膵臓内分泌細胞の分化とホルモン分泌を調節する新規分子の発見とその作用機序の解明

抄録

  In order to find novel bioactive molecules regulating differentiation and hormone secretion of pancreatic endocrine cells, the effects of various substances including purinergic receptor agonists and inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis were examined in pancreatic islets and several pancreatic cell lines. The nicotinic alpha3beta4 receptor was found to be present and capable of increasing cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) and insulin secretion in mouse pancreatic Beta-TC6 cells. Activation of both nicotinic and muscarinic M₃/M₄ receptors resulted in reduction of insulin release when compared with stimulation of muscarinic receptor alone in Beta-TC6 cells. In mouse islets, purinergic P2Y₁ and P2Y₆ receptors, which are coupled to Gq proteins, were expressed and appeared to regulate insulin secretion through Ca²⁺ mobilization from intracellular stores. Similar results were observed in Beta-TC6 cells. Spermidine, one of polyamines, was found to modulate insulin synthesis and [Ca²⁺]_i in Beta-TC6 cells by use of a specific spermidine synthesis inhibitor, trans-4-methylcyclohexylamine (MCHA). Antizyme, which binds to ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and thereby reduces the cellular polyamine level, was found to be necessary for conversion of ASPC-1 cells, a pancreatic ductal tumor cell line, into alpha-cells forming the islet-like structure and expressing glucagon gene. These findings help advance our understanding of the complex mechanisms involved in the regulation of pancreatic endocrine cell function and develop new therapeutic agents in diabetes mellitus.