Human amylin, a pancreatic peptide hormone, is the principal constituent of amyloid deposits in the pancreas, a hallmark of type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Aggregation of human amylin into small soluble oligomers and ?-sheet-enriched fibrils is linked to dysfunctions of beta (?)- and other islet cells and pathogenesis of T2DM. Although much progress has been made in understanding the actions of amylin oligomers and aggregates, the cellular events and factors that contribute to amylin oligomerization, aggregation and toxicity in the pancreas remain largely unknown. The overarching goal of this proposal is to elucidate factors regulating amylin oligomerization and aggregation in the pancreatic human islet cells, and to determine the underlying mechanisms of amylin-mediated islet cell death. Our published and preliminary results suggest that plasma membrane (PM) cholesterol and endocytosis play a key role in amylin turnover and toxicity in the human islet cells. In the proposed studies, we will test the hypothesis that the amylin receptor (AM-R), clathrin and v- SNARE/Rab endocytotic proteins mediate amylin uptake and degradation in lysosomes, the impairment of which stimulates amylin oligomerization and aggregation, oxidative stress and consequently apoptosis of human islet cells. To test this idea, amylin trafficking, degradation and toxicity pathways in cultured human islet cells will be explored by combinations of atomic force microscopy (AFM), confocal microscopy, spectroscopy and biochemical approaches. The objectives of the proposal are to: (1) elucidate amylin trafficking and degradation pathways in human islet cells, and determine the extent to which they contribute to formation and accumulation of toxic amylin oligomers and aggregates, (2) determine the causal relationship between amylin turnover and toxicity in human islet cells, and (3) determine the mechanisms by which amylin oligomers and/or aggregates stimulate oxidative stress in human islet cells and thereby activate redox-sensitive stress kinases, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK-1) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). These studies should provide a better understanding of the molecular and biochemical events leading to formation of amyloid aggregates and soluble toxic amylin oligomers, knowledge which is critical for the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of T2DM.

Public Health Relevance

The prevalence of type -2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), which is a complex metabolic disease, in the United States is approximately 7.8%; worldwide there are about 150 million cases, a number expected to double in the next 20 years. The pathological characteristics of T2DM include progressive cell dysfunction, loss of cell mass and formation of toxic amylin oligomers and fibrils or islet amyloidosis. Using high-resolution imaging tools such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal microscopy we will investigate amylin turnover and toxicity in the pancreatic human islet cells, aiming to better understand events and factors leading to the disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DK091845-02S1
Application #
9044368
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-EMNR-P (03))
Program Officer
Sato, Sheryl M
Project Start
2013-08-01
Project End
2018-05-31
Budget Start
2014-06-01
Budget End
2015-05-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$6,588
Indirect Cost
$2,268
Name
George Washington University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
043990498
City
Washington
State
DC
Country
United States
Zip Code
20052
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Bhowmick, Diti Chatterjee; Singh, Sanghamitra; Trikha, Saurabh et al. (2018) The Molecular Physiopathogenesis of Islet Amyloidosis. Handb Exp Pharmacol 245:271-312
Singh, Sanghamitra; Bhowmick, Diti Chatterjee; Pany, Satyabrata et al. (2018) Apoptosis signal regulating kinase-1 and NADPH oxidase mediate human amylin evoked redox stress and apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells. Biochim Biophys Acta Biomembr :
Singh, Sanghamitra; Trikha, Saurabh; Sarkar, Anjali et al. (2016) Proteasome regulates turnover of toxic human amylin in pancreatic cells. Biochem J 473:2655-70
Li, Hang; Ha, Emmeline; Donaldson, Robert P et al. (2015) Rapid assessment of human amylin aggregation and its inhibition by copper(II) ions by laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with ion mobility separation. Anal Chem 87:9829-9837
Singh, Sanghamitra; Trikha, Saurabh; Bhowmick, Diti Chatterjee et al. (2015) Role of Cholesterol and Phospholipids in Amylin Misfolding, Aggregation and Etiology of Islet Amyloidosis. Adv Exp Med Biol 855:95-116
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