Title
Age-dependent human β cell proliferation induced by glucagon-like peptide 1 and calcineurin signaling.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2-2017
JAX Source
J Clin Invest 2017 Oct 2; 127(10):3835-3844
Volume
127
Issue
10
First Page
3835
Last Page
3844
ISSN
1558-8238
PMID
28920919
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI91761
Abstract
Inadequate pancreatic β cell function underlies type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Strategies to expand functional cells have focused on discovering and controlling mechanisms that limit the proliferation of human β cells. Here, we developed an engraftment strategy to examine age-associated human islet cell replication competence and reveal mechanisms underlying age-dependent decline of β cell proliferation in human islets. We found that exendin-4 (Ex-4), an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R), stimulates human β cell proliferation in juvenile but not adult islets. This age-dependent responsiveness does not reflect loss of GLP-1R signaling in adult islets, since Ex-4 treatment stimulated insulin secretion by both juvenile and adult human β cells. We show that the mitogenic effect of Ex-4 requires calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling. In juvenile islets, Ex-4 induced expression of calcineurin/NFAT signaling components as well as target genes for proliferation-promoting factors, including NFATC1, FOXM1, and CCNA1. By contrast, expression of these factors in adult islet β cells was not affected by Ex-4 exposure. These studies reveal age-dependent signaling mechanisms regulating human β cell proliferation, and identify elements that could be adapted for therapeutic expansion of human β cells. J Clin Invest 2017 Oct 2; 127(10):3835-3844.
Recommended Citation
Dai, Chunhua; Hang, Yan; Shostak, Alena; Poffenberger, Greg; Hart, Nathaniel; Prasad, Nripesh; Phillips, Neil; Levy, Shawn E; Greiner, Dale L; Shultz, Leonard D.; Bottino, Rita; Kim, Seung K; and Powers, Alvin C, "Age-dependent human β cell proliferation induced by glucagon-like peptide 1 and calcineurin signaling." (2017). Faculty Research 2017. 212.
https://mouseion.jax.org/stfb2017/212