horizontal-hippocampal-slices-of-the-mouse-brain

Horizontal Hippocampal Slices of the Mouse Brain

The hippocampus is a highly organized structure in the brain that is a part of the limbic system and is involved in memory formation and consolidation as ...

KU Leuven

We recently proposed that the transient receptor potential melastatin 5 (TRPM5) cation channel contributes to glucose-induced electrical activity of the β cell and positively influences glucose-induced insulin release and glucose homeostasis. In this study, we investigated Trpm5 expression and function in pancreatic islets from mouse models of type II diabetes. Gene expression analysis revealed a strong reduction of Trpm5 mRNA levels in pancreatic islets of db/db and ob/ob mice. The glucose-induced Ca(2+) oscillation pattern in db/db and ob/ob islets mimicked those of Trpm5 (-/-) islets. Leptin treatment of ob/ob mice not only reversed the diabetic phenotype seen in these mice but also upregulated Trpm5 expression. Leptin treatment had no additional effect on Trpm5 expression levels when plasma insulin levels were comparable to those of the vehicle-injected control group. In murine β cell line, MIN6, insulin downregulated TRPM5 expression in a dose-dependent manner, unlike glucose or leptin. In conclusion, our data show that increased plasma insulin levels downregulate TRPM5 expression in pancreatic islets from leptin-deficient mouse models of type 2 diabetes. 

Insulin downregulates the expression of the Ca2+-activated nonselective cation channel TRPM5 in pancreatic islets from leptin-deficient mouse models.

Steviol glycosides (SGs), such as stevioside and rebaudioside A, are natural, non-caloric sweet-tasting organic molecules, present in extracts of the scrub plant Stevia rebaudiana, which are widely used as sweeteners in consumer foods and beverages. TRPM5 is a Ca-activated cation channel expressed in type II taste receptor cells and pancreatic β-cells. Here we show that stevioside, rebaudioside A and their aglycon steviol potentiate the activity of TRPM5. We find that SGs potentiate perception of bitter, sweet and umami taste, and enhance glucose-induced insulin secretion in a Trpm5-dependent manner. Daily consumption of stevioside prevents development of high-fat-diet-induced diabetic hyperglycaemia in wild-type mice, but not in Trpm5 mice. These results elucidate a molecular mechanism of action of SGs and identify TRPM5 as a potential target to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes.

Steviol glycosides enhance pancreatic beta-cell function and taste sensation by potentiation of TRPM5 channel activity.

Transmembrane BAX inhibitor motif containing 6 (TMBIM6), also known as Bax inhibitor-1, is an evolutionarily conserved protein involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function. TMBIM6 is an ER Ca leak channel and its deficiency enhances susceptibility to ER stress due to inhibition of the ER stress sensor IRE1α. It was previously shown that TMBIM6 overexpression improves glucose metabolism and that TMBIM6 knockout mice develop obesity. We here examined the metabolic alterations underlying the obese phenotype and subjected TMBIM6 knockout mice to indirect calorimetry and euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic tests with stable isotope dilution to gauge tissue-specific insulin sensitivity. This demonstrated no changes in heat production, food intake, activity or hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity. TMBIM6 knockout mice, however, featured a higher glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo as assessed by the hyperglycemic clamp test and hepatic steatosis. This coincided with profound changes in glucose-mediated Ca regulation in isolated pancreatic β cells and increased levels of IRE1α levels but no differences in downstream effects of IRE1α like increased Xbp1 mRNA splicing or Ire1-dependent decay of insulin mRNA in the pancreas. We therefore conclude that lack of TMBIM6 does not affect insulin sensitivity but leads to hyperinsulinemia, which serves to explain the weight gain. TMBIM6-mediated metabolic alterations are mainly caused by its role as a Ca release channel in the ER. KEY MESSAGES: TMBIM6 leads to obesity and hepatic steatosis. Food intake and energy expenditure are not changed in TMBIM6 mice. No changes in insulin resistance in TMBIM6 mice. Increased insulin secretion caused by altered calcium dynamics in β cells.

Bax inhibitor-1 deficiency leads to obesity by increasing Ca-dependent insulin secretion.

25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) is a partial agonist of TRPV1 whereby 25OHD can weakly activate TRPV1 yet antagonize the stimulatory effects of the full TRPV1 agonists capsaicin and oleoyl dopamine. 25OHD binds to TRPV1 within the same vanilloid binding pocket as capsaicin. 25OHD inhibits the potentiating effects of PKC-mediated TRPV1 activity. 25OHD reduces T-cell activation and trigeminal neuron calcium signalling mediated by TRPV1 activity. These results provide evidence that TRPV1 is a novel receptor for the biological actions of vitamin D in addition to the well-documented effects of vitamin D upon the nuclear vitamin D receptor. The results may have important implications for our current understanding of certain diseases where TRPV1 and vitamin D deficiency have been implicated, such as chronic pain and autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes.

Koenraad Philippaert

Laboratory of Ion Channel Research,
VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research,
Leuven,
Belgium and Department of Molecular Medicine,
Laboratory of Ion Channel Research, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium and Department of Molecular Medicine

KU Leuven

Horizontal Hippocampal Slices of the Mouse Brain