in beta cells via CREB activation. Methods The functions of CaMK IV and CREB were investigated in MIN6 beta cells and mouse islets using the CaMK inhibitor KN62, the calcium chelator bapta-(AM) and the voltage-dependent calcium channel inhibitor nifedipine. Small interfering RNAs were used to silence endogenous CaMK IV production and expression vectors to overproduce constitutively active and dominant negative forms of CaMK IV and CREB. Irs1 and Irs2 expression were determined by quantitative PCR and Western blotting, and the role of CREB was also investigated by assessing its phosphorylation on serine 133.

Aims/hypothesis The stress-activated nuclear protein transcription regulator 1 (NUPR1) is induced in response to glucose and TNF-α, both of which are elevated in type 2 diabetes, and Nupr1 has been implicated in cell proliferation and apoptosis cascades. We used Nupr1 −/− mice to study the role of Nupr1 in glucose homeostasis under normal conditions and following maintenance on a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods Glucose homeostasis in vivo was determined by measuring glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion. Islet number, morphology and beta cell area were assessed by immunofluorescence and morphometric analysis, and islet cell proliferation was quantified by analysis of BrdU incorporation. Islet gene expression was measured by gene arrays and quantitative RT-PCR, and gene promoter activities were monitored by measuring luciferase activity. Results Nupr1 −/− mice had increased beta cell mass as a consequence of enhanced islet cell proliferation. Nupr1-dependent suppression of beta cell Ccna2 and Tcf19 promoter activities was identified as a mechanism through which Nupr1 may regulate beta cell cycle progression. Nupr1 −/− mice maintained on a normal diet were mildly insulin resistant, but were normoglycaemic with normal glucose tolerance because of compensatory increases in basal and glucose-induced insulin secretion. Nupr1 deletion was protective against HFD-induced obesity, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. Conclusions/interpretation Inhibition of NUPR1 expression or activity has the potential to protect against the metabolic defects associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

No abstract

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between early life protein malnutritioninduced redox imbalance, and reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. After weaning, male Wistar rats were submitted to a normal-protein-diet (17%-protein, NP) or to a low-protein-diet (6%-protein, LP) for 60 days. Pancreatic islets were isolated and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) glutathione content, CuZn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1), glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) and catalase (CAT) gene expression, as well as enzymatic antioxidant activities were quantified. Islets that were pre-incubated with H 2 O 2 and/or N-acetylcysteine, were subsequently incubated with glucose for insulin secretion measurement.Protein malnutrition increased CAT mRNA content by 100%. LP group SOD1 and CAT activities were 50% increased and reduced, respectively. H 2 O 2 production was more than 50% increased whereas GSH/GSSG ratio was near 60% lower in LP group. Insulin secretion was, in most conditions, approximately 50% lower in LP rat islets. When islets were pre-incubated with H 2 O 2 (100 μM), and incubated with glucose (33 mM), LP rats showed significant decrease of insulin secretion. This effect was attenuated when LP islets were exposed to N-acetylcysteine. K E Y W O R D Santioxidant enzymes, insulin secretion, pancreatic islets, protein malnutrition, reactive oxygen species | INTRODUCTIONInsulin release is known to be tightly coupled to ATP production.Briefly, the canonical theory of glucose-induced insulin secretion (GIIS) states that when blood glucose rises, islet β-cells stimulate ATP synthesis. ATP acts on ATP-dependent K + channels leading to membrane depolarization. This process is followed by opening of voltage-sensitive calcium channels; increasing cytosolic Ca 2+ concentration and, consequently, insulin exocytosis (Aguilar-Bryan et al., 1995).Although not yet fully understood, the discovery of ATP-independent K + channels mechanisms gave rise to several speculations about how glucose metabolism could regulate GIIS in addition to the solely ATP enhancement effect (Szollosi, Nenquin, Aguilar-Bryan, Bryan, & Henquin, 2007