The islets of Langerhans exist as multicellular networks that regulate blood glucose levels. The majority of cells in the islet are excitable, insulin-producing β-cells that are electrically coupled via gap junction channels. β-cells are known to display heterogeneous functionality. However, due to gap junction coupling, β-cells show coordinated [Ca2+] oscillations when stimulated with glucose, and global quiescence when unstimulated. Small subpopulations of highly functional β-cells have been suggested to control [Ca2+] dynamics across the islet. When these populations were targeted by optogenetic silencing or photoablation, [Ca2+] dynamics across the islet were largely disrupted. In this study, we investigated the theoretical basis of these experiments and how small populations can disproportionality control islet [Ca2+] dynamics. Using a multicellular islet model, we generated normal, skewed or bimodal distributions of β-cell heterogeneity. We examined how islet [Ca2+] dynamics were disrupted when cells were targeted via hyperpolarization or populations were removed; to mimic optogenetic silencing or photoablation, respectively. Targeted cell populations were chosen based on characteristics linked to functional subpopulation, including metabolic rate of glucose oxidation or [Ca2+] oscillation frequency. Islets were susceptible to marked suppression of [Ca2+] when ~10% of cells with high metabolic activity were hyperpolarized; where hyperpolarizing cells with normal metabolic activity had little effect. However, when highly metabolic cells were removed from the model, [Ca2+] oscillations remained. Similarly, when ~10% of cells with either the highest frequency or earliest elevations in [Ca2+] were removed from the islet, the [Ca2+] oscillation frequency remained largely unchanged. Overall, these results indicate small populations of β-cells with either increased metabolic activity or increased frequency are unable to disproportionately control islet-wide [Ca2+] via gap junction coupling. Therefore, we need to reconsider the physiological basis for such small β-cell populations or the mechanism by which they may be acting to control normal islet function.

Understanding how cell subpopulations in a tissue impact overall system function is challenging. There is extensive heterogeneity among insulin-secreting b-cells within islets of Langerhans, including their insulin secretory response and gene expression profile, and this heterogeneity can be altered in diabetes. Several studies have identified variations in nutrient sensing between b-cells, including glucokinase (GK) levels, mitochondrial function, or expression of genes important for glucose metabolism. Subpopulations of b-cells with defined electrical properties can disproportionately influence islet-wide free-calcium activity ([Ca 2þ ]) and insulin secretion via gap-junction electrical coupling. However, it is poorly understood how subpopulations of b-cells with altered glucose metabolism may impact islet function. To address this, we utilized a multicellular computational model of the islet in which a population of cells deficient in GK activity and glucose metabolism was imposed on the islet or in which b-cells were heterogeneous in glucose metabolism and GK kinetics were altered. This included simulating GK gene (GCK) mutations that cause monogenic diabetes. We combined these approaches with experimental models in which gck was genetically deleted in a population of cells or GK was pharmacologically inhibited. In each case, we modulated gap-junction electrical coupling. Both the simulated islet and the experimental system required 30-50% of the cells to have near-normal glucose metabolism, fewer than cells with normal K ATP conductance. Below this number, the islet lacked any glucose-stimulated [Ca 2þ ] elevations. In the absence of electrical coupling, the change in [Ca 2þ ] was more gradual. As such, electrical coupling allows a large minority of cells with normal glucose metabolism to promote glucose-stimulated [Ca 2þ ]. If insufficient numbers of cells are present, which we predict can be caused by a subset of GCK mutations that cause monogenic diabetes, electrical coupling exacerbates [Ca 2þ ] suppression. This demonstrates precisely how metabolically heterogeneous b-cell populations interact to impact islet function.

Cell cultureGeneration of stem cell derived beta-like cells from human embryonic stem cells and from induced pluripotent stem cells MEL1 human embryonic stem cells (hESC) containing the INS GFP/W reporter 18 (referred to as pINSGFP throughout the manuscript) and sub-clones thereof 19,31 , type 1 diabetes patient induced pluripotent stem cells (T1D-iPSC) 24 (Supp. Fig 8 .) and iPSC from a healthy donor 48 (Supp. Fig. 9), as well as pNKX6.1 GFP reporter iPSC 46 were employed in this study. All iPSC lines were maintained on hESC qualified Matrigel (Corning #354277) in mTeSR+ media (STEMCELL Technologies #05826). MEL1 Subclones were only used for bulk RNA sequencing analysis experiments. Differentiation to stem cellderived beta-like cells (sBCs) was carried out in suspension-based, low attachment suspension culture plates as described 19 or in a bioreactor magnetic stirring system (Reprocell #ABBWVS03A-6, #ABBWVDW-1013, #ABBWBP03N0S-6) as follows:Confluent hESC cultures were dissociated into single-cell suspensions by incubation with TrypLE (Gibco #12-604-021) for 6 min at 37C. Detached cells were quenched with mTESR media. Live cells were counted using a MoxiGo II cell counter (Orflow), followed by seeding 0.5 × 10 6 cells per ml in mTeSR media supplemented with 10 M ROCK inhibitor (Y-27632, R&D Systems #1254-50) (cluster media). Bioreactors were placed on a magnetic stirring system set at 60 RPM in a cell culture incubator at 5 % CO2 to induce sphere formation for 48 h. To induce definitive endoderm differentiation, spheres were collected in a 50 mL Falcon tube, allowed to settle by gravity, washed once with RPMI

Caloric restriction can decrease the incidence of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The mechanisms underlying the benefits of caloric restriction involved in insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis are not fully understood. Intercellular communication within the islets of Langerhans, mediated by Connexin36 (Cx36) gap junctions, regulates insulin secretion dynamics and glucose homeostasis. The goal of this study was to determine if caloric restriction can protect against decreases in Cx36 gap junction coupling and altered islet function induced in models of obesity and prediabetes. C57BL6 mice were fed with a high fat diet (HFD), showing indications of prediabetes after 2 months, including weight gain, insulin resistance, and elevated fasting glucose and insulin levels. Subsequently, mice were submitted to one month of 40% caloric restriction (2g/day of HFD). Mice under 40% caloric restriction showed reversal in weight gain and recovered insulin sensitivity, fasting glucose and insulin levels. In islets of mice fed the HFD, caloric restriction protected against obesity-induced decreases in gap junction coupling and preserved glucose-stimulated calcium signaling, including Ca2+ oscillation coordination and oscillation amplitude. Caloric restriction also promoted a slight increase in glucose metabolism, as measured by increased NAD(P)H autofluorescence, as well as recovering glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. We conclude that declines in Cx36 gap junction coupling that occur in obesity can be completely recovered by caloric restriction and obesity reversal, improving Ca2+ dynamics and insulin secretion regulation. This suggests a critical role for caloric restriction in the context of obesity to prevent islet dysfunction.

Insulin-secreting β-cells are functionally heterogeneous. Whether there exist cells driving the first-phase calcium response in individual islets, has not been examined. We examine “first responder” cells, defined by the earliest [Ca2+] response during first-phase [Ca2+] elevation, distinct from previously identified “hub” and “leader” cells. We used islets isolated from Mip-CreER; Rosa-Stop-Lox-Stop-GCamP6s mice (β-GCamP6s) that show β-cell-specific GCamP6s expression following tamoxifen-induced CreER-mediated recombination. First responder cells showed characteristics of high membrane excitability and lower electrical coupling to their neighbors. The first-phase response time of β-cells in the islet was spatially organized, dependent on the cell’s distance to the first responder cell, and consistent over time up to approximately 24 h. When first responder cells were laser ablated, the first-phase [Ca2+] was slowed down, diminished, and discoordinated compared to random cell ablation. Cells that were next earliest to respond often took over the role of the first responder upon ablation. In summary, we discover and characterize a distinct first responder β-cell state, critical for the islet first-phase response to glucose.