Morten Lundh

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition as a novel treatment for diabetes mellitus.

Both common forms of diabetes have an inflammatory pathogenesis in which immune and metabolic factors converge on interleukin-1β as a key mediator of insulin resistance and β-cell failure. In addition to improving insulin resistance and preventing β-cell inflammatory damage, there is evidence of genetic association between diabetes and histone deacetylases (HDACs); and HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) promote β-cell development, proliferation, differentiation and function and positively affect late diabetic microvascular complications. Here we review this evidence and propose that there is a strong rationale for preclinical studies and clinical trials with the aim of testing the utility of HDACi as a novel therapy for diabetes.

Histone deacetylases 1 and 3 but not 2 mediate cytokine-induced beta cell apoptosis in INS-1 cells and dispersed primary islets from rats and are differentially regulated in the islets of type 1 diabetic children

Aims/hypothesisHistone deacetylases (HDACs) are promising pharmacological targets in cancer and autoimmune diseases. All 11 classical HDACs (HDAC1–11) are found in the pancreatic beta cell, and HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) protect beta cells from inflammatory insults. We investigated which HDACs mediate inflammatory beta cell damage and how the islet content of these HDACs is regulated in recent-onset type 1 diabetes.MethodsThe rat beta cell line INS-1 and dispersed primary islets from rats, either wild type or HDAC1–3 deficient, were exposed to cytokines and HDACi. Molecular mechanisms were investigated using real-time PCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation and ELISA assays. Pancreases from healthy children and children with type 1 diabetes were assessed using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.ResultsScreening of 19 compounds with different HDAC selectivity revealed that inhibitors of HDAC1, -2 and -3 rescued INS-1 cells from inflammatory damage. Small hairpin RNAs against HDAC1 and -3, but not HDAC2, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced beta cell apoptosis in INS-1 and primary rat islets. The protective properties of specific HDAC knock-down correlated with attenuated cytokine-induced iNos expression but not with altered expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators Il1α, Il1β, Tnfα or Cxcl2. HDAC3 knock-down reduced nuclear factor κB binding to the iNos promoter and HDAC1 knock-down restored insulin secretion. In pancreatic sections from children with type 1 diabetes of recent onset, HDAC1 was upregulated in beta cells whereas HDAC2 and -3 were downregulated in comparison with five paediatric controls.Conclusions/interpretationThese data demonstrate non-redundant functions of islet class I HDACs and suggest that targeting HDAC1 and HDAC3 would provide optimal protection of beta cell mass and function in clinical islet transplantation and recent-onset type 1 diabetic patients.

Lysine deacetylases are produced in pancreatic beta cells and are differentially regulated by proinflammatory cytokines

Aims/hypothesisCytokine-induced beta cell toxicity is abrogated by non-selective inhibitors of lysine deacetylases (KDACs). The KDAC family consists of 11 members, namely histone deacetylases HDAC1 to HDAC11, but it is not known which KDAC members play a role in cytokine-mediated beta cell death. The aim of the present study was to examine the KDAC gene expression profile of the beta cell and to investigate whether KDAC expression is regulated by cytokines. In addition, the protective effect of the non-selective KDAC inhibitor ITF2357 and interdependent regulation of four selected KDACs were investigated.MethodsThe beta cell line INS-1 and intact rat and human islets were exposed to cytokines with or without ITF2357. Expression of mRNA was assessed by real-time PCR and selected targets validated at the protein level by immunoblotting. Effects on cytokine-induced toxicity were investigated by in vitro assays.ResultsHdac1 to Hdac11 were expressed and differentially regulated by cytokines in INS-1 cells and rat islets. HDAC1, -2, -6 and -11 were found to be expressed and regulated by cytokines in human islets. ITF2357 protected against cytokine-induced beta cell apoptosis and counteracted cytokine-induced attenuation of basal insulin secretion. In addition, cytokine-induced regulation of Hdac2 and Hdac6, but not Hdac1 and Hdac11, was reduced by KDAC inhibition.Conclusions/interpretationAll classical KDAC genes are expressed by beta cells and differentially regulated by cytokines. Based on the relative expression levels and degree of regulation by cytokines, we propose that HDAC1, -2, -6 and -11 are of particular importance for beta cell function. These observations may help in the design of specific KDAC inhibitors to prevent beta cell destruction in situ and in islet grafts.

Lysine deacetylase inhibition prevents diabetes by chromatin-independent immunoregulation and β-cell protection

Significance Type 1 diabetes is due to immune-mediated pancreatic β-cell destruction. Lysine deacetylase inhibitors (KDACi) protect β-cells from inflammatory destruction in vitro and are promising immunomodulators. The orally active and clinically well-tolerated KDACi vorinostat and givinostat reverted diabetes in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes and counteracted inflammatory target cell damage. Importantly, these effects were achieved with doses that are safe and effective in human inflammatory diseases. Of note, the mechanism of action was compatible with transcription factor—rather than global chromatin—hyperacetylation, causing inhibition of transcription factor binding and reduction of proinflammatory gene expression in leukocytes and β-cells. These data provide a rationale for clinical trials of safety and efficacy of KDACi in patients with Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is due to destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Lysine deacetylase inhibitors (KDACi) protect β-cells from inflammatory destruction in vitro and are promising immunomodulators. Here we demonstrate that the clinically well-tolerated KDACi vorinostat and givinostat revert diabetes in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of type 1 diabetes and counteract inflammatory target cell damage by a mechanism of action consistent with transcription factor—rather than global chromatin—hyperacetylation. Weaning NOD mice received low doses of vorinostat and givinostat in their drinking water until 100–120 d of age. Diabetes incidence was reduced by 38% and 45%, respectively, there was a 15% increase in the percentage of islets without infiltration, and pancreatic insulin content increased by 200%. Vorinostat treatment increased the frequency of functional regulatory T-cell subsets and their transcription factors Gata3 and FoxP3 in parallel to a decrease in inflammatory dendritic cell subsets and their cytokines IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α. KDACi also inhibited LPS-induced Cox-2 expression in peritoneal macrophages from C57BL/6 and NOD mice. In insulin-producing β-cells, givinostat did not upregulate expression of the anti-inflammatory genes Socs1-3 or sirtuin-1 but reduced levels of IL-1β + IFN-γ–induced proinflammatory Il1a, Il1b, Tnfα, Fas, Cxcl2, and reduced cytokine-induced ERK phosphorylation. Further, NF-κB genomic iNos promoter binding was reduced by 50%, and NF-κB-dependent mRNA expression was blocked. These effects were associated with NF-κB subunit p65 hyperacetylation. Taken together, these data provide a rationale for clinical trials of safety and efficacy of KDACi in patients with autoimmune disease such as type 1 diabetes.

Transporter function and cyclic AMP turnover in normal colonic mucosa from patients with and without colorectal neoplasia

BackgroundThe pathogenesis of colorectal neoplasia is still unresolved but has been associated with alterations in epithelial clearance of xenobiotics and metabolic waste products. The aim of this study was to functionally characterize the transport of cyclic nucleotides in colonic biopsies from patients with and without colorectal neoplasia.MethodsCyclic nucleotides were used as model substrates shared by some OATP- and ABC-transporters, which in part are responsible for clearance of metabolites and xenobiotics from the colonic epithelium. On colonic biopsies from patients with and without colorectal neoplasia, molecular transport was electrophysiologically registered in Ussing-chamber set-ups, mRNA level of selected transporters was quantified by rt-PCR, and subcellular location of transporters was determined by immunohistochemistry.ResultsOf four cyclic nucleotides, dibuturyl-cAMP induced the largest short circuit current in both patient groups. The induced short circuit current was significantly lower in neoplasia-patients (p = 0.024). The observed altered transport of dibuturyl-cAMP in neoplasia-patients could not be directly translated to an observed increased mRNA expression of OATP4A1 and OATP2B1 in neoplasia patients. All other examined transporters were expressed to similar extents in both patient groups.ConclusionsOATP1C1, OATP4A1, OATP4C1 seem to be involved in the excretory system of human colon. ABCC4 is likely to be involved from an endoplasmic-Golgi complex and basolateral location in goblet cells. ABCC5 might be directly involved in the turnover of intracellular cAMP at the basolateral membrane of columnar epithelial cells, while OATP2B1 is indirectly related to the excretory system. Colorectal neoplasia is associated with lower transport or sensitivity to cyclic nucleotides and increased expression of OATP2B1 and OATP4A1 transporters, known to transport PGE2.

Transcriptional and translational regulation of cytokine signaling in inflammatory β-cell dysfunction and apoptosis

Disease is conventionally viewed as the chaotic inappropriate outcome of deranged tissue function resulting from aberrancies in cellular processes. Yet the patho-biology of cellular dysfunction and death encompasses a coordinated network no less sophisticated and regulated than maintenance of homeostatic balance. Cellular demise is far from passive subordination to stress but requires controlled coordination of energy-requiring activities including gene transcription and protein translation that determine the graded transition between defensive mechanisms, cell cycle regulation, dedifferentiation and ultimately to the activation of death programmes. In fact, most stressors stimulate both homeostasis and regeneration on one hand and impairment and destruction on the other, depending on the ambient circumstances. Here we illustrate this bimodal ambiguity in cell response by reviewing recent progress in our understanding of how the pancreatic β cell copes with inflammatory stress by changing gene transcription and protein translation by the differential and interconnected action of reactive oxygen and nitric oxide species, microRNAs and posttranslational protein modifications.

An Isochemogenic Set of Inhibitors To Define the Therapeutic Potential of Histone Deacetylases in β-Cell Protection

Modulation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity has been implicated as a potential therapeutic strategy for multiple diseases. However, it has been difficult to dissect the role of individual HDACs due to a lack of selective small-molecule inhibitors. Here, we report the synthesis of a series of highly potent and isoform-selective class I HDAC inhibitors, rationally designed by exploiting minimal structural changes to the clinically experienced HDAC inhibitor CI-994. We used this toolkit of isochemogenic or chemically matched inhibitors to probe the role of class I HDACs in β-cell pathobiology and demonstrate for the first time that selective inhibition of an individual HDAC isoform retains beneficial biological activity and mitigates mechanism-based toxicities. The highly selective HDAC3 inhibitor BRD3308 suppressed pancreatic β-cell apoptosis induced by inflammatory cytokines, as expected, or now glucolipotoxic stress, and increased functional insulin release. In addition, BRD3308 had no effect on human megakaryocyte differentiation, while inhibitors of HDAC1 and 2 were toxic. Our findings demonstrate that the selective inhibition of HDAC3 represents a potential path forward as a therapy to protect pancreatic β-cells from inflammatory cytokines and nutrient overload in diabetes.

Small-molecule inhibitors of cytokine-mediated STAT1 signal transduction in β-cells with improved aqueous solubility.

We previously reported the discovery of BRD0476 (1), a small molecule generated by diversity-oriented synthesis that suppresses cytokine-induced β-cell apoptosis. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of 1 and analogues with improved aqueous solubility. By replacing naphthyl with quinoline moieties, we prepared active analogues with up to a 1400-fold increase in solubility from 1. In addition, we demonstrated that 1 and analogues inhibit STAT1 signal transduction induced by IFN-γ.

Anti-inflammatory properties of a novel peptide interleukin 1 receptor antagonist

BackgroundInterleukin 1 (IL-1) is implicated in neuroinflammation, an essential component of neurodegeneration. We evaluated the potential anti-inflammatory effect of a novel peptide antagonist of IL-1 signaling, Ilantide.MethodsWe investigated the binding of Ilantide to IL-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI) using surface plasmon resonance, the inhibition of Il-1β-induced activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in HEK-Blue cells that contained an IL-1β-sensitive reporter, the secretion of TNF-α in macrophages, protection against IL-1-induced apoptosis in neonatal pancreatic islets, and the penetration of Ilantide through the blood–brain barrier using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We studied the effects of the peptide on social behavior and memory in rat models of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and amyloid-induced neuroinflammation, respectively, and its effect in a rat model of experimental autoimmune enchephalomyelitis.ResultsIlantide bound IL-1RI, inhibited the IL-1β-induced activation of NF-κB, and inhibited the secretion of TNF-α in vitro. Ilantide protected pancreatic islets from apoptosis in vitro and reduced inflammation in an animal model of arthritis. The peptide penetrated the blood–brain barrier. It reduced the deficits in social activity and memory in LPS- and amyloid-treated animals and delayed the development of experimental autoimmune enchephalomyelitis.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that Ilantide is a novel and potent IL-1RI antagonist that is able to reduce inflammatory damage in the central nervous system and pancreatic islets.

Skeletal Muscle to Pancreatic β-Cell Cross-talk: The Effect of Humoral Mediators Liberated by Muscle Contraction and Acute Exercise on β-Cell Apoptosis

CONTEXT Mechanisms explaining exercise-induced β-cell health are unknown. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to define the role of muscle contraction and acute exercise-derived soluble humoral mediators on β-cell health. DESIGN In vitro models were used. SETTING University. PARTICIPANTS Healthy subjects. INTERVENTION(S) Conditioned media (CM) were collected from human skeletal muscle (HSkM) cells treated with or without electrical pulse stimulation (EPS). Antecubital and femoral venous blood serum were collected before and after an exercise bout. CM and sera with or without IL-6 neutralization were used to incubate insulin-producing INS-1 cells and rat islets for 24 h in the presence or absence of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β+IFN-γ). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) INS-1 and islet apoptosis and accumulated insulin secretion. RESULTS IL-1β+IFN-γ increased INS-1 and islet apoptosis and decreased insulin secretion. EPS-treated HSkM cell CM did not affect these variables. Exercise-conditioned antecubital but not femoral sera prevented IL-1β+IFN-γ-induced INS-1 and islet apoptosis. Femoral sera reduced insulin secretion under normal and proinflammatory conditions in INS-1 but not islet cells. EPS increased HSkM cell IL-6 secretion and exercise increased circulating IL-6 levels in antecubital and femoral serum. IL-6 neutralization demonstrated that muscle-derived IL-6 prevents INS-1 and islet apoptosis in the absence of IL-1β+IFN-γ, but augments apoptosis under proinflammatory conditions, and that muscle-derived IL-6 supports islet insulin secretion in the absence of IL-1β+IFN-γ. CONCLUSIONS Unidentified circulating humoral mediators released during exercise prevent proinflammatory cytokine-induced β-cell apoptosis. Muscle-derived mediators released during exercise suppress β-cell insulin secretion. Furthermore, muscle-derived IL-6 seems to prevent β-cell apoptosis under normal conditions but contributes to β-cell apoptosis under proinflammatory conditions.