| 1. |
- Aldén, Markus, et al.
(author)
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Intracellular Reverse Transcription of Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 In Vitro in Human Liver Cell Line
- 2022
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In: Current Issues in Molecular Biology. - : MDPI AG. - 1467-3045. ; 44:3, s. 1115-1126
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Preclinical studies of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, showed reversible hepatic effects in animals that received the BNT162b2 injection. Furthermore, a recent study showed that SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be reverse-transcribed and in-tegrated into the genome of human cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of BNT162b2 on the human liver cell line Huh7 in vitro. Huh7 cells were exposed to BNT162b2, and quantitative PCR was performed on RNA extracted from the cells. We detected high levels of BNT162b2 in Huh7 cells and changes in gene expression of long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1), which is an endogenous reverse transcriptase. Immunohistochemistry using antibody binding to LINE-1 open reading frame-1 RNA-binding protein (ORFp1) on Huh7 cells treated with BNT162b2 indicated increased nucleus distribution of LINE-1. PCR on genomic DNA of Huh7 cells exposed to BNT162b2 amplified the DNA sequence unique to BNT162b2. Our results indicate a fast up-take of BNT162b2 into human liver cell line Huh7, leading to changes in LINE-1 expression and distribution. We also show that BNT162b2 mRNA is reverse transcribed intracellularly into DNA in as fast as 6 h upon BNT162b2 exposure.
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| 2. |
- Bacos, Karl, et al.
(author)
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Type 2 diabetes candidate genes, including PAX5, cause impaired insulin secretion in human pancreatic islets
- 2023
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In: The Journal of clinical investigation. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 133:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is caused by insufficient insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. To identify candidates contributing to T2D pathophysiology, we studied human pancreatic islets from ~300 individuals. We found 395 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in islets from individuals with T2D, including, to our knowledge, novel (OPRD1, PAX5, TET1) and previously identified (CHL1, GLRA1, IAPP) candidates. A third of the identified islet expression changes may predispose to diabetes, as they associated with HbA1c in individuals not previously diagnosed with T2D. Most DEGs were expressed in human β-cells based on single-cell RNA-sequencing data. Additionally, DEGs displayed alterations in open chromatin and associated with T2D-SNPs. Mouse knock-out strains demonstrated that T2D-associated candidates regulate glucose homeostasis and body composition in vivo. Functional validation showed that mimicking T2D-associated changes for OPRD1, PAX5, and SLC2A2 impaired insulin secretion. Impairments in Pax5-overexpressing β-cells were due to severe mitochondrial dysfunction. Finally, we discovered PAX5 as a potential transcriptional regulator of many T2D-associated DEGs in human islets. Overall, we identified molecular alterations in human pancreatic islets contributing to β-cell dysfunction in T2D pathophysiology.
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| 3. |
- Barghouth, Mohammad
(author)
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Roles of unconventional ion channels and insulin granule structure in the pathogenesis of type-2 diabetes
- 2023
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- T2D is the most widespread endocrine disease. In conventional stimulus secretion coupling increased blood glucose is metabolized causing an increased intracellular level of ATP and closure of the KATP channels, and this, in turn, depolarizes the cell membrane leading to the opening of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, the influx of Ca2+ and exocytosis of insulin granules. This model has become almost an axiom in the diabetes research area. However, there are clear weak points that so far remain unclarified. More ion channels than potassium channels are needed to depolarize the membrane. Voltage-gated Ca2+ (Cav) channels have an essential role in beta cell function. The role of high voltage-activated Cav channels is well studied while the role of low voltage-activated T-type channels remain elusive. Moreover, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) causes beta cell swelling, which promotes us to explore mechanotransduction signalling pathways in beta cells represented by recently discovered Piezo1 mechanosensitive channel and aquaporins channels. Moreover, we also employed a dSTORM microscope combined with a single domain (SD) antibody to study the insulin granule cores (IGCs) at nano levels. Results: We find that the T-type Cav3.2 channel is abundantly expressed in human islets, and the gene expression is negatively correlated with HbA1c and strongly positively correlated with the expression of islet-predominantly expressed L-type subunits. CaV3.2 plays a fundamental role in maintaining normal insulin secretion by controlling Ca2+ signalling. Meanwhile, we also show that Piezo1 is expressed in pancreatic alpha and beta cells with heterogeneous distribution and is upregulated in T2D donors. Chronic hyperglycemia induces translocation of Piezo1 into the nucleus. In addition, silencing or inhibiting Piezo1 reduces Ca2+ signalling, membrane depolarization, and GSIS. Interestingly, beta- cell-specific Piezo1-knockout mice show impaired glucose tolerance in vivo and reduced electrical activity in islets. Subsequently, we identify that AQP1 gene expression is downregulated in islets from T2D individuals and silencing AQP1 decreased insulin secretion and insulin content. Whereas AQP1 overexpression significantly increased GSIS, AQP1 silencing elevated Ca2+ signalling due to elevated expression of CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 channels. Moreover, we demonstrate that AqB011, a selective AQP1 inhibitor blocking ion transport, substantially increases insulin secretion. Finally, nanoscale imaging for insulin granule cores exhibit that larger size located in exocytotic granules, the size and shape can be regulated by granule proteins cargo and the size is decreased after glucose stimulation, due to release of the readily releasable pool (RRP) part of insulin cores through incomplete granule fusion. Intriguingly, IGCs size was significantly decreased in pancreatic beta cells from human T2D donors and indicating that the lack of the RRP of the insulin core in the diabetic beta cells may be a primary cause for the impaired exocytosis. Conclusion: In this thesis, we have challenged the a consensus model and explored the importance of insulin granule structure in order to gain knowledge in the field around T2D pathophysiological progression and to facilitate finding new drug targets for the disease.
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| 4. |
- Barghouth, Mohammad, et al.
(author)
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The structure of insulin granule core determines secretory capacity being reduced in type-2 diabetes
- 2022
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Exocytosis in excitable cells is essential for their physiological functions. Although the exocytotic machinery controlling cellular secretion has been well investigated, the function of the vesicular cargo, i.e. secretory granular content remains obscure. Here we combine dSTORM imaging and single-domain insulin antibody, to dissect the in situ structure of insulin granule cores (IGCs) at nano level. We demonstrate that the size and shape of the IGCs can be regulated by the juxta-granular molecules Nucleobindin-2 and Enolase-1, that further contribute to the stimulated insulin secretion. IGCs located at the plasma membrane are larger than those in the cytosol. The IGCs size is decreased by ∼20% after glucose stimulation due to the release of the peripheral part of IGCs through incomplete granule fusion. Importantly, the reduction of the IGCs size is also observed in non-stimulatory pancreatic β-cells from diabetic db/db mice, Akita (Ins2+/-) mice and human Type-2 diabetic donors, in accordance with impaired secretion. These findings overall highlight the structure of exocytotic insulin cores as a novel modality amenable to targeting in the stimulated exocytosis in β-cells with impaired insulin secretion.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.
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| 5. |
- Barghouth, Mohammad, et al.
(author)
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The T-type calcium channel CaV3.2 regulates insulin secretion in the pancreatic β-cell
- 2022
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In: Cell Calcium. - : Elsevier BV. - 0143-4160. ; 108
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channel dysfunction leads to impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells and contributes to the development of type-2 diabetes (T2D). The role of the low-voltage gated T-type CaV channels in β-cells remains obscure. Here we have measured the global expression of T-type CaV3.2 channels in human islets and found that gene expression of CACNA1H, encoding CaV3.2, is negatively correlated with HbA1c in human donors, and positively correlated with islet insulin gene expression as well as secretion capacity in isolated human islets. Silencing or pharmacological blockade of CaV3.2 attenuates glucose-stimulated cytosolic Ca2+ signaling, membrane potential, and insulin release. Moreover, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ store depletion is also impaired in CaV3.2-silenced β-cells. The linkage between T-type (CaV3.2) and L-type CaV channels is further identified by the finding that the intracellular Ca2+ signaling conducted by CaV3.2 is highly dependent on the activation of L-type CaV channels. In addition, CACNA1H expression is significantly associated with the islet predominant L-type CACNA1C (CaV1.2) and CACNA1D (CaV1.3) genes in human pancreatic islets. In conclusion, our data suggest the essential functions of the T-type CaV3.2 subunit as a mediator of β-cell Ca2+ signaling and membrane potential needed for insulin secretion, and in connection with L-type CaV channels.
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| 6. |
- Edlund, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Defective exocytosis and processing of insulin in a cystic fibrosis mouse model
- 2019
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In: Journal of Endocrinology. - 1479-6805. ; 241:1, s. 45-57
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is a common complication for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The cause of CFRD is unclear, but a commonly observed reduction in first-phase insulin secretion suggests defects at the beta cell level. Here we aimed to examine beta- and alpha-cell function in the Cftrtm1EUR/F508del mouse model (C57BL/6J), which carries the most common human mutation in CFTR, the F508del mutation. CFTR expression, beta cell mass, insulin granule distribution, hormone secretion and single cell capacitance changes were evaluated using islets (or beta cells) from F508del mice and age-matched wild-type mice aged 7-10 weeks. Granular pH was measured with DND-189 fluorescence. Serum glucose, insulin and glucagon levels were measured in vivo, and glucose tolerance was assessed using IPGTT. We show increased secretion of proinsulin and concomitant reduced secretion of C-peptide in islets from F508del mice compared to WT mice. Exocytosis and number of docked granules was reduced. We confirmed reduced granular pH by CFTR stimulation. We detected decreased pancreatic beta cell area, but unchanged beta cell number. Moreover, the F508del mutation caused failure to suppress glucagon secretion leading to hyperglucagonemia. In conclusion, F508del mice have beta cell defects resulting in 1) reduced number of docked insulin granules and reduced exocytosis, and 2) potential defective proinsulin cleavage and secretion of immature insulin. These observations provide insight into the functional role of CFTR in pancreatic islets and contribute to increased understanding of the pathogenesis of CFRD.
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| 7. |
- Lindqvist, Andreas, et al.
(author)
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GPR162 is a beta cell CART receptor
- 2023
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In: iScience. - 2589-0042. ; 26:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is expressed in pancreatic islet cells and neuronal elements. We have previously established insulinotropic actions of CART in human and rodent islets. The receptor for CART in the pancreatic beta cells is unidentified. We used RNA sequencing of Cartpt knockdown (KD) INS-1 832/13 cells and identified GPR162 as the most Cartpt-regulated receptor. We therefore tested if GPR162 mediates the effects of CART in beta cells. Binding of CART to GPR162 was established using proximity ligation assay, radioactive binding, and co-immunoprecipitation, and KD of Gpr162 mRNA caused reduced binding. Gpr162 KD cells had blunted CARTp-induced exocytosis, and reduced CARTp-induced insulin secretion. Furthermore, we identified a hitherto undescribed GPR162-dependent role of CART as a regulator of cytoskeletal arrangement. Thus, our findings provide mechanistic insight into the effect of CART on insulin secretion and show that GPR162 is the CART receptor in beta cells.
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| 8. |
- Luan, Cheng, et al.
(author)
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The calcium channel subunit gamma-4 is regulated by MafA and necessary for pancreatic beta-cell specification
- 2019
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In: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels trigger glucose-induced insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cell and their dysfunction increases diabetes risk. These heteromeric complexes include the main subunit alpha1, and the accessory ones, including subunit gamma that remains unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that CaV gamma subunit 4 (CaVγ4) is downregulated in islets from human donors with diabetes, diabetic Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats, as well as under conditions of gluco-/lipotoxic stress. Reduction of CaVγ4 expression results in decreased expression of L-type CaV1.2 and CaV1.3, thereby suppressing voltage-gated Ca2+ entry and glucose stimulated insulin exocytosis. The most important finding is that CaVγ4 expression is controlled by the transcription factor responsible for beta-cell specification, MafA, as verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation and experiments in beta-cell specific MafA knockout mice (MafAΔβcell). Taken together, these findings suggest that CaVγ4 is necessary for maintaining a functional differentiated beta-cell phenotype. Treatment aiming at restoring CaVγ4 may help to restore beta-cell function in diabetes.
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| 9. |
- Ofori, Jones K, et al.
(author)
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The highly expressed calcium-insensitive synaptotagmin-11 and synaptotagmin-13 modulate insulin secretion
- 2022
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In: Acta Physiologica. - : Wiley. - 1748-1708 .- 1748-1716. ; 236:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim SYT11 and SYT13, two calcium-insensitive synaptotagmins, are downregulated in islets from type 2 diabetic donors, but their function in insulin secretion is unknown. To address this, we investigated the physiological role of these two synaptotagmins in insulin-secreting cells. Methods Correlations between gene expression levels were performed using previously described RNA-seq data on islets from 188 human donors. SiRNA knockdown was performed in EndoC-beta H1 and INS-1 832/13 cells. Insulin secretion was measured with ELISA. Patch-clamp was used for single-cell electrophysiology. Confocal microscopy was used to determine intracellular localization. Results Human islet expression of the transcription factor PDX1 was positively correlated with SYT11 (p = 2.4e(-10)) and SYT13 (p < 2.2e(-16)). Syt11 and Syt13 both co-localized with insulin, indicating their localization in insulin granules. Downregulation of Syt11 in INS-1 832/13 cells (siSYT11) resulted in increased basal and glucose-induced insulin secretion. Downregulation of Syt13 (siSYT13) decreased insulin secretion induced by glucose and K+. Interestingly, the cAMP-raising agent forskolin was unable to enhance insulin secretion in siSYT13 cells. There was no difference in insulin content, exocytosis, or voltage-gated Ca2+ currents in the two models. Double knockdown of Syt11 and Syt13 (DKD) resembled the results in siSYT13 cells. Conclusion SYT11 and SYT13 have similar localization and transcriptional regulation, but they regulate insulin secretion differentially. While downregulation of SYT11 might be a compensatory mechanism in type-2 diabetes, downregulation of SYT13 reduces the insulin secretory response and overrules the compensatory regulation of SYT11 in a way that could aggravate the disease.
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| 10. |
- Stoll, Lisa, et al.
(author)
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A circular RNA generated from an intron of the insulin gene controls insulin secretion
- 2020
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 11:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fine-tuning of insulin release from pancreatic β-cells is essential to maintain blood glucose homeostasis. Here, we report that insulin secretion is regulated by a circular RNA containing the lariat sequence of the second intron of the insulin gene. Silencing of this intronic circular RNA in pancreatic islets leads to a decrease in the expression of key components of the secretory machinery of β-cells, resulting in impaired glucose- or KCl-induced insulin release and calcium signaling. The effect of the circular RNA is exerted at the transcriptional level and involves an interaction with the RNA-binding protein TAR DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43). The level of this circularized intron is reduced in the islets of rodent diabetes models and of type 2 diabetic patients, possibly explaining their impaired secretory capacity. The study of this and other circular RNAs helps understanding β-cell dysfunction under diabetes conditions, and the etiology of this common metabolic disorder.
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