Dynamic regulation of pancreatic β cell function and gene expression by the SND1 coregulator in vitro
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: The pancreatic β cell synthesizes, packages, and secretes insulin in response to glucose-stimulation to maintain blood glucose homeostasis. Under diabetic conditions, a subset of β cells fail and lose expression of key transcription factors (TFs) required for insulin secretion. Among these TFs is Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1), which recruits a unique subset of transcriptional coregulators to modulate its activity. Here we describe a novel interacting partner of Pdx1, the Staphylococcal Nuclease and Tudor domain-containing protein (Snd1), which has been shown to facilitate protein-protein interactions and transcriptional control through diverse mechanisms in a variety of tissues. Pdx1:Snd1 interactions were confirmed in rodent β cell lines, mouse islets and human islets. Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, we deleted Snd1 from the mouse β cell lines, which revealed numerous differentially expressed genes linked to insulin secretion and cell proliferation, including limited expression of Glp1r. We observed Snd1 deficient β cell lines had reduced cell expansion rates, Glp1r protein levels and limited cAMP accumulation under stimulatory conditions, and further show that acute ablation of Snd1 impaired insulin secretion in rodent and human β cell lines. Lastly, we discovered that PDX1:SND1 interactions were profoundly reduced in human β cells from donors with type 2 diabetes (T2D). These observations suggest the Pdx1:Snd1 complex formation is critical for controlling a subset of genes important for β cell function and is targeted in diabetes pathogenesis
Project description:Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) has been reported to be a critical positive regulator of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. The effects on islet cells and blood glucose levels when Sirt1 is deleted specifically in the pancreas are still unclear.This study examined islet glucose responsiveness, blood glucose levels, pancreatic islet histology and gene expression in Pdx1-Cre;Sirt1(ex4F/F) mice that have loss of function and loss of expression of Sirt1 specifically in the pancreas. We found that in the Pdx1-Cre;Sirt1(ex4F/F) mice, the relative insulin positive area and the islet size distribution were unchanged. However, beta-cells were functionally impaired, presenting with lower glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. This defect was not due to a reduced expression of insulin but was associated with a decreased expression of the glucose transporter Slc2A2/Glut2 and of the Glucagon like peptide-1 receptor (Glp1r) as well as with a marked down regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones that participate in the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) pathway. Counter intuitively, the Sirt1-deficient mice did not develop hyperglycemia. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells were the only other islet cells affected, with reduced numbers in the Sirt1-deficient pancreas. This study provides new mechanistic insights showing that beta-cell function in Sirt1-deficient pancreas is affected due to altered glucose sensing and deregulation of the UPR pathway. Interestingly, we uncover a context in which impaired beta-cell function is not accompanied by increased glycemia. This points to a unique compensatory mechanism. Given the reduction in PP, investigation of its role in the control of blood glucose is warranted. To uncover other Sirt1-regulated mechanisms, we performed a gene expression microarray analysis comparing pancreata from the 6 month old Sirt1âdeficient mice to their controls (n=3 per group).
Project description:Insulin expression is restricted to the pancreatic beta cells, which are physically or functionally depleted in diabetes. Identifying targetable pathways repressing insulin in non-beta cells, particularly in the developmentally related glucagon-secreting alpha cells, is an important aim of regenerative medicine. Here, we performed an RNA interference screen in the murine alpha cell line, alphaTC1, to identify silencers of insulin expression. We discovered that knockdown of the splicing factor Smndc1 (Survival Motor Neuron Domain Containing 1) triggered a global repression of alpha cell gene-expression programs in favor of increased beta cell markers. Mechanistically, Smndc1 knockdown upregulated the key beta cell transcription factor Pdx1, by modulating the activities of the BAF and Atrx families of chromatin remodeling complexes. SMNDC1’s repressive role was conserved in human pancreatic islets, its loss triggering enhanced insulin secretion and PDX1 expression. Our study identifies Smndc1 as a key factor connecting splicing and chromatin remodeling to the control of insulin expression in human and mouse islet cells.
Project description:Insulin expression is restricted to the pancreatic beta cells, which are physically or functionally depleted in diabetes. Identifying targetable pathways repressing insulin in non-beta cells, particularly in the developmentally related glucagon-secreting alpha cells, is an important aim of regenerative medicine. Here, we performed an RNA interference screen in the murine alpha cell line, alphaTC1, to identify silencers of insulin expression. We discovered that knockdown of the splicing factor Smndc1 (Survival Motor Neuron Domain Containing 1) triggered a global repression of alpha cell gene-expression programs in favor of increased beta cell markers. Mechanistically, Smndc1 knockdown upregulated the key beta cell transcription factor Pdx1, by modulating the activities of the BAF and Atrx families of chromatin remodeling complexes. SMNDC1’s repressive role was conserved in human pancreatic islets, its loss triggering enhanced insulin secretion and PDX1 expression. Our study identifies Smndc1 as a key factor connecting splicing and chromatin remodeling to the control of insulin expression in human and mouse islet cells.
Project description:Insulin expression is restricted to the pancreatic beta cells, which are physically or functionally depleted in diabetes. Identifying targetable pathways repressing insulin in non-beta cells, particularly in the developmentally related glucagon-secreting alpha cells, is an important aim of regenerative medicine. Here, we performed an RNA interference screen in the murine alpha cell line, alphaTC1, to identify silencers of insulin expression. We discovered that knockdown of the splicing factor Smndc1 (Survival Motor Neuron Domain Containing 1) triggered a global repression of alpha cell gene-expression programs in favor of increased beta cell markers. Mechanistically, Smndc1 knockdown upregulated the key beta cell transcription factor Pdx1, by modulating the activities of the BAF and Atrx families of chromatin remodeling complexes. SMNDC1’s repressive role was conserved in human pancreatic islets, its loss triggering enhanced insulin secretion and PDX1 expression. Our study identifies Smndc1 as a key factor connecting splicing and chromatin remodeling to the control of insulin expression in human and mouse islet cells.
Project description:Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) has been reported to be a critical positive regulator of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. The effects on islet cells and blood glucose levels when Sirt1 is deleted specifically in the pancreas are still unclear.This study examined islet glucose responsiveness, blood glucose levels, pancreatic islet histology and gene expression in Pdx1-Cre;Sirt1(ex4F/F) mice that have loss of function and loss of expression of Sirt1 specifically in the pancreas. We found that in the Pdx1-Cre;Sirt1(ex4F/F) mice, the relative insulin positive area and the islet size distribution were unchanged. However, beta-cells were functionally impaired, presenting with lower glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. This defect was not due to a reduced expression of insulin but was associated with a decreased expression of the glucose transporter Slc2A2/Glut2 and of the Glucagon like peptide-1 receptor (Glp1r) as well as with a marked down regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones that participate in the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) pathway. Counter intuitively, the Sirt1-deficient mice did not develop hyperglycemia. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) cells were the only other islet cells affected, with reduced numbers in the Sirt1-deficient pancreas. This study provides new mechanistic insights showing that beta-cell function in Sirt1-deficient pancreas is affected due to altered glucose sensing and deregulation of the UPR pathway. Interestingly, we uncover a context in which impaired beta-cell function is not accompanied by increased glycemia. This points to a unique compensatory mechanism. Given the reduction in PP, investigation of its role in the control of blood glucose is warranted.
Project description:Missense mutations in coding region of PDX1 predispose to type-2 diabetes mellitus as well as cause MODY through largely unexplored mechanisms. Here, we screened a large cohort of subjects with increased risk for diabetes and identified two subjects with impaired glucose tolerance carrying heterozygous missense mutations in the PDX1 coding region leading to single amino acid exchanges (P33T, C18R) in its transactivation domain. We generated iPSCs from patients with heterozygous PDX1P33T/+, PDX1C18R/+ mutations and engineered isogenic cell lines carrying homozygous PDX1P33T/P33T, PDX1C18R/C18R mutations and a heterozygous PDX1 loss-of-function mutation (PDX1+/-). Using an in vitro β-cell differentiation protocol, we demonstrated that both PDX1P33T/+, PDX1C18R/+ and PDX1P33T/P33T, PDX1C18R/C18R mutations impair β-cell differentiation and function. Furthermore, PDX1+/- and PDX1P33T/P33T mutations reduced differentiation efficiency of pancreatic progenitors (PPs), due to downregulation of PDX1-bound genes, including transcription factors MNX1 and PDX1 as well as insulin resistance gene CES1. Additionally, both PDX1P33T/+ and PDX1P33T/P33T mutations in PPs reduced the expression of PDX1-bound genes including the long-noncoding RNA, MEG3 and the imprinted gene NEURONATIN, both involved in insulin synthesis and secretion. Our results reveal mechanistic details of how diabetes-associated PDX1 point mutations impair human pancreatic endocrine lineage formation and β-cell function and contribute to pre-disposition for diabetes.
Project description:Missense mutations in coding region of PDX1 predispose to type-2 diabetes mellitus as well as cause MODY through largely unexplored mechanisms. Here, we screened a large cohort of subjects with increased risk for diabetes and identified two subjects with impaired glucose tolerance carrying heterozygous missense mutations in the PDX1 coding region leading to single amino acid exchanges (P33T, C18R) in its transactivation domain. We generated iPSCs from patients with heterozygous PDX1P33T/+, PDX1C18R/+ mutations and engineered isogenic cell lines carrying homozygous PDX1P33T/P33T, PDX1C18R/C18R mutations and a heterozygous PDX1 loss-of-function mutation (PDX1+/-). Using an in vitro β-cell differentiation protocol, we demonstrated that both PDX1P33T/+, PDX1C18R/+ and PDX1P33T/P33T, PDX1C18R/C18R mutations impair β-cell differentiation and function. Furthermore, PDX1+/- and PDX1P33T/P33T mutations reduced differentiation efficiency of pancreatic progenitors (PPs), due to downregulation of PDX1-bound genes, including transcription factors MNX1 and PDX1 as well as insulin resistance gene CES1. Additionally, both PDX1P33T/+ and PDX1P33T/P33T mutations in PPs reduced the expression of PDX1-bound genes including the long-noncoding RNA, MEG3 and the imprinted gene NEURONATIN, both involved in insulin synthesis and secretion. Our results reveal mechanistic details of how diabetes-associated PDX1 point mutations impair human pancreatic endocrine lineage formation and β-cell function and contribute to pre-disposition for diabetes.
Project description:The winged helix transcription factor Foxa2 regulates Pdx1 gene expression and fetal endocrine pancreas development. We show here by inducible gene ablation that Foxa2 inactivation in mature beta-cells induces hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in Foxa2loxP/loxP, Pdx1-CreERT2 adult mice. Mutant beta-cells exhibited a markedly increased pool of docked insulin granules, some of which were engaged in sequential or compound exocytosis, consistent with an increased first phase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Expression of multiple genes involved in vesicular trafficking, membrane targeting and fuel-secretion pathways is dependent on Foxa2. In addition, impaired cytosolic Ca2+ oscillations and elevated intracellular cAMP production accompanied this secretory defect, and were likely contributors to the sensitization of the exocytotic machinery. Thus, in the absence of Foxa2, alterations in intracellular second messenger signaling redistribute the insulin granules into the readily releasable pool. We conclude that Foxa2 is required both for the fetal pancreas development and for the function of mature beta-cells.
Project description:Vitamin K-dependent carboxylation is necessary to the acquisition of an adequate beta-cell mass and for insulin secretion in mice. To better understand how this pathway affect pancreatic beta-cell function, we analysed the expression profile of pancreatic islets from Ggcxff; Pdx1-Cre and Ggcxff mice by RNA-sequencing.
Project description:Missense mutations in coding region of PDX1 predispose to type-2 diabetes mellitus as well as cause MODY through largely unexplored mechanisms. Here, we screened a large cohort of subjects with increased risk for diabetes and identified two subjects with impaired glucose tolerance carrying heterozygous missense mutations in the PDX1 coding region leading to single amino acid exchanges (P33T, C18R) in its transactivation domain. We generated iPSCs from patients with heterozygous PDX1P33T/+, PDX1C18R/+ mutations and engineered isogenic cell lines carrying homozygous PDX1P33T/P33T, PDX1C18R/C18R mutations and a heterozygous PDX1 loss-of-function mutation (PDX1+/-). Using an in vitro β-cell differentiation protocol, we demonstrated that both PDX1P33T/+, PDX1C18R/+ and PDX1P33T/P33T, PDX1C18R/C18R mutations impair β-cell differentiation and function. Furthermore, PDX1+/- and PDX1P33T/P33T mutations reduced differentiation efficiency of pancreatic progenitors (PPs), due to downregulation of PDX1-bound genes, including transcription factors MNX1 and PDX1 as well as insulin resistance gene CES1. Additionally, both PDX1P33T/+ and PDX1P33T/P33T mutations in PPs reduced the expression of PDX1-bound genes including the long-noncoding RNA, MEG3 and the imprinted gene NEURONATIN, both involved in insulin synthesis and secretion. Our results reveal mechanistic details of how diabetes-associated PDX1 point mutations impair human pancreatic endocrine lineage formation and β-cell function and contribute to pre-disposition for diabetes. Methods: In this study, we have generated a novel induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line that efficiently differentiates into human pancreatic progenitors (PPs). Furthermore, PDX1 and H3K27ac chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) was used to identify PDX1 transcriptional targets and active enhancer and promoter regions. To address potential differences in the function of PDX1 during development and adulthood, we compared PDX1 binding profiles from PPs and adult islets. Moreover, combining ChIP-seq and GWAS meta-analysis data we identified T2DM-associated SNPs in PDX1 binding sites and active chromatin regions.