The development of glucose-responsive, insulin-secreting cells for beta cell replacement therapy will require a better understanding of the molecular determinants of pancreatic islet function and beta-cell differentiation. Increased knowledge of the mechanisms that mediate insulin secretion is also necessary for the identification of new pharmaceutical targets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Guiding this proposal is the long-term goal of determining the role of neuronal synaptic proteins and neurotransmitter mechanisms in insulin secretion, in ?-cell paracrine signaling, and in the coordination of islet activity. The objective of the present application is to identify the role in beta-cell function of a distinct subset of synaptic cell-surface adhesion molecules: those capable of inducing synapse formation and assembly of the machinery necessary for inhibitory or excitatory neurotransmission. Guided by novel preliminary data, this application focuses on two key families of these adhesion proteins, the neuroligins and their major binding partners, the neurexins. The central hypothesis is that extracellular interactions between neuroligins and neurexins help drive ?-cell functional maturation, including assembly of the exocytic machinery, and are responsible for the enhancement of insulin secretion induced by ?-cell-? cell contact. To attain the objective of this application, three specific aims are pursued: 1) Identify the neuroligin and neurexin isoforms that are necessary for normal beta-cell secretory function and their role in insulin exocytosis;2) Identify the mechanisms whereby the neuroligins and neurexins influence beta-cell function;and 3) Test the role of changes in neuroligin and neurexin expression in type 2 diabetes-associated beta-cell dysfunction. Existing neuroligin knockout mice and RNA interference will be used to assess the effect on insulin secretion of reduced expression of neuroligin and neurexin isoforms. The role of neuroligins and neuroligin-neurexin interactions in ?-cell function will be analyzed using cocultures of INS-1 and dissociated rat-islet cells with neuroligin-expressing HEK293 cells, by immunohistochemical and immunoprecipitation experiments, and by use islet perifusion and monitoring of intracellular calcium. INS-1 cells cultured under glucotoxic conditions and islets from Zucker diabetes fatty rats will be used as models of beta cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. The proposed work is innovative because it stems from the novel observation that neuroligins and neurexins are coexpressed on the ? cell surface and influence insulin secretion and because it will be carried out in collaboration with a laboratory that is a leader in the field of synaptic function. The proposed research is significant because it is expected to advance and expand our understanding of the role of synaptic cell-surface molecules and extracellular protein interactions in insulin secretion and ?-cell functional maturation.

Public Health Relevance

The proposed work is expected to enable the development of strategies to use beta cell surface proteins as pharmacological targets for the treatment of diabetes-associated beta-cell dysfunction and as cellular components to enhance the physiological resemblance of engineered ? cells to true ? cells. It may also assist in the identification of useful cell-surface markers of functional beta cells. It is thus expected to be of direct significance for the development of therapies for type 1 and type 2 diabetes and is responsive to PA-07-056.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01DK080971-01A2
Application #
7663605
Study Section
Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity Study Section (CADO)
Program Officer
Appel, Michael C
Project Start
2009-06-10
Project End
2014-03-31
Budget Start
2009-06-10
Budget End
2010-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$370,800
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
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Munder, Anna; Israel, Liron L; Kahremany, Shirin et al. (2017) Mimicking Neuroligin-2 Functions in ?-Cells by Functionalized Nanoparticles as a Novel Approach for Antidiabetic Therapy. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 9:1189-1206
Zhang, Charles; Suckow, Arthur T; Chessler, Steven D (2013) Coculture analysis of extracellular protein interactions affecting insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells. J Vis Exp :e50365
Zhang, Charles; Suckow, Arthur T; Chessler, Steven D (2013) Altered pancreatic islet function and morphology in mice lacking the Beta-cell surface protein neuroligin-2. PLoS One 8:e65711
Suckow, Arthur T; Zhang, Charles; Egodage, Sonya et al. (2012) Transcellular neuroligin-2 interactions enhance insulin secretion and are integral to pancreatic ? cell function. J Biol Chem 287:19816-26
Mosedale, Merrie; Egodage, Sonya; Calma, Rei C et al. (2012) Neurexin-1? contributes to insulin-containing secretory granule docking. J Biol Chem 287:6350-61
Suckow, Arthur T; Craige, Branch; Faundez, Victor et al. (2010) An AP-3-dependent mechanism drives synaptic-like microvesicle biogenesis in pancreatic islet beta-cells. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 299:E23-32