This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Downregulation of Sfrp5 promotes beta cell proliferation during obesity in the rat.
Specimen part
View SamplesThe basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors of the Drosophilas atonal-related superfamily Neurogenin3 (Neurog3) and NeuroD1 promote endocrine differentiation in the gastrointestinal tract. Atonal Homolog 8 (Atoh8/Math6) is a newly identified member of the atonal-related family whose expression is induced by Neurog3 and NeuroD1 in cell culture, indicating a possible role for this gene in the endocrine differentiation program downstream of these two pro-endocrine factors. Intriguingly, available experimental evidence based on a reduced number of genes suggests that Atoh8 may negatively regulate Neurog3-targeting events. In this study, we have analyzed global changes in gene expression profiles upon exogenous expression of Atoh8 alone or in combination with Neurog3 in mouse pancreatic duct (mPAC) cells. These cells activate neuroendocrine-specific gene expression in response to Neurog3 and NeuroD1 and thus serve as an optimal model to evaluate the proendocrine activity of Atoh8. We have compared transcriptional profiles between mPAC cells treated with a recombinant adenovirus expressing Atoh8 (Ad-Atoh8) or a control adenovirus encoding B-galactosidase (Ad-Bgal), and between cells treated with Ad-Neurog3+Ad-Bgal or cells treated with Ad-Neurog3+Ad-Atoh8. The results obtained show that Atoh8 exhibits a very modest transcriptional activity in these cells thus confirming that Atoh8 does not function as a proendocrine gene. Furthermore, our data also confirm the ability of Atoh8 to block Neurog3-dependent transcriptional activation events. However, since repression is only seen for a small subset of Neurog3 gene targets, we discard a general role of Atoh8 as a negative regulator of Neurog3 pro-endocrine activity.
Characterization of the transcriptional activity of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor Atoh8.
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesBackground and Aims: It is well demonstrated that in the beta cell population of the pancreas there is a dynamic turnover, which results from the net balance of several processes; beta cell replication, apoptosis and neogenesis. These processes have been studied in partial pancreatectomy and glucagon-like peptide 1 treated animals, where an increase in pancreas regeneration has been observed. Similarly, sodium tungstate, which decreases hyperglycemia in several animal models of diabetes, promotes a rise in the beta cell mass of nSTZ and STZ animals. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this pancreas regeneration remain unknown. Therefore the objective of this study is to identify which genes are up or down regulated in the increase of the beta cell population of STZ rats treated with sodium tungstate.
Molecular mechanisms of tungstate-induced pancreatic plasticity: a transcriptomics approach.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesObesity is associated with an increase in -cell mass in response tothe rising demand for insulin. -cell plasticity is essential to maintaining glucose homeostasis, however,the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which -cell mass is regulated remain poorly understood.Recently, we described the existence of a crosstalk between the peripancreatic adipose tissue and -cells as a novel mechanism that participates in the regulation of -cell plasticity. Here, we identify the secreted frizzled-related protein (Sfrp) 5 as down-regulated in the pancreatic islets of obese rats as well as in the pancreatic islets of human obese patients. Our results demonstrate that the silencing of Sfrp5 induces an increase in -cell proliferation, which we correlate with the activation of Wnt signaling and of the MAPK and PI3 kinase pathways. Together, these findings expand our understanding of the mechanisms underlying -cell proliferation under conditions of obesity. Furthermore, this study opens new insights into the specific targeting of Sfrp5 as a novel therapeutic strategy for balancing -cell mass.
Downregulation of Sfrp5 promotes beta cell proliferation during obesity in the rat.
Specimen part
View SamplesObesity is associated with an increase in -cell mass in response tothe rising demand for insulin. -cell plasticity is essential to maintaining glucose homeostasis, however,the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which -cell mass is regulated remain poorly understood.Recently, we described the existence of a crosstalk between the peripancreatic adipose tissue and -cells as a novel mechanism that participates in the regulation of -cell plasticity. Here, we identify the secreted frizzled-related protein (Sfrp) 5 as down-regulated in the pancreatic islets of obese rats as well as in the pancreatic islets of human obese patients. Our results demonstrate that the silencing of Sfrp5 induces an increase in -cell proliferation, which we correlate with the activation of Wnt signaling and of the MAPK and PI3 kinase pathways. Together, these findings expand our understanding of the mechanisms underlying -cell proliferation under conditions of obesity. Furthermore, this study opens new insights into the specific targeting of Sfrp5 as a novel therapeutic strategy for balancing -cell mass.
Downregulation of Sfrp5 promotes beta cell proliferation during obesity in the rat.
Specimen part
View SamplesAlterations in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis have been implicated in the pathophysiology of obesity and type-2 diabetes (T2D). Acute ER stress induction in the hypothalamus produces glucose metabolism perturbations. However, the neurobiological basis linking hypothalamic ER stress with abnormal glucose metabolism remains unknown. Here we report that genetic and induced models of hypothalamic ER stress are associated with alterations in systemic glucose homeostasis due to increased gluconeogenesis (GNG) independent of body weight changes. Defective alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (a-MSH) production underlies this metabolic phenotype, as pharmacological strategies aimed at rescuing hypothalamic a-MSH content reversed this phenotype at metabolic and molecular level. Collectively, our results posit defective a-MSH processing as a fundamental mediator of enhanced GNG in the context of hypothalamic ER stress, and establish a-MSH deficiency in proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons as a potential contributor to the pathophysiology of T2D.
No associated publication
Specimen part
View SamplesAIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Manoeuvres aimed at increasing beta cell mass have been proposed as regenerative medicine strategies for diabetes treatment. Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein 1 (RKIP1) is a common regulatory node of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor B (NF-B) pathways and therefore may be involved in regulation of beta cell homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of RKIP1 in the control of beta cell mass and function.
The role of Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein in the regulation of pancreatic beta cell proliferation in mice.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesThe activity of the endoribonuclease Dicer is crucial to produce the mature form of most microRNAs (miRNAs). Recent studies indicate that lack of miRNAs in different neuronal types results in a range of anatomical and behavioural phenotypes. In the present study we aimed to investigate the developmental and metabolic consequences of miRNA ablation in hypothalamic POMC neurons studying mice with a conditional deletion of Dicer in this population of neurons (POMCDicerKO). These mice exhibited a progressive obese phenotype characterized by hyperphagia, increased adiposity, hyperleptinemia, defective glucose metabolism and alterations in the pituitary-adrenal axis. The development of the obese phenotype was paralleled by a POMC neuron degenerative process that was complete by 6 weeks of age. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry and gene expression studies in control C57Bl/6 adult mice showed that Dicer was expressed in relevant hypothalamic areas and neurons implicated in energy balance, and that its expression was regulated by nutrient availability. Collectively, our results highlight a crucial role for miRNAs in POMC neuron survival and the consequent development of neurodegenerative obesity.
No associated publication
Specimen part
View SamplesAtoh8 is a transcription factor of the basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family that is expressed in multiple tissues during embryonic development but whose specific functions remain unknown. The gene encoding Atoh8 is induced by various lineage- determining bHLH transcription factors in cell culture, suggesting a possible common role of this gene in multiple bHLH-driven differentiation programs. In the pancreas, the pro-endocrine bHLH factors Neurogenin3 (Neurog3) and NeuroD1 activate Atoh8 expression. Moreover, Atoh8 is expressed in the embryonic pancreas confirming its participation in the pancreatic transcriptional cascade. This work aims at gaining insight into the molecular function of Atoh8 during the endocrine differentiation program initiated by Neurog3 in the pancreas. To this aim, we have generated a recombinant adenovirus encoding an Atoh8-specific shRNA (Ad-shAtoh8) and used it to down-regulate expression of the Atoh8 gene in Neurog3-expressing pancreatic ductal cells (mPAC), a cellular model of endocrine cell differentiation. Thus, we have compared global changes in gene expression profiles between cells treated with Ad-Neurog3+shControl and cells treated with Ad-Neurog3+shAtoh8 using Affymetrix microarrays. Our results show that Atoh8 silencing significantly affects the expression of 293 genes in Neurog3-expressing mPAC cells. Gene Ontology analysis has revealed cell cycle as the biological function most significantly represented among the modified genes. These results uncover a potential function of Math6 as a regulator of cell cycle progression and provide novel insights into the link between Neurog3 and the regulation of the cell cycle.
No associated publication
Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesIn obesity an increase in -cell mass occurs to cope with the rise in insulin demand. This -cell plasticity is essential to avoid the onset of hyperglycemia, although the molecular mechanisms that regulate this process remain unclear. This study analyzed the role of adipose tissue in the control of -cell replication. Using a diet-induced model of obesity, we obtained conditioned media from three different white adipose tissue depots. Only in the adipose tissue depot surrounding the pancreas did the diet induce changes that led to an increase in INS1E cells and the islet replication rate. To identify the factors responsible for this proliferative effect, adipose tissue gene expression analysis was conducted by microarrays and quantitative RT-PCR. Of all the differentially expressed proteins, only the secreted ones were studied. IGF binding protein 3 (Igfbp3) was identified as the candidate for this effect. Furthermore, in the conditioned media, although the blockage of IGFBP3 led to an increase in the proliferation rate, the blockage of IGF-I receptor decreased it. Taken together, these data show that obesity induces specific changes in the expression profile of the adipose tissue depot surrounding the pancreas, leading to a decrease in IGFBP3 secretion. This decrease acts in a paracrine manner, stimulating the -cell proliferation rate, probably through an IGF-I-dependent mechanism. This cross talk between the visceral-pancreatic adipose tissue and -cells is a novel mechanism that participates in the control of -cell plasticity. (Endocrinology 153: 177187, 2012)
Role of IGFBP-3 in the regulation of β-cell mass during obesity: adipose tissue/β-cell cross talk.
Specimen part
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