Abstract:
A large number of ion channels and transporters contribute to regulation of electrical excitability in pancreatic beta cells. Activities of these ion channels control transportation of ions and determine the membrane potential, eventually regulate insulin secretion and cell survive.
Hormones and peptides are very important regulators in channel activities in insulin secreting cells. In this study we demonstrated, leptin (100 nM), IGF-1(50 ng/ml) and adrenaline (1 µM) induce outward current and hyperpolarization in cell membrane which result in inhibition of insulin secretion in mouse islet cells. Application of PI 3-kinase inhibitors like LY294002 and/or wortmannin reverse the hyperpolarization-induced effect by these hormones. It indicates, the effect of leptin, IGF-1and adrenaline act as inhibitors of insulin secretion through PI 3-kinase signaling pathway. In the contrast, exogenous insulin (1 µM) failed to affect channel activity under the same condition like leptin, IGF-1 and adrenaline.
Amyloid peptides are known to stimulate apoptosis in a wide variety of cells, an effect partially mediated by formation of ceramide. Specifically, amyloid is known to interfere with survival of pancreatic beta cells. As in some cells apoptotic death is paralleled by ceramide dependent alterations of plasma membrane ion channel activity, the present study elucidated the effects of amyloid on ceramide formation and ion channel activity in mouse islets. Mouse islet cells were isolated and treated in cell culture with amyloid peptide Aß1-42 at concentrations between 1 and 10 µM or C2 ceramide (20-60 µM) for 1 – 2 days. As disclosed by TUNEL staining, both, amyloid peptide and C2-ceramide, significantly stimulated apoptotic death of pancreatic islet cells. According to patch clamp experiments, administration of islet associated polypeptide amyloid IAPP (5 µM) within 15 minutes significantly decreased outwardly rectifying whole cell current. The effect of amyloid was mimicked by N-acetyl-D-sphingosine (C2-ceramide, 20 µM), whereas inactive di-ceramide (20 µM) did not significantly modify islet cell outward currents. According to immune fluorescent staining for ceramide, amyloid peptide Aß1-42 increased ceramide formation. Induction of apoptosis and decrease of KV channel current by amyloid was abolished in islet cells from mice deficient in acid sphingomyelinase. In conclusion, amyloid induces apoptotic islet cell death presumably through activation of acid sphingomyelinase that results in elevated production of ceramide and subsequent inhibition of ion channel activity.