The metabolic coupling of insulin secretion by pancreatic beta cells is mediated by membrane
depolarization due to increased glucose-driven ATP
production and closure of KATP channels. Alternative
pathways may involve the activation of anion channels
by cell swelling upon glucose uptake. In INS-1E
insulinoma cells superfusion with an isotonic solution
containing 20 mM glucose or a 30% hypotonic solution
leads to the activation of a chloride conductance with
biophysical and pharmacological properties of anion
currents activated in many other cell types during
regulatory volume decrease (RVD), i.e. outward
rectification, inactivation at positive membrane
potentials and block by anion channel inhibitors like
NPPB, DIDS, 4-hydroxytamoxifen and extracellular
ATP. The current is not inhibited by tolbutamide and
remains activated for at least 10 min when reducing
the extracellular glucose concentration from 20 mM
to 5 mM, but inactivates back to control levels when
cells are exposed to a 20% hypertonic extracellular
solution containing 20 mM glucose. This chloride
current can likewise be induced by 20 mM 3-Omethylglucose,
which is taken up but not metabolized
by the cells, suggesting that cellular sugar uptake is
involved in current activation. Fluorescence
resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments show
that chloride current activation by 20 mM glucose and
glucose-induced cell swelling are accompanied by a
significant, transient redistribution of the membrane
associated fraction of ICln, a multifunctional
‘connector hub’ protein involved in cell volume
regulation and generation of RVD currents.