There is growing evidence that glucose metabolism in the liver is in part under the control of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is also supported by its presence in this organ. The ECS consists of its cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) and enzymes that are responsible for endocannabinoid production and metabolism. ECS is known to be differentially influenced by the hepatic glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, e.g., cannabinoid receptor type 1(CB1) antagonist can improve the glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Interestingly, our own study shows that expression patterns of CBRs are influenced by the light/dark cycle, which is of significant physiological and clinical interest. The ECS system is highly upregulated during chronic liver disease and a growing number of studies suggest a mechanistic and therapeutic impact of ECS on the development of liver fibrosis, especially putting its receptors into focus. An opposing effect of the CBRs was exerted via the CB1 or CB2 receptor stimulation. An activation of CB1 promoted fibrogenesis, while CB2 activation improved antifibrogenic responses. However, underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. In the context of liver diseases, the ECS is considered as a possible mediator, which seems to be involved in the synthesis of fibrotic tissue, increase of intrahepatic vascular resistance and subsequently development of portal hypertension. Portal hypertension is the main event that leads to complications of the disease. The main complication is the development of variceal bleeding and ascites, which have prognostic relevance for the patients. The present review summarizes the current understanding and impact of the ECS on glucose metabolism in the liver, in association with the development of liver cirrhosis and hemodynamics in cirrhosis and its complication, to give perspectives for development of new therapeutic strategies.
Melatonin exerts some of its effects via G-protein-coupled membrane receptors. Two membrane receptor isoforms, MT1 and MT2, have been described. The MT1 receptor is known to inhibit second messenger cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling through receptor-coupling to inhibitory G-proteins (G(i) ). Much less is known about the MT2 receptor, but it has also been implicated in signaling via G(i) -proteins. In rat pancreatic β-cells, it has recently been reported that the MT2 receptor plays an inhibitory role in the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway. This study addresses the signaling features of the constitutively expressed human recombinant MT2 receptor (hMT2) and its impact on insulin secretion, using a rat insulinoma β-cell line (INS-1). On the basis of a specific radioimmunoassay, insulin secretion was found to be more strongly reduced in the clones expressing hMT2 than in INS-1 controls, when incubated with 1 or 100 nm melatonin. Similarly, cAMP and cGMP levels, measured by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), were reduced to a greater extent in hMT2 clones after melatonin treatment. In hMT2-expressing cells, the inhibitory effect of melatonin on insulin secretion was blocked by pretreatment with pertussis toxin, demonstrating the coupling of the hMT2 to G(i) -proteins. These results indicate that functional hMT2 expression leads to the inhibition of cyclic nucleotide signaling and a reduction in insulin release. Because genetic variants of the hMT2 receptor are considered to be risk factors in the development of type 2 diabetes, our results are potentially significant in explaining and preventing the pathogenesis of this disease.
The pineal hormone melatonin is known to influence insulin secretion via the G-protein-coupled receptor isoforms MT1 and MT2. The present study was aimed to further elucide the impact of melatonin on blood glucose regulation. To this end, mouse lines were used, in which one of the two or both melatonin receptors were deleted. In comparison with wild-type mice of the same age (8-12 months old), increased plasma insulin and melatonin levels and decreased blood glucose levels and body weights were detected in the MT1- and double-knockout lines. The elimination of melatonin receptor signalling also altered blood glucose concentrations, body weight and melatonin and insulin levels when comparing wild-type and receptor knockout mice of different ages (6 wk and 8-12 months old); such changes, however, were dependent on the type of receptor deleted. Furthermore, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results provided evidence that melatonin receptor deficiency has an impact on transcript levels of pancreatic islet hormones as well as on pancreatic and hepatic glucose transporters (Glut1 and 2). Under stimulated insulin secretion in the presence of melatonin in the rat insulinoma β-cells INS-1, the Glut1 transcript level was decreased. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that melatonin receptor knockout types affect blood glucose levels, body weight, plasma levels of melatonin and insulin, as well as pancreatic hormone and Glut1 expression in significantly different manners.
The present study dealt with the localization of different calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) in the pancreatic tissue of non-diabetic and diabetic rats and in rat insulinoma beta-cells (INS-1). Transcripts of CaBPs displayed different expression levels in rat pancreatic tissue and INS-1 cells. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that three of these proteins, calmodulin, calreticulin and calbindin-D28k, were located predominantly in the pancreatic islets (in both alpha- and beta-cells) of rats, showing weaker labeling of exocrine tissue. Secretagogin was exclusively found within islets. All CaBPs were also immunohistochemically detected in INS-1 cells. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrates differences in CaBP distributions when comparing the pancreatic tissues of diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats and non-diabetic Wistar rats. Pancreatic tissue in type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats showed significantly higher transcript levels of all CaBPs compared to those in Wistar rats. These results indicate that alterations of CaBPs in pancreatic islets are associated with metabolic disturbances related to type 2 diabetes.
Several studies have revealed that melatonin affects the insulin secretion via MT1 and MT2 receptor isoforms. Owing to the lack of selective MT1 receptor antagonists, we used RNA interference technology to generate an MT1 knockdown in a clonal β‐cell line to evaluate whether melatonin modulates insulin secretion specifically via the MT1 receptor. Incubation experiments were carried out, and the insulin concentration in supernatants was measured using a radioimmunoassay. Furthermore, the intracellular cAMP was determined using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Real‐time RT‐PCR indicated that MT1 knockdown resulted in a significant increase in the rIns1 mRNA and a significantly elevated basal insulin secretion of INS‐1 cells. Incubation with melatonin decreased the amount of glucagon‐like peptide 1 or inhibited the glucagon‐stimulated insulin release of INS‐1 cells, while, in MT1‐knockdown cells, no melatonin‐induced reduction in insulin secretion could be found. No decrease in 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine‐stimulated intracellular cAMP in rMT1‐knockdown cells was detectable after treatment with melatonin either, and immunocytochemistry proved that MT1 knockdown abolished phosphorylation of cAMP‐response‐element‐binding protein. In contrast to the INS‐1 cells, preincubation with melatonin did not sensitize the insulin secretion of rMT1‐knockdown cells. We also monitored insulin secretion from isolated islets of wild‐type and melatonin‐receptor knockout mice ex vivo. In islets of wild‐type mice, melatonin treatment resulted in a decrease in insulin release, whereas melatonin treatment of islets from MT1 knockout and MT1/2 double‐knockout mice did not show a significant effect. The data indicate that melatonin inhibits insulin secretion, primarily via the MT1 receptor in rat INS‐1 cells and isolated mouse islets.
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