Aaron Weiss

Disruption of Tsc2 in pancreatic β cells induces β cell mass expansion and improved glucose tolerance in a TORC1-dependent manner

Regulation of pancreatic β cell mass and function is a major determinant for the development of diabetes. Growth factors and nutrients are important regulators of β cell mass and function. The signaling pathways by which these growth signals modulate these processes have not been completely elucidated. Tsc2 is an attractive candidate to modulate these processes, because it is a converging point for growth factor and nutrient signals. In these experiments, we generated mice with conditional deletion of Tsc2 in β cells (βTsc2−/−). These mice exhibited decreased glucose levels and hyperinsulinemia in the fasting and fed state. Improved glucose tolerance in these mice was observed as early as 4 weeks of age and was still present in 52-week-old mice. Deletion of Tsc2 in β cells induced expansion of β cell mass by increased proliferation and cell size. Rapamycin treatment reversed the metabolic changes in βTsc2−/− mice by induction of insulin resistance and reduction of β cell mass. The reduction of β cell mass in βTsc2−/− mice by inhibition of the mTOR/Raptor (TORC1) complex with rapamycin treatment suggests that TORC1 mediates proliferative and growth signals induced by deletion of Tsc2 in β cells. These studies uncover a critical role for the Tsc2/mTOR pathway in regulation of β cell mass and carbohydrate metabolism in vivo.

mTORC1 Activation Regulates β-Cell Mass and Proliferation by Modulation of Cyclin D2 Synthesis and Stability

Growth factors, insulin signaling, and nutrients are important regulators of β-cell mass and function. The events linking these signals to the regulation of β-cell mass are not completely understood. The mTOR pathway integrates signals from growth factors and nutrients. Here, we evaluated the role of the mTOR/raptor (mTORC1) signaling in proliferative conditions induced by controlled activation of Akt signaling. These experiments show that the mTORC1 is a major regulator of β-cell cycle progression by modulation of cyclin D2, D3, and Cdk4 activity. The regulation of cell cycle progression by mTORC1 signaling resulted from modulation of the synthesis and stability of cyclin D2, a critical regulator of β-cell cycle, proliferation, and mass. These studies provide novel insights into the regulation of cell cycle by the mTORC1, provide a mechanism for the antiproliferative effects of rapamycin, and imply that the use of rapamycin could negatively impact the success of islet transplantation and the adaptation of β-cells to insulin resistance.

Regulation of β‐cell mass and function by the Akt/protein kinase B signalling pathway

The insulin receptor substrate‐2/phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a critical role in the regulation of β‐cell mass and function, demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. The serine threonine kinase Akt is one of the promising downstream molecules of this pathway that has been identified as a potential target to regulate function and induce proliferation and survival of β cells. Here we summarize some of the molecular mechanisms, downstream signalling pathways and critical components involved in the regulation of β‐cell mass and function by Akt.

Regulation of Pancreas Plasticity and Malignant Transformation by Akt Signaling

BACKGROUND & AIMS Extensive evidence suggests that Akt signaling plays an important role in beta-cell mass and function, although its function in the regulation of the different pancreatic fates has not been adequately investigated. The goal of these studies was to assess the role of Akt signaling in the pancreatic differentiation programs. METHODS For these experiments, we have generated a double reporter mouse model that provides activation of Akt signaling in a cell type-specific manner. This mouse model conditionally overexpresses a constitutively active form of Akt upon Cre-mediated recombination. Activation of Akt signaling in pancreatic progenitors and acinar and beta-cells was achieved by crossing this animal model to specific Cre-lines. RESULTS We showed that overexpression of a constitutively active Akt in pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1) progenitors induced expansion of ductal structures expressing progenitor markers. This expansion resulted in part from increased proliferation of the ductal epithelium. Lineage-tracing experiments in mice with activation of Akt signaling in mature acinar and beta-cells suggested that acinar-to-ductal and beta-cell-to-acinar/ductal transdifferentiation also contributed to the expansion of the ductal compartment. In addition to the changes in cell plasticity, these studies demonstrated that chronic activation of Akt signaling in Pdx1 progenitors induced the development of premalignant lesions and malignant transformation in old mice. CONCLUSIONS The current work unravels some of the molecular mechanisms of cellular plasticity and reprogramming, and demonstrates for the first time that activation of Akt signaling regulates the fate of differentiated pancreatic cells in vivo.

Enhanced beta cell proliferation in mice overexpressing a constitutively active form of Akt and one allele of p21 Cip

Aims/hypothesisThe ability of pancreatic beta cells to proliferate is critical both for normal tissue maintenance and in conditions where there is an increased demand for insulin. Protein kinase B (Akt) plays a major role in promoting proliferation in many cell types, including the insulin-producing beta cells. We have previously reported that mice overexpressing a constitutively active form of Akt (caAktTg) show enhanced beta cell proliferation that is associated with increased protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin D2 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21Cip). In the present study, we sought to assess the mechanisms responsible for augmented p21Cip levels in caAktTg mice and test the role of p21Cip in the proliferative responses induced by activation of Akt signalling.MethodsTo gain a greater understanding of the relationship between Akt and p21Cip, we evaluated the mechanisms involved in the modulation of p21Cip by Akt and the in vivo role of reduced p21Cip in proliferative responses induced by Akt.ResultsOur experiments showed that Akt signalling regulates p21Cip transcription and protein stability. caAktTg/p21Cip+/− mice exhibited fasting and fed hypoglycaemia as well as hyperinsulinaemia when compared with caAktTg mice. Glucose tolerance tests revealed improved glucose tolerance in caAktTg/p21Cip+/− mice compared with caAktTg. These changes resulted from increased proliferation, survival and beta cell mass in caAktTg/p21Cip+/− compared with caAktTg mice.Conclusions/interpretationOur data indicate that increased p21Cip levels in caAktTg mice act as a compensatory brake, protecting beta cells from unrestrained proliferation. These studies imply that p21Cip could play important roles in the adaptive responses of beta cells to proliferate in conditions such as in insulin resistance.

Generation of a Reporter Mouse Line Expressing Akt and EGFP Upon Cre-Mediated Recombination

The serine‐threonine kinase Akt regulates multiple biological processes. An important strategy to study Akt signaling in different tissues is targeted activation of this pathway in vivo. The current studies describe the generation of a mouse model that combines a double reporter system with activation of a constitutively active form of Akt1 (caAkt) in a Cre‐dependent manner. Before Cre recombination, these mice express LacZ during development as well as in most adult tissues. After Cre‐mediated excision of the LacZ reporter, functionality of the transgene was demonstrated by expression of the caAkt mutant along with the second reporter, EGFP in different pancreatic compartments and in the nervous system. This animal model provides a critical reagent for assessing the effects of Akt activation in specific tissues. The lineage‐tracing properties provide a useful tool to study the role of Akt signaling in regulation of differentiation programs during development and plasticity of mature tissues. genesis 46:256–264, 2008.