Mechanism of prostacyclin-induced potentiation of glucose-induced insulin secretion

Endocrinology. 2012 Jun;153(6):2612-22. doi: 10.1210/en.2011-2027. Epub 2012 Apr 11.

Abstract

Arachidonic acid metabolites are crucial mediators of inflammation in diabetes. Although eicosanoids are established modulators of pancreatic β-cell function, the role of prostacyclin (prostaglandin I2) is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the role of prostacyclin in β-cell function. Prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) was weakly expressed in rat islet cells but nevertheless significantly increased by incubation with 30 mM glucose, especially in non-β-cells. PGIS was overexpressed in INS1E cells, and the regulation of insulin secretion was analyzed. PGIS overexpression strongly potentiated glucose-induced insulin secretion along with increased insulin content and ATP production. Importantly, overexpression of PGIS potentiated only nutrient-induced insulin secretion. The effect of PGIS overexpression was mediated by prostacyclin released from insulin-secreting cells and dependent on prostacyclin receptor (IP receptor) activation, with concomitant cAMP production. The cAMP-mediated potentiation of glucose-induced insulin secretion by prostacyclin was independent of the protein kinase A pathway but strongly attenuated by the knockdown of the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP 2 (Epac2), pointing to a crucial role for Epac2 in this process. Thus, prostacyclin is a powerful potentiator of glucose-induced insulin secretion. It improves the secretory capacity by inducing insulin biosynthesis and probably by stimulating exocytosis. Our findings open a new therapeutical perspective for an improved treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism
  • Drug Synergism
  • Epoprostenol / pharmacology*
  • Glucose / pharmacology*
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism
  • Insulin / genetics
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / drug effects*
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism
  • Male
  • RNA Interference
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Insulin
  • Rapgef4 protein, mouse
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Epoprostenol
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Intramolecular Oxidoreductases
  • prostacyclin synthetase
  • Glucose