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Article
Paracrine GABA and insulin regulate pancreatic alpha cell proliferation in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes
Diabetologia
  • Allen L. Feng, Robarts Research Institute
  • Yun Yan Xiang, Robarts Research Institute
  • Le Gui, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
  • Gesthika Kaltsidis, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
  • Qingping Feng, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry
  • Wei Yang Lu, Robarts Research Institute
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2017
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1007/s00125-017-4239-x
Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of increased proliferation of alpha cells in recent-onset type 1 diabetes. Pancreatic beta cells express GAD and produce γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which inhibits alpha cell secretion of glucagon. We explored the roles of GABA in alpha cell proliferation in conditions corresponding to type 1 diabetes in a mouse model and in vitro. Methods: Type 1 diabetes was induced by injecting the mice with streptozotocin (STZ). Some of the STZ-injected mice were treated with GABA (10 mg/kg daily) for 12 days. Isolated pancreatic islets were treated with STZ or STZ together with GABA for 2 days. The effects of GABA treatment on STZ-induced alpha cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro were assessed. The effect of muscimol, a GABA receptor agonist, on αTC1-6 cell proliferation was also examined. Results: STZ injection substantially decreased levels of GAD, GABA and insulin in pancreatic beta cells 12 h after injection; this was followed by an upsurge of phosphorylated mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) in the alpha cells at day 1, and a significant increase in alpha cell mass at day 3. Treating STZ-injected mice with GABA largely restored the immunodetectable levels of insulin and GAD in the beta cells and significantly decreased the number of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member A3 (ALDH1a3)-positive cells, alpha cell mass and hyperglucagonaemia. STZ treatment also increased alpha cell proliferation in isolated islets, which was reversed by co-treatment with GABA. Muscimol, together with insulin, significantly lowered the level of cytosolic Ca2+ and p-mTOR, and decreased the proliferation rate of αTC1-6 cells. Conclusions/interpretation: GABA signalling critically controls the alpha cell population in pancreatic islets. Low intraislet GABA may contribute to alpha cell hyperplasia in early type 1 diabetes.

Citation Information
Allen L. Feng, Yun Yan Xiang, Le Gui, Gesthika Kaltsidis, et al.. "Paracrine GABA and insulin regulate pancreatic alpha cell proliferation in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes" Diabetologia Vol. 60 Iss. 6 (2017) p. 1033 - 1042
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/qingping-feng/28/