OBJECTIVE-Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) is a gluconeogenic enzyme that is upregulated in islets or pancreatic â€-cell lines exposed to high fat. However, whether specific â€-cell upregulation of FBPase can impair insulin secretory function is not known. The objective of this study therefore is to determine whether a specific increase in islet â€-cell FBPase can result in reduced glucose-mediated insulin secretion.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-To test this hypothesis, we have generated three transgenic mouse lines overexpressing the human FBPase (huFBPase) gene specifically in pancreatic islet â€-cells. In addition, to investigate the biochemical mechanism by which elevated FBPase affects insulin secretion, we made two pancreatic â€-cell lines (MIN6) stably overexpressing huFBPase.RESULTS-FBPase transgenic mice showed reduced insulin secretion in response to an intravenous glucose bolus. Compared with the untransfected parental MIN6, FBPase-overexpressing cells showed a decreased cell proliferation rate and significantly depressed glucose-induced insulin secretion. These defects were associated with a decrease in the rate of glucose utilization, resulting in reduced cellular ATP levels.CONCLUSIONS-Taken together, these results suggest that upregulation of FBPase in pancreatic islet â€-cells, as occurs in states of lipid oversupply and type 2 diabetes, contributes to insulin secretory dysfunction.