Activation of imidazoline receptor I2, and improved pancreatic β-cell function in human islets

J Diabetes Complications. 2018 Sep;32(9):813-818. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2018.06.010. Epub 2018 Jun 26.

Abstract

Aim: The impact of BL11282, an imidazoline receptor (NISCH) agonist, on potentiation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from isolated human non-diabetic (ND) and type 2 diabetic (T2D) islets was investigated.

Methods: Analysis of mRNA was performed by RNA-sequencing and qPCR. Insulin and cAMP by RIA and ELISA respectively.

Results: RNA-sequencing data revealed that NISCH is highly expressed in fat tissues, islets, liver and muscles, with eight detectable splice variants of transcripts in islets. NISCH had a positive correlation with GLP-1 (GLP1R) and GIP (GIPR) receptor transcripts. The expression of NISCH was confirmed by qPCR in human islets. NISCH and GLP1R were comparably higher expressed in mouse islets compared to human islets. GSIS was dose-dependently potentiated by BL11282 from incubated islets of ND and T2D human islet donors. The insulinotropic action of BL11282 was associated with increased cAMP. While the harmful effect of high glucose on reductive capacity of islet cells was enhanced by glibenclamide during long-term culture, it was counteracted by BL11282 or Bt2-cAMP. BL11282 also increased proliferation of INS-1 cells during long-time culture.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that BL11282 potentiates GSIS by an action involving cAMP/PKA system and BL11282 could be an attractive insulinotropic and β-cell protective agent.

Keywords: Cell function; G-protein coupled receptor; Second messenger; Signal.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / pathology
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Imidazoline Receptors / agonists*
  • Imidazoline Receptors / genetics
  • Imidazoline Receptors / metabolism
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Secretion / drug effects
  • Insulin Secretion / genetics
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / pathology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / physiology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / agonists
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / drug effects*
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology
  • Mice
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics

Substances

  • BL 11282
  • Imidazoles
  • Imidazoline Receptors
  • Insulin
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • NISCH protein, human
  • Nisch protein, mouse
  • imidazoline receptor 2