VMP1-related autophagy induced by a fructose-rich diet in β-cells: its prevention by incretins.

Bárbara Maiztegui, Verónica Boggio, Carolina L Román, Luis E Flores, Héctor Del Zotto, Alejandro Ropolo, Daniel Grasso, María I Vaccaro, Juan J Gagliardino

Clinical science (London, England : 1979) 2017 Apr 25

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The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the role of autophagy and incretins in the fructose-induced alteration of β-cell mass and function. Normal Wistar rats were fed (3 weeks) with a commercial diet without (C) or with 10% fructose in drinking water (F) alone or plus sitagliptin (CS and FS) or exendin-4 (CE and FE). Serum levels of metabolic/endocrine parameters, β-cell mass, morphology/ultrastructure and apoptosis, vacuole membrane protein 1 (VMP1) expression and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were studied. Complementary to this, islets isolated from normal rats were cultured (3 days) without (C) or with F and F + exendin-4 or chloroquine. Expression of autophagy-related proteins [VMP1 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)], apoptotic/antiapoptotic markers (caspase-3 and Bcl-2), GSIS and insulin mRNA levels were measured. F rats developed impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and a significant increase in plasma triacylglycerols, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, insulin levels, homoeostasis model assessment (HOMA) for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and β-cell function (HOMA-β) indices. A significant reduction in β-cell mass was associated with an increased apoptotic rate and morphological/ultrastructural changes indicative of autophagic activity. All these changes were prevented by either sitagliptin or exendin-4. In cultured islets, F significantly enhanced insulin mRNA and GSIS, decreased Bcl-2 mRNA levels and increased caspase-3 expression. Chloroquine reduced these changes, suggesting the participation of autophagy in this process. Indeed, F induced the increase of both VMP1 expression and LC3-II, suggesting that VMP1-related autophagy is activated in injured β-cells. Exendin-4 prevented islet-cell damage and autophagy development. VMP1-related autophagy is a reactive process against F-induced islet dysfunction, being prevented by exendin-4 treatment. This knowledge could help in the use of autophagy as a potential target for preventing progression from IGT to type 2 diabetes mellitus. © 2017 The Author(s). published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

Citation

Bárbara Maiztegui, Verónica Boggio, Carolina L Román, Luis E Flores, Héctor Del Zotto, Alejandro Ropolo, Daniel Grasso, María I Vaccaro, Juan J Gagliardino. VMP1-related autophagy induced by a fructose-rich diet in β-cells: its prevention by incretins. Clinical science (London, England : 1979). 2017 Apr 25;131(8):673-687