Tacrolimus- and sirolimus-induced human β cell dysfunction is reversible and preventable.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-16-2020
Keywords
JMG, JAXCC
JAX Source
JCI Insight 2020 Jan 16; 5(1):130770
Volume
5
Issue
1
ISSN
2379-3708
PMID
31941840
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.130770
Abstract
Posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a common and significant complication related to immunosuppressive agents required to prevent organ or cell transplant rejection. To elucidate the effects of 2 commonly used agents, the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus (TAC) and the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus (SIR), on islet function and test whether these effects could be reversed or prevented, we investigated human islets transplanted into immunodeficient mice treated with TAC or SIR at clinically relevant levels. Both TAC and SIR impaired insulin secretion in fasted and/or stimulated conditions. Treatment with TAC or SIR increased amyloid deposition and islet macrophages, disrupted insulin granule formation, and induced broad transcriptional dysregulation related to peptide processing, ion/calcium flux, and the extracellular matrix; however, it did not affect regulation of β cell mass. Interestingly, these β cell abnormalities reversed after withdrawal of drug treatment. Furthermore, cotreatment with a GLP-1 receptor agonist completely prevented TAC-induced β cell dysfunction and partially prevented SIR-induced β cell dysfunction. These results highlight the importance of both calcineurin and mTOR signaling in normal human β cell function in vivo and suggest that modulation of these pathways may prevent or ameliorate PTDM.
Recommended Citation
Dai C,
Walker J,
Shostak A,
Padgett A,
Spears E,
Wisniewski S,
Poffenberger G,
Aramandla R,
Dean E,
Prasad N,
Levy S,
Greiner D,
Shultz LD,
Bottino R,
Powers A.
Tacrolimus- and sirolimus-induced human β cell dysfunction is reversible and preventable. JCI Insight 2020 Jan 16; 5(1):130770