OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a chronic disease with high incidence worldwide, which promotes the risk of incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Obesity-induced adipocyte expansion promotes local chronic inflammation in the adipose tissue which is considered a contributing factor to insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and T2D. Many organs, including adipose tissue, involve in the dysregulation of glucose homeostasis in T2D. The crosstalk between adipose tissue/adipocytes and pancreatic ß-cells has provoked scientists' interest for years. Here in this thesis, we focused on the effect carried out by adipocyte-specific GPS2 depletion on insulin secretion from pancreatic ß-cells. METHODS: Conditioned media collected over 24 h from both primary adipocyte and adipose tissue explant cultures from high fat diet (HFD)-fed WT and adipocyte-specific GPS2 knock-out (GPS2-AKO) mice were used to treat INS-1 clonal pancreatic ß-cells or primary islets from chow-diet WT mice. Conditioned media was diluted 1:8 in culture media of clonal INS-1 cells (cultured in media with 4 mM or 11 mM glucose chronically) and primary islets (cultured in media with 11 mM glucose) and incubated for 18 h before measuring insulin secretion. The isolated islets from chow-diet WT mice were also be treated with the primary adipocytes conditioned media from eWAT (epididymal white adipose tissue) of HFD-fed WT and GPS2-AKO mice. In addition, the effect of exosomes extracted from primary adipocyte conditioned media of HFD-fed WT and GPS2-AKO mice on GSIS was investigated in clonal INS-1 cells. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) was measured to assess differences in insulin secretion by INS-1 cells and islets from mice in response to signaling from WT or GPS2-AKO adipocytes. RESULTS: Adipocyte conditioned media from both WT and GPS2-AKO mice reduced GSIS from INS-1 cells by the same extent compared to a non-treated control. The same result was obtained using media conditioned by adipose tissue explant culture. Exosomes isolated from adipocyte conditioned media from both WT and GPS2-AKO mice also reduced GSIS from INS-1 cells with no significant difference between WT and GPS2-AKO. Islets isolated from chow-diet WT mice treated with adipocyte conditioned media from eWAT of WT and GPS2-AKO mice also showed no significant difference between WT and GPS2-AKO in GSIS compared to our non-treated control. CONCLUSIONS: Both conditioned media and exosomes from primary adipocytes of HFD-fed mice inhibits GSIS from INS-1 cells and isolated islets, but no difference was observed between WT and GPS2-AKO mice. We conclude that the deletion of GPS2 in adipocytes does not influence GSIS from pancreatic ß-cells under our experimental conditions. Conditioned media-induced inhibition of GSIS is mediated by factors that may contribute to adipocyte-ß-cell crosstalk in-vivo. / 2025-11-02T00:00:00Z

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Understanding β-cell development and function is essential for generating more effective treatment options for individuals with diabetes. A key player in pancreatogenesis, islet development, and mature β-cell function is the Pdx1 transcription factor (TF). Pdx1 activity is modulated through interactions with various coregulators, including the Swi/Snf chromatin remodeling and Nucleosome Remodeling and Deacetylase (NuRD) complexes. Loss of one Swi/Snf ATPase subunit, Brg1, in early pancreatogenesis reduces final pancreas mass, and β-cell-specific deletion of both subunits, Brg1 and Brm, leads to glucose intolerance and loss of insulin production in the β-cell. Here, we hypothesized Swi/Snf governs endocrine progenitor cell development and postnatal islet function. To test this, we generated conditional murine knockouts of Brg1 (Brg1Δendo;Brm+/-), Brm (Brg1Δendo/+;Brm-/-), or both subunits (DKOΔendo) during endocrine cell development. No DKOΔendo mice were recovered at weaning, and loss of Brg1 but not Brm led to severe glucose intolerance, ad-lib fed hyperglycemia, and reduced insulin levels by four weeks of age. Brg1Δendo;Brm+/- mice had fewer islets and compromised insulin secretion. Together, these data suggest that loss of Brg1 during endocrine cell development has negative impacts on postnatal islet function, with loss of both Brg1 and Brm being early postnatal lethal. Pdx1 has been shown to also interact with the Chd4 helicase subunit of the NuRD complex. Here, we demonstrate Pdx1:Chd4 interactions are increased under stimulatory conditions and hypothesize that Chd4 modulates expression of Pdx1-bound genes critical for β-cell function. To test this, we generated a tamoxifen inducible, β-cell-specific Chd4 knockout mouse model (Chd4Δβ). Four weeks following Chd4 removal, Chd4Δβ mutants were glucose intolerant with severe insulin secretion defects. Additionally, Chd4Δβ islets contained fewer mature insulin granules and secreted more proinsulin. RNA-sequencing from Chd4Δβ β-cells identified numerous upregulated (eg Hk2, Mycl) and downregulated genes (eg MafA, Chga, Chgb, Slc2a2). Through ATAC-sequencing, we discovered several differentially accessible genomic regions, including Chd4-bound and Pdx1-controlled MafA Region 3, which had reduced accessibility in Chd4Δβ β-cells. Lastly, we demonstrate that CHD4 impacts human β-cell function and PDX1:CHD4 interactions were reduced in human donor β-cells with type 2 diabetes, demonstrating loss of these interactions is a significant feature of diabetes pathogenesis.

<p>Previous studies suggest that nicotine impairs pancreatic function, which may explain the increased risk of T2DM in smokers. We have previously shown that nicotine exposure results in decreased beta cell function, an effect which appears to be mediated via increased beta cell oxidative stress. The goal of this study is to determine whether folic acid, an antioxidant, can prevent nicotine-induced beta cell dysfunction in the beta cell.</p> <p>INS 1E cells, a rat pancreatic beta cell line, were treated with nicotine or vehicle ± 10µM folic acid for 48 hours. Nicotine treatment decreased both basal and glucose stimulated insulin secretion, but had no effect on insulin content, mitochondrial function or markers of apoptosis. Expression of oxidative stress/damage markers (HSP70 and 4-HNE), antioxidant enzymes (Cu/ZnSOD, MnSOD and CAT), insulin gene transcription factor PDX1 and K_ATPchannel subunit kir_6.2 were determined by western blot analysis. Expression of HSP70, 4-HNE and MnSOD were significantly increased with nicotine treatment (p=0.002, 0.05 and 0.03 respectively). Cu/ZnSOD and CAT expression remained unchanged with nicotine treatment. The addition of folic acid significantly reduced HSP70 expression, 4-HNE expression, CAT expression, but did not alter the expression of MnSOD. There was a significant (p6.2expression (p=0.019) which showed a trend toward reduced expression following treatment with folic acid (p=0.067).</p> <p>Nicotine treatment significantly increases markers of oxidative stress and oxidative damage in pancreatic beta cells; an effect which was reversed by folic acid administration. Nicotine and folic acid treatment increased insulin content, likely mediated through an increase in the insulin gene transcription factor, PDX1. Furthermore, nicotine treatment increased expression of kir_6.2,suggesting a defect in the insulin secretory mechanism. This effect was reversed with folic acid treatment.Although many studies suggest that Canadians are meeting or exceeding recommended folate levels, this is not true in smokers. Our data suggest that additional folate supplementation in smokers may prevent nicotine-induced damage to the pancreas and thus reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by peripheral insulin resistance and insufficient insulin release from pancreatic islet β cells. However, the role and sequence of β cell dysfunction and mass loss for reduced insulin levels in type 2 diabetes pathogenesis are unclear. Here, we exploit freshly explanted pancreas specimens from metabolically phenotyped surgical patients using an in situ tissue slice technology. This approach allows assessment of β cell volume and function within pancreas samples of metabolically stratified individuals. We show that, in tissue of pre-diabetic, impaired glucose-tolerant subjects, β cell volume is unchanged, but function significantly deteriorates, exhibiting increased basal release and loss of first-phase insulin secretion. In individuals with type 2 diabetes, function within the sustained β cell volume further declines. These results indicate that dysfunction of persisting β cells is a key factor in the early development and progression of type 2 diabetes, representing a major target for diabetes prevention and therapy.

Adipose tissue secreted proteins (adipokines) have been proposed to form a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Resistin and visfatin are two adipokines which have been previously suggested as having roles in the pancreatic islet. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the regulatory role of the adipokines resistin and visfatin in the pancreatic beta-cell. In order to do this, pancreatic β-cell lines from rat (BRIN-BD11) and mouse (βTC-6) were used to study the effect of exogenous incubation with physiological and pathological concentrations of resistin and visfatin on diverse elements of beta-cell biology including cell viability, gene expression and insulin secretion. In addition to this the expression levels of these two adipokines was also measured in the beta-cell. PCR array analysis showed that resistin and visfatin treatment resulted in significant changes in the expression of key beta-cell specific genes. Interestingly, both resistin and visfatin are highly expressed in the beta-cells. This suggests that the roles of these adipokines are not confined to adipose tissue but also in other endocrine organs. Resistin treatment significantly increased viability of the beta-cells at physiological concentrations however there was no increase with the elevated pathological concentrations. Resistin at elevated concentrations decreased insulin receptor expression in the beta-cells however there was no significant effect at lower concentrations. Both physiological and elevated resistin concentrations did not have any effect on glucose stimulated insulin secretion. Incubation of visfatin induced phosphorylation of insulin receptor and the intracellular signalling MAPK, ERK1/2. Visfatin treatment at 200ng/ml also significantly increased insulin secretion. These effects were replicated by incubation of beta-cells with the product of visfatin’s enzymatic action, nicotinamide mononucleotide and were reversed by visfatin inhibitor FK866. Visfatin treatment at low concentrations did not have any effect on cell viability however the elevated concentrations resulted in a decline. These data indicate that both resistin and visfatin potentially play important roles in beta-cell function and viability and that they form a significant link between adipose tissue and the pancreatic islet in type 2 diabetes.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the organelle responsible for synthesis and folding of secreted and membranous protein and lipid biosynthesis. It also functions as one of the main cellular calcium stores. Pancreatic beta-cells evolved to produce and secrete insulin upon demand in order to regulate blood glucose homeostasis. In response to increases in serum glucose, insulin synthesis represents nearly 50% of the total protein biosynthesis by beta-cells. This poses an enormous burden on the ER, rendering beta-cells vulnerable to agents that perturb ER function. Alterations of ER homeostasis lead to accumulation of misfolded proteins and activation of an adaptive response named the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR is transduced via 3 ER transmembrane proteins, namely PERK, IRE-1 and ATF6. The signaling cascades activated downstream of these proteins: a) induce expression of ER resident chaperones and protein foldases. Increasing the protein folding capacity of the ER; b) attenuate general protein translations which avoids overloading the stressed ER with new proteins; c) upregulate ER-associated degradation (ERAD) genes, which decreases the unfolded protein load of the ER. In severe cases, failure by the UPR to solve the ER stress leads to apoptosis. The mechanisms linking ER stress to apoptosis are still poorly understood, but potential mediators include the transcription factors Chop and ATF3, pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 familly, the caspase 12 and the kinase JNK. Accumulating evidence suggest that ER stress contributes to beta-cell apoptosis in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by a severe insulin deficiency resulting from chronic and progressive destruction of pancreatic beta-cells by the immune system. During this autoimmune assault, beta-cells are exposed to cytokines secreted by the immune cells infiltrating the pancreatic islets. Our group has previously shown that the pro-inflamatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL1-beta and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), via nitric oxide (NO) formation, downregulate expression and function of the ER Ca2+ pump SERCA2. This depletes beta-cell ER Ca2+ stores, leading to ER stress and apoptosis. Of note, IL1-beta alone triggers ER stress but does not induce beta-cell death, while IFN-gamma neither causes ER stress nor induces beta-cell death. Together, these cytokines cause beta-cell apoptosis but the mechanisms behind this synergistic effect were unknown. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by both peripheral resistance to insulin, usually as a result of obesity, and deficient insulin secretion secondary to beta cell failure. Obese patients have high levels of circulating free fatty acids (FFA) and several studies have shown that the FFA palmitate induces ER stress and beta-cell apoptosis. In the present work we initially established an experimental model to specifically activate the ER stress response in pancreatic beta-cells. For this purpose, insulinoma cells (INS-1E) or primary rat beta-cells were exposed to the reversible chemical SERCA pump blocker cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). Dose-response and time course experiments determined the best conditions to induce a marked ER stress without excessive cell death (<25%). The first goal of the work was to understand the synergistic effects of IL1-beta and IFN-gamma leading to pancreatic beta-cell apoptosis. Our group previously observed, by microarray analysis of primary beta-cells, that IFN-gamma down-regulates mRNAs encoding for some ER chaperones. Against this background, our hypothesis was that IFN-gamma aggravates beta-cell ER stress by decreasing the ability of these cells to mount an adequate UPR. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether IFN-gamma pre-treatment augments CPA-induced ER stress and beta cell death. The results obtained indicated that IFN-gamma pre-treatment potentiates CPA-induced apoptosis in INS-1E and primary beta-cells. This effect was specific for IFN-gamma since neither IL1-beta nor a low dose CPA pre-treatment potentiated CPA-induced apoptosis in INS-1E cells. These effects of IFN-gamma were mediated via the down regulation of genes involved in beta cell defense against ER stress, including the ER chaperones BiP, Orp150 and Grp94 as well as Sec61, a component of the ERAD pathway. This had functional consequences as evidenced by a decreased basal and CPA-induced activity of a reporter construct for the unfolded protein response element (UPRE) and augmented expression of the pro-apoptotic transcription factor Chop. We next investigated the molecular regulation of the Chop gene in INS-1E cells in response to several pro-apoptotic and ER stress inducing agents, namely cytokines (IL1-beta and IFN-gamma), palmitate, or CPA. Detailed mutagenesis studies of the Chop promoter showed differential regulation of Chop transcription by these compounds. While cytokines (via NO production)- and palmitate-induced Chop expression was mediated via a C/EBP-ATF composite and AP-1 binding sites, CPA induction required the C/EBP-ATF site and the ER stress response element (ERSE). Cytokines, palmitate and CPA induced ATF4 protein expression and further binding to the C/EBP-ATF composite site, as shown by Western blot and EMSA experiments. There was also formation of distinct AP-1 dimers and binding to the AP-1 site after exposure to cytokines or palmitate. The third objective of this work was to obtain a broad picture of the pancreatic beta-cell molecular responses during and after (recovery period) a severe ER stress. For this purpose, we utilized an “in home” spotted microarray, the APOCHIP, containing nearly 600 probes selected for the study of beta-cell apoptosis. Time-dependent gene expression profiles were measured in INS-1E cells exposed to CPA. CPA-induced ER-stress modified expression of 183 genes in at least one of the time points studied. Most of theses genes returned to control levels 3h after CPA removal from the culture medium. We observed full beta-cell recovery and survival, indicating that these cells trigger efficient defenses against ER stress. Beta-cell recovery is associated with a sustained increase in the expression of ER chaperones and a rapid decrease of pro-apoptotic mRNAs following CPA removal. Two groups of genes were particularly affected by CPA, namely those related to the cellular responses to ER stress, which were mostly up-regulated, and those related to differentiated beta-cell functions, which were down-regulated. Among this last group, we observed a 40-90% decrease of the mRNAs for insulin-1 and -2. These findings were confirmed in INS-1E cells exposed to cytokines or thapsigargin (another SERCA blocker), and in primary beta-cells exposed to the same treatments. This decrease in insulin mRNA expression is due to transcript degradation, most probably caused by IRE-1 activation and triggering of its endoribonuclease activity, as recently described in Drosophila cells. In conclusion, our work enabled a better understanding of the pancreatic beta-cell responses to ER stress: 1.)We identified a sensitizing effect of IFN-gamma to ER stress in beta-cells via downregulation of key ER chaperones. 2.)We observed a differential regulation of Chop transcription by different treatments suggesting distinct responses of pancreatic beta-cells to diverse ER stress inducers. 3.)We provided the first global analysis of gene expression modifications in pancreatic beta-cells following ER stress. 4.)We demonstrated a high capacity of beta-cells to cope and recover from a severe ER stress. 5.)We identified a new protective mechanism against ER stress, namely the degradation of insulin mRNA which limits the load posed on the ER by insulin synthesis. This, coupled to a marked increase in ER chaperones and a fast degradation of pro-apoptotic mRNAs, enables beta cells to recover from ER stress after the causes of this stress are removed.

Les pertes de la fonction et de la masse des cellules beta pancréatiques jouent un rôle central dans le diabète de type 2 (DT2). Les beta-arrestines 1 et 2 (ARRB1 et ARRB2), sont impliquées dans la sécrétion et/ou la survie des cellules beta pancréatiques.Dans une première étude, afin de caractériser précisément la fonction d’ARRB1 dans les cellules beta pancréatiques, nous avons eu pour objectif de générer des souris invalidées spécifiquement dans ces cellules en utilisant le système Cre/lox sous le contrôle du promoteur Ins1. Des études avaient été publiées à partir des deux lignées Ins1Cre-/+ et Arrb1f/f. Nous avons généré et travaillé sur les souris Arrb1f/f :Ins1Cre-/+. Le phénotype des souris Arrb1f/f :Ins1Cre-/+ était faible et surtout non reproductible comparé aux souris Arrb1f/f :Ins1Cre-/- utilisées comme témoins. Le faible niveau d’expression d'Arrb1 dans les cellules beta et le manque d'anticorps spécifique pour l'immunocytochimie ont rendu difficile la vérification de l'absence d'expression de ARRB1 dans ces cellules. Après séquençage du gène modifié Arrb1 des souris “floxées“, nous avons pu montrer que l'insertion du premier site loxP avait induit un décalage du cadre de lecture introduisant un codon stop et, par conséquent, la non-expression du gène Arrb1. Étant donné que les souris Arrb1 “floxées“ utilisées comme témoins étaient déjà knockout (KO), le projet utilisant ces souris a dû être arrêté.Notre équipe a rapporté l'implication d'ARRB2 dans la régulation de la masse des cellules bêta pancréatique, mais son rôle dans la signalisation du récepteur du Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1R), une cible thérapeutique majeure du DT2, n'avait pas encore été exploré.Nous avons montré, dans une deuxième étude, une meilleure tolérance orale au glucose ainsi qu’une augmentation de la sécrétion d’insuline chez les souris Arrb2 KO par rapport aux souris témoins sur les îlots en présence des concentrations physiologiques circulantes de GLP-1. Ceci est corrélé à une production d’AMPc et un recrutement de la PKA plus élevés dans les cellules beta Arrb2 KO. A l’inverse, l’activation des kinases ERK1/2 est diminuée indiquant un recrutement majeur des ERK1/2 par ARRB2 au GLP-1R. En parallèle, j’ai montré que les taux de ARRB1 et ARRB2 des îlots pancréatiques sont altérés par des conditions diabétogènes et diabétiques. Mes résultats démontrent clairement un rôle critique de ARRB2 dans la signalisation du GLP-1R. Un défaut d’expression de la protéine pourrait participer au déficit des mécanismes de compensation de la masse fonctionnelle des cellules beta conduisant au DT2. / The loss of function and mass of pancreatic beta-cells play a central role in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Beta-arrestin 1 and 2 (ARRB1 and ARRB2) are involved in insulin secretion and/or beta-cell survival. In a first study, in order to characterize the role of ARRB1 in beta-cells, we aimed to invalidate the Arrb1 gene specifically in these cells using the Cre/lox system under the control of the Ins1 promoter. Studies had been published with both Ins1Cre-/+ and Arrb1f/f lines. We generated Arrb1f/f:Ins1Cre-/+ mice. The phenotype of Arrb1f/f :Ins1Cre-/+ mice was weak with a lack of reproducibility compared to Arrb1f/f :Ins1Cre-/- mice used as controls. The low expression level of Arrb1 in beta-cells and the lack of specific antibody for immunocytochemistry made it difficult to verify the absence of expression of ARRB1 in these cells. After sequencing the modified Arrb1 gene of the “floxed” mice, we observed that the insertion of the first loxP site induced a shift in the reading frame introducing a stop codon and, consequently, the non-expression of the Arrb1 gene. Since the “floxed“ Arrb1 mice used as controls were already knockout (KO), the project using these mice was stopped.Our team has reported the involvement of ARRB2 in the regulation of beta-cell mass, but its role in Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor signaling, a major therapeutic target for T2D, remained to be explored. In a second study, we showed a better glucose tolerance and an increase in insulin secretion from isolated islets in Arrb2KO compared to control mice in the presence of physiological circulating concentrations of GLP-1. This was correlated with higher cAMP production and PKA activation in Arrb2KO beta-cells. By contrast, the activation of ERK1/2 kinases was decreased indicating a major recruitment of ERK1/2 by ARRB2 to GLP-1R. In parallel, we showed that the expression levels of ARRB1 and ARRB2 in pancreatic islets were altered in diabetogenic and diabetic conditions. My results clearly demonstrate a critical role of ARRB2 in GLP-1R singaling which could impact the function, maintenance and plasticity of beta-cell mass in response to GLP-1. A lack of expression of ARRB2 could participate in the deficit of compensatory mechanisms of the functional beta-cell mass leading to T2D.

Le diabète de type 2 résulte d’une diminution de la masse fonctionnelle de cellules bêta pancréatiques, possiblement liée à une dédifférenciation cellulaire : les cellules bêta restent présentes, mais leur production d’insuline s’effondre. Ce phénomène, s’il est avéré, ouvrirait la voie à de nouvelles recherches thérapeutiques. Mais s’il est démontré dans certains modèles murins, il n’existe que des arguments très indirects chez l’Humain. Notre objectif est d’apporter de nouveaux arguments pour ce phénomène chez l’humain en modélisant la dédifférenciation de cellules bêta humaines, en utilisant la lignée de cellules bêta pancréatiques humaines EndoC-βH1 et des îlots pancréatiques humains primaires. Nous avons découvert qu’un traitement par FGF2 effondrait la production d'insuline, et des études par RNA-Seq ont révélé un effondrement de plusieurs marqueurs spécifiques de la cellule bêta, incluant INS, MAFB, SLC2A2, SLC30A8 and GCK. Parallèlement, le traitement par FGF2 induisait l'expression de gènes normalement absents d’une cellule bêta, tels les facteurs de transcription MYC, HES1, SOX9 et NEUROG3. La dédifférenciation induite par le FGF2 était temps- et dose-dépendante, et réversible après wash-out. En outre, nous démontrons que la dédifférenciation modifie l’interaction de la cellule bêta avec son environnement : l'expression de TNFRSF11B (ostéoprotégerine), un récepteur tronqué pour RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand), est induite lors du traitement par FGF2, et les cellules β sont alors protégées contre la signalisation RANKL (TNFSF11) par inhibition de la phosphorylation de P38. Enfin, les analyses des données transcriptomiques ont révélé des niveaux accrus d'ARNm de FGF2 dans les cellules canalaires, endothéliales et stellaires dans les pancréas d’individus diabétiques de type 2, alors que les taux d'ARNm de FGFR1, SOX9 et HES1 sont augmentés dans les îlots pancréatiques d’individus diabétiques de type 2. Nous avons donc développé un modèle de dédifférenciation des cellules bêta humaines induit par le FGF2, identifié de nouveaux marqueurs de dédifférenciation, et trouvé des signes d'augmentation de FGF2, FGFR1 et des marqueurs de dédifférenciation au cours du diabète de type 2. / Clinical and experimental evidences indicate a reduced functional β cell mass in type 2 diabetes. A recent hypothesis implicates β cell dedifferentiation in this reduction of functional β-cell mass. The vast majority of data related to β cell dedifferentiation derive from rodent models, and only indirect evidences are available in human. Our goal was to model human β-cell dedifferentiation using the functional human pancreatic β-cell line, EndoC-βH1, and primary human pancreatic islets. By screening a number of molecules in EndoC-βH1 cells, we found that FGF2 treatment dramatically reduces insulin production and MAFA expression, a β cell specific transcriptional activator. RNASeq of EndoC-βH1 cells treated with FGF2 revealed the down-regulation of additional human β cell specific markers, including INS, MAFB, SLC2A2, SLC30A8 and GCK. In parallel, FGF2 treatment activated the expression of β cell disallowed genes. This is the case for transcription factors such as MYC, HES1, SOX9 and NEUROG3. This is also the case for hormones such as GASTRIN and PYY. Such data were further confirmed by qPCR and immunostaining on primary human islets, attesting that dedifferentiation process occurs in human primary β cells. FGF2-induced dedifferentiation was time- and dose-dependent, and reversible upon wash-out. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed an increase of TNFRSF11B (osteoprotegerin) expression upon FGF2 treatment. TNFRSF11B is a decoy receptor for the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL). Our experimental data on EndoC-βH1 demonstrated that FGF2-induced TNFRSF11B protected β cells against TNFSF11 (RANKL) signaling by preventing P38 phosphorylation. Finally, analyses of transcriptomic data revealed increased FGF2 mRNA levels in ductal, endothelial and stellate cells in pancreases from type 2 diabetic patients, whereas FGFR1, SOX9 and HES1 mRNA levels increased in islets from type 2 diabetic patients. In conclusion, we developed a robust model to study β-cell dedifferentiation in a human context. We discovered SOX9, HES1 and MYC as positive markers of human β cell dedifferentiation, demonstrating evidence for dedifferentiation process in human β cell.

The incidences of obesity and type 2 diabetes and their complications are increasing globally. The presence of elevated circulating free fatty acids has been associated with the initial dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells and microvascular endothelial cells followed later by their demise. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the mechanisms by which demise occurs, and how it may be prevented. Palmitate, a saturated fatty acid, caused cell death in both INS-1 beta cells and HCMec/D3 microvascular cells, whereas the unsaturated fatty acid oleic acid did not cause cell death, and also protected against palmitate-induced toxicity. Etomoxir, the mitochondrial CPT1 inhibitor did not rescue INS-1 or HCMec/D3 cells from palmitate-induced toxicity suggesting that palmitate-induced toxicity does not occur via entry into the mitochondria. Cells were exposed to 2-bromopalmitate, a non-metabolisable fatty acid used to reduce the pool of cytoplasmic CoA, to determine whether palmitate-induced toxicity might be mediated by its ability to be activated. Pre-incubation with 2-bromopalmitate in INS-1 cells significantly prevented palmitate-induced cell death. These data suggest that the activation of palmitate with CoA might mediate cell death. Cell cycle analysis found that neither oleic acid nor palmitate caused an increase or decrease in cell proliferation in both INS-1 and HCMec/D3 cells. The data suggest that the mechanism of oleic acid-induced cytoprotection might not be via a pro-proliferative mechanism. INS-1 cells were imaged using spontaneous Raman microspectroscopy after 24-hour exposure to esterified and non-esterified fatty acids. Uni- and multi-variate analysis and spectral decomposition were carried out using a methodology optimised and validated which is presented in this thesis. The aim was to quantify changes, if any, in lipid disposition: distribution, intensity (as a measure of concentration) and composition after exogenous exposure to these fatty acids. Exposure to 0.125 mM palmitate showed a significant decrease in the percentage of lipid within the cells and a corresponding increase in the intensity of this lipid. This suggests that palmitate, alone, might be shuttled into lipid droplets. This was not observed when the cells were exposed to oleic acid, whereby an increase in the intensity of lipid was observed even though no significant change was observed in the percentage of lipid within the cells. When palmitate and oleic acid were combined, the composition of the lipid droplets changed such that the levels of palmitate decreased and the levels of oleic acid increased. These data suggest that oleic acid does not shuttle palmitate into lipid droplets. These data do not support the hypothesis that oleic acid protects against palmitate-induced cytotoxicity by shuttling palmitate into lipid droplets. The methyl esters of palmitate and oleic acid were employed to determine whether they would affect lipid disposition. No change in lipid distribution or intensity was observed when the cells were exposed to these fatty acids, validating the requirement for the free carboxyl oxygen for the covalent binding to glycerol for the formation of lipid droplets. These data also suggest that INS-1 cells cannot de-esterify esterified fatty acids.

Notre travail de thèse avait pour objet l’étude du potentiel anti-diabétique des urolithines A, B, C et D, métabolites de polyphénols formés par le microbiote colique à partir des tanins de l’acide ellagique (présents notamment dans la grenade et les noix).La première partie, bibliographique, constitue un rappel :• de la régulation de l’équilibre glycémique et le rôle de la sécrétion d’insuline dans cette régulation ; •de l ‘épidémiologie et la physiopathologie du diabète type 2 (DT2) ; •des polyphénols et leurs métabolites, ainsi que de leurs effets antidiabétiques potentiels.La seconde partie décrit les effets des urolithines sur différents modèles expérimentaux : •Sur un modèle de cellules β insulino-sécrétrices (lignée INS-1), les urolithines induisent une amplification concentration-dépendante de la sécrétion d’insuline induite par le glucose, mais également par d’autres sécrétagogues comme un analogue du GLP-1 ou une sulfonylurée (médicaments utilisés dans le diabète). Les urolithines préviennent également l’altération sécrétoire induite par un stress oxydant. •L’effet insulino-sécrétoire des urolithines a été confirmé sur îlots de Langerhans isolés. •L’urolithine C étant apparu comme le composé le plus prometteur, nous avons poursuivi la caractérisation de son activité sur un modèle ex vivo mimant la situation physiologique, le pancréas isolé perfusé. Alors que l’effet sécrétoire de l’urolithine C n’apparaît pas en présence de 5mM de glucose, l’urolithine C (20µM) a stimulé la sécrétion d’insuline dans des conditions de stimulation modérée de la sécrétion d’insuline par le glucose (8.3mM). Cet effet est strictement dépendant du glucose, la sécrétion d’insuline retournant immédiatement à son niveau basal lors du passage de 8,3 à 5mM de glucose en présence d’urolithine C. •Des études de pharmacocinétique ont permis de mettre au point une méthodologie de dosage plasmatique de l’urolithine C dans le plasma de rat par chromatographie liquide / ionisation electrospray /spectrographie de masse en tandem. Cette méthodologie a été appliquée à une première étude pharmacocinétique chez le rat après injection de 10mg/kg d’urolithine C par voie intra-péritonéale. Cette étude montre notamment que le profil pharmacocinétique suit un modèle à 3 compartiments et suggère un stockage tissulaire du composé.D’autres résultats (confidentiels) ne peuvent être évoqués dans ce résumé mais confirment l’intérêt potentiel de l’urolithine C dans le traitement du diabète de type 2 en tant que médicament insulinotrope dépendant du glucose. / The objective of our thesis was to study the anti-diabetic potential of metabolites of ellagic acid tanins, present notably in pomegranate and nuts, that are formed by the colon microbiote. The metabolites are urolithins A, B, C and D.The first part of thesis is bibliographic and reviews: •The control of glycemic plasma levels, and in particular the role of insulin secretion in this process; • The pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D); •The various polyphenols and their metabolites, along with their potential anti-diabetic activity.The second part describes the effects of urolithins on various experimental models: •On a model of insulin secreting beta cells (the INS-1cell line), urolithins concentration-dependently amplified insulin secretion induced by glucose, but also by insulinotropic drugs used in the treatment of T2D such as a GLP-1 analogue or a sulfonylurea. In addition, urolithins were able to induce insulin secretion on cells rendered unresponsive to glucose by oxidative stress. • The insulinotropic effect of urolithins was also confirmed on isolated rat islets of Langerhans. •As urolithin C appeared to be the most promising antidiabetic compound, we further characterized its activity on an ex vivo model mimicking the physiological situation, the isolated infused pancreas. While urolithin C (20µM) had no effect in the presence of 5 mM glucose concentration, it amplified the stimulation of insulin secretion in the presence of 8.3mM glucose. The effect of urolithin C was also strictly glucose-dependent, as insulin secretion immediately returned to basal level when glucose concentration was switched from 8.3 to 5mM glucose in the presence of urolithin C. •We also conducted studies aiming at designing a validated methodology for rat plasma urolithin C determination using a liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method. The applicability of this assay was demonstrated in a preclinical pharmacokinetic study carried out in rats receiving intraperitoneal administration of urolithin C (10mg/kg). We found that the urolithin C followed a three-compartment model, suggesting a long-term tissue storage of urolithin C.Some other (confidential) results, not described in this abstract, confirmed urolithin C as a potential glucose-dependent insulinotropic treatment for type 2 diabetes.