Submembrane ATP and Ca2+ kinetics in alpha-cells : unexpected signaling for glucagon secretion

• Cytoplasmic ATP and Ca2+ are implicated in current models of glucose's control of glucagon and insulin secretion from pancreatic alpha- and beta-cells, respectively, but little is known about ATP and its relation to Ca2+ in alpha-cells. We therefore expressed the fluorescent ATP biosensor Perceval in mouse pancreatic islets and loaded them with a Ca2+ indicator. With total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, we recorded subplasma membrane concentrations of Ca2+ and ATP ([Ca2+](pm); [ATP](pm)) in superficial alpha- and beta-cells of intact islets and related signaling to glucagon and insulin secretion by immunoassay. Consistent with ATP's controlling glucagon and insulin secretion during hypo- and hyperglycemia, respectively, the dose-response relationship for glucoseinduced [ATP](pm) generation was left shifted in alpha-cells compared to beta-cells. Both cell types showed [Ca2+](pm) and [ATP](pm) oscillations in opposite phase, probably reflecting energy-consuming Ca2+ transport. Although pulsatile insulin and glucagon release are in opposite phase, [Ca2+](pm) synchronized in the same phase between alpha- and beta-cells. This paradox can be explained by the overriding of Ca2+ stimulation by paracrine inhibition, because somatostatin receptor blockade potently stimulated glucagon release with little effect on Ca2+. The data indicate that an alpha-cell-intrinsic mechanism controls glucagon in hypoglycemia and that paracrine factors shape pulsatile secretion in hyperglycemia.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinsk bioteknologi -- Medicinsk bioteknologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Medical Biotechnology -- Medical Biotechnology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Cell- och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Cell and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

oscillations

islet of Langerhans

signal transduction

paracrine

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)