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We found that TRIB3, an endogenous inhibitor of Akt (PKB), is expressed in pancreatic b-cells. The TRIB3 expression is significantly increased in islets isolated from hyperglycemic Goto-Kakizaki rats compared with normal glycemic controls. In vitro high glucose treatment also resulted in increased TRIB3 expression in rat INS1 cells. To investigate the role of TRIB3 in the regulation of b-cell function, we established an INS1 stable cell line allowing inducible expression of TRIB3. We demonstrated that overexpression of TRIB3 mimicked the glucotoxic effects on insulin secretion and cell growth in INS1 cells. Moreover, induction of TRIB3 also synergistically enhanced highglucose-elicited apoptosis in INS1 cells, whereas siRNA knock-down of TRIB3 showed the opposite effects. We also confirmed that the DJm of mitochondria was decreased, caspase-3 activity was up-regulated and reactive oxygen species content was increased in TRIB3 overexpressing b cells in high glucose condition. Most interestingly, the oestrogen receptor (ER) stress inducer, thapsigargin, mimicked the high glucose effects on up-regulation of TRIB3 and generation of apoptosis in cultured INS1 cells. These effects were specifically prevented by siRNA knock down of TRIB3. We therefore conclude that TRIB3 is implicated in glucotoxicity-and ER stress-induced b-cell failure. TRIB3 could be a potential pharmacological target for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Aims Glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone, are widely used anti-inflammatory drugs. Their use is frequently associated with the development of steroid- associated diabetes. Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction has been suggested to be one of the main causes of steroid-associated diabetes. However, the mechanism is not fully understood. Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) is a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase and plays an important role in energy metabolism, cell growth and apoptosis. Therefore, the contribution of GSK-3β in dexamethasone-induced pancreatic β-cell apoptosis was determined in the present study. Main Methods The effect of dexamethasone treatment on rat pancreatic β-cell line (INS-1) apoptosis (determined by TUNEL and Flow Cytometry), generation of reactive oxidative stress (ROS), and the phosphorylation status of GSK-3β was determined. The inhibitory effect of GSK-3β inhibitor-lithium chloride (LiCl) on dexamethasone-induced β-cell apoptosis was also evaluated. Key Findings Dexamethasone (0.1 μM) treatment induced INS-1 apoptosis, which was associated with increased GSK-3β activation and increased NOX4-derived ROS generation. Pretreatment of INS-1 with LiCl inhibited dexamethasone induced ROS generation and INS-1 apoptosis. Significance This study provides a new mechanism of Dex induced pancreatic β cell apoptosis and may serve as a new therapeutic option for treating GCs induced diabetes.

Mitochondrial function is essential to meet metabolic demand of pancreatic beta cells respond to high nutrient stress. Mitophagy is an essential component to normal pancreatic β-cell function and has been associated with β-cell failure in Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Our previous studies have indicated that mitochondrial Rho (Miro) GTPase-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction under high nutrient stress leads to NODlike receptor 3 (NLRP3)-dependent proinflammatory responses and subsequent insulin resistance. However, the in vivo mechanism by which Miro1 underlies mitophagy has not been identified. Here we show firstly that the expression of Miro is reduced in human T2D and mouse db/db islets and in INS-1 cell line exposed to high glucose and palmitate. β-cell specific ablation of Miro1 (Miro1f/f: Rip-cre mice, or (IKO) under high nutrient stress promotes the development of hyperglycemia. β-cells from IKO mice display an inhibition of mitophagy under oxidative stress and induces mitochondrial dysfunction. Dysfunctional mitophagy in IKO mice is represented by damaged islet beta cell mitochondrial and secretory capacity, unbalanced downstream MKK-JNK signalling without affecting the levels of MEK, ERK or p38 activation and subsequently, impaired insulin secretion signaling via inhibition IRS-AKT-Foxo1 pathway, leading to worsening glucose tolerance in these mice. Thus, these data suggest that Miro1 may be responsible for mitophagy deficiency and β-cell dysfunction in T2D and that strategies target Miro1 in vivo may provide a therapeutic target to enhance β-cell mitochondrial quality and insulin secretion to ameliorate complications associated with T2D.

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