Nuclear PLCs affect insulin secretion by targeting PPARγ in pancreatic β cells

FASEB J. 2012 Jan;26(1):203-10. doi: 10.1096/fj.11-186510. Epub 2011 Oct 5.

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes is a heterogeneous disorder caused by concomitant impairment of insulin secretion by pancreatic β cells and of insulin action in peripheral target tissues. Studies with inhibitors and agonists established a role for PLC in the regulation of insulin secretion but did not distinguish between effects due to nuclear or cytoplasmic PLC signaling pathways that act in a distinct fashion. We report that in MIN6 β cells, PLCβ1 localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm, PLCδ4 in the nucleus, and PLCγ1 in the cytoplasm. By silencing each isoform, we observed that they all affected glucose-induced insulin release both at basal and high glucose concentrations. To elucidate the molecular basis of PLC regulation, we focused on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), a nuclear receptor transcription factor that regulates genes critical to β-cell maintenance and functions. Silencing of PLCβ1 and PLCδ4 resulted in a decrease in the PPARγ mRNA level. By means of a PPARγ-promoter-luciferase assay, the decrease could be attributed to a PLC action on the PPARγ-promoter region. The effect was specifically observed on silencing of the nuclear and not the cytoplasmic PLC. These findings highlight a novel pathway by which nuclear PLCs affect insulin secretion and identify PPARγ as a novel molecular target of nuclear PLCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / enzymology
  • Cytoplasm / enzymology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Gene Silencing
  • Glucose / pharmacokinetics
  • Insulin / genetics
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / cytology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / enzymology
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Insulinoma
  • Mice
  • PPAR gamma / metabolism*
  • Phospholipase C beta / genetics
  • Phospholipase C beta / metabolism*
  • Phospholipase C delta / genetics
  • Phospholipase C delta / metabolism*
  • Phospholipase C gamma / genetics
  • Phospholipase C gamma / metabolism*
  • Second Messenger Systems / physiology

Substances

  • Insulin
  • PPAR gamma
  • Phospholipase C beta
  • Phospholipase C delta
  • Plcb1 protein, mouse
  • Plcd4 protein, mouse
  • Phospholipase C gamma
  • Glucose