Diabetes 54:452-461, 2005 © 2005 by the American Diabetes Association, Inc. Cytokines Downregulate the Sarcoendoplasmic Reticulum Pump Ca2+ ATPase 2b and Deplete Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+, Leading to Induction of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Pancreatic ß-Cells
1 Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Cytokines and free radicals are mediators of ß-cell death in type 1 diabetes. Under in vitro conditions, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) + -interferon (IFN- ) induce nitric oxide (NO) production and apoptosis in rodent and human pancreatic ß-cells. We have previously shown, by microarray analysis of primary ß-cells, that IL-1ß + IFN- decrease expression of the mRNA encoding for the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum pump Ca2+ ATPase 2b (SERCA2b) while inducing expression of the endoplasmic reticulum stress–related and proapoptotic gene CHOP (C/EBP [CCAAT/enhancer binding protein] homologous protein). In the present study we show that cytokine-induced apoptosis and necrosis in primary rat ß-cells and INS-1E cells largely depends on NO production. IL-1ß + IFN- , via NO synthesis, markedly decreased SERCA2b protein expression and depleted ER Ca2+ stores. Of note, ß-cells showed marked sensitivity to apoptosis induced by SERCA blockers, as compared with fibroblasts. Cytokine-induced ER Ca2+ depletion was paralleled by an NO-dependent induction of CHOP protein and activation of diverse components of the ER stress response, including activation of inositol-requiring ER-to-nucleus signal kinase 1 (IRE1 ) and PRK (RNA-dependent protein kinase)-like ER kinase (PERK)/activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), but not ATF6. In contrast, the ER stress–inducing agent thapsigargin triggered these four pathways in parallel. In conclusion, our results suggest that the IL-1ß + IFN- –induced decrease in SERCA2b expression, with subsequent depletion of ER Ca2+ and activation of the ER stress pathway, is a potential contributory mechanism to ß-cell death.
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Alessandra K. Cardozo Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik, 808 CP-618, 1070 Brussels, Belgium. E-mail: akupperc{at}ulb.ac.be
Abbreviations:
ATF, activating transcription factor; BiP, immunoglobulin heavy-chain binding protein; [Ca2+]i, intracellular Ca2+ concentration; CHOP, C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein) homologous protein; CPA, cyclopiazonic acid; eIF2
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a highly dynamic organelle, responsible for modification and sorting of newly synthesized proteins and Ca2+ storage and signaling (1). The resting free Ca2+ concentration in the ER is three to four orders of magnitude higher than cytosolic Ca2+. This gradient is generated by sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) proteins that pump Ca2+ into the ER and by Ins(1,4,5)P3 and ryanodine receptors that release Ca2+ from the organelle (1). Disruption of ER homeostasis, as caused by alterations in ER Ca2+ concentration, leads to the accumulation of unfolded proteins and activation of a specific stress response (2). The ER stress response involves translational attenuation, an increase in the folding capacity of the ER by upregulation of ER chaperones, a degradation of misfolded proteins, and, in extreme cases, apoptosis. This is achieved by the coordinate transcription of mRNAs encoding several ER resident proteins via activation of inositol-requiring ER-to-nucleus signal kinase 1
IRE1
Type 1 cytokines, such as interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor-
We have previously observed by microarray analysis that IL-1ß + IFN-
Pancreatic islets were isolated from adult Wistar rats by collagenase digestion and ß-cells purified by FACS (FACStar; Becton Dickinson, Sunnyvale, CA) (19). The preparations contained 90 ± 2% ß-cells (n = 6). Purified ß-cells were precultured for 16–40 h in Hams F-10 medium (20). Because of difficulties in isolating large numbers of primary ß-cells, experiments requiring >1 million cells were performed with the well-differentiated INS-1E cells (21). Cytokines induce apoptosis and a similar pattern of gene expression in INS-1E cells as compared with primary ß-cells (15,16). INS-1E cells were cultured in RPMI medium (15). In some experiments ß-cells were compared with rat fibroblasts (208F; ECACC, Salisbury, U.K.), cultured in Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium supplemented with 10% FCS. The following cytokines were used: recombinant human IL-1ß (a kind gift from Dr. C.W. Reinolds, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD), at 50 units/ml for ß-cells and 10 units/ml for INS-1E cells; and recombinant rat IFN- (R&D Systems, Oxon, U.K.), at 0.036 µg/ml for both ß-cells and INS-1E cells (this concentration of IFN- corresponds to 100 units/ml of recombinant mouse IFN- ). The choice of cytokine concentrations used is based on our previous dose-response experiments (10,15,22 and B. Kutlu and D.L.E., unpublished data). The inducible NO synthase (iNOS) blocker NG-methyl-L-arginine (LMA; Sigma, Steinheim, Germany) was used at 1.0 mmol/l, a concentration that prevents cytokine-induced NO production (23). The SERCA blockers thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA; Sigma, Steinheim, Germany) were used at different concentrations, as indicated in RESULTS. Culture media were collected at different time points for nitrite determination (nitrite is a stable product of NO oxidation) (24).
Assessment of cell viability.
Intracellular Ca2+ concentration measurements. Furaptra loading, cell permeabilization, and measurements of intracellular Ca2+ stores were performed as described (26), with some modifications (18). Free Ca2+ was buffered at 200 nmol/l with 2 mmol/l EGTA and the appropriate amount of Ca2+, using the Max Chelator program (Stanford University). Calibration of furaptra was carried out as previously described (26), except that Rmax and Rmin were obtained in the presence of 4 µmol/l digitonin and 10 µmol/l ionomycin, either at saturating Ca2+ concentrations or in the absence of Ca2+.
Real-time RT-PCR analysis and evaluation of xbp-1 processing.
IRE-1
Western blot analysis.
ATF6 reporter assay.
Statistical analysis.
IL-1ß + IFN- induce apoptosis of INS-1E cells and primary ß-cells mainly via NO formation.We first examined the role of NO for IL-1ß + IFN- –induced cell death. Neither IL-1ß nor IFN- alone induced cell death in rat ß-cells (Fig. 1A) (IFN- data not shown). When used in combination, IL-1ß + IFN- induced ß-cell death mostly via apoptosis, with a minor necrotic component (Fig. 1A). Prevention of NO production by LMA abolished cytokine-induced necrosis and significantly decreased apoptosis in primary cells (Fig. 1A). The levels of apoptosis, however, did not return to control levels (10 ± 2% after 6 days for control, as compared with 18 ± 2% for cytokines + LMA). Cytokine-induced cell death is usually detected earlier in INS-1E cells than in primary ß-cells (15). In line with this, a 24- to 48-h exposure to IL-1ß + IFN- induced a significant increase in INS-1E cell death, mainly by apoptosis (Fig. 1B). Blocking NO production prevented IL-1ß + IFN- –induced apoptosis after 24 h but had only a partial protection after 48 h, suggesting the presence of additional and non–NO-mediated apoptotic signals. On the other hand, LMA completely prevented the minor necrotic component of cell death. Neither IL-1ß (Fig. 1B) nor IFN- alone (data not shown) induced INS-1E cell death. In line with our previous observations (14,15,23), LMA prevented cytokine-induced NO formation (data not shown). As positive controls for ER stress induction, cells were exposed to different concentrations of the SERCA blockers thapsigargin or CPA. Exposure of ß-cells and INS-1E cells for 24 h to thapsigargin or CPA induced cell death mainly via apoptosis (Fig. 2), with a minor necrotic component (data not shown). Although 24-h exposure to thapsigargin induced apoptosis in both primary rat ß-cells and INS-1E cells (Fig. 2A), there was no increase in fibroblast cell death (Fig. 2A); fibroblasts were only significantly killed after 48 h of thapsigargin exposure (47 ± 2% at 1 µmol/l). Similarly, although a 24-h exposure to 25 µmol/l CPA induced 22 ± 2% and 55 ± 1% apoptosis in rat ß-cells and INS-1E cells, respectively (Fig. 2B), 250 µmol/l of CPA was necessary to induce 23 ± 3% apoptosis in fibroblasts. Thus, both primary ß-cells and INS-1E cells are markedly susceptible to apoptosis induced by agents that deplete ER Ca2+. The iNOS-blocking agent LMA failed to prevent thapsigargin or CPA-induced ß-cell or INS-1E cell death (data not shown).
IL-1ß + IFN- activates the ER stress response in primary ß-cells.To verify whether IL-1ß or IL-1ß + IFN- activate the ER stress response in ß-cells, we analyzed IRE-1 –mediated splicing of xbp-1 mRNA in primary rat ß-cells. As a positive control, cells were treated with thapsigargin. Most of the xbp-1 product was not cleaved by Pst-1 in the thapsigargin-treated cells, leading to a higher prevalence of the 600-bp nondigested product (Fig. 3), thus confirming the induction of ER stress. Similar results were observed with cells exposed to 25 µmol/l CPA (data not shown). On the other hand, in both nontreated cells or cells treated with LMA alone, a large proportion of xbp-1 was cleaved (300-bp band) (Fig. 3), as expected from non–ER-stressed cells. Exposure of primary ß-cells to IL-1ß or IL-1ß + IFN- , but not to IFN- alone (data not shown), led to an increased proportion of noncleaved xbp-1 (600 bp) (Fig. 3) after both 24 and 48 h. This pattern was prevented by LMA, suggesting that the cytokine-induced ER stress in ß-cells is mostly mediated via NO formation. At 6 h, except for thapsigargin-treated cells, no difference in xbp-1 mRNA processing was observed (data not shown). LMA did not prevent thapsigargin- or CPA-induced xbp-1 splicing (data not shown).
CHOP was expressed at low levels in control ß-cells, but expression of both mRNA and protein increased severalfold after exposure to IL-1ß, IL-1ß + IFN- , or thapsigargin (Fig. 4A and B). This effect of cytokines is mostly mediated via NO formation, since it was decreased by LMA. LMA did not prevent thapsigargin-induced CHOP expression in primary ß-cells or INS-1E cells (data not shown). There was no early (6 h) induction of CHOP protein by cytokines, and IFN- alone did not induce CHOP expression (data not shown). Taken together, the cleavage of xbp-1 and the upregulation of CHOP suggest that cytokines induce an ER stress response in pancreatic ß-cells.
Cytokines downregulate SERCA2b mRNA and deplete ER calcium in primary ß-cells via NO formation. SERCA2b mRNA was decreased by 40–55% in ß-cells exposed for, respectively, 6 or 24 h to a combination of IL-1ß + IFN- , an effect prevented by LMA (Fig. 5A). IL-1ß also decreased SERCA2b mRNA, whereas IFN- alone had no effect (data not shown). In line with the mRNA data, IL-1ß or IL-1ß + IFN- decreased SERCA2 protein expression, an effect partially prevented by the iNOS blocker (Fig. 5B).
We next evaluated the effects of cytokines or thapsigargin on cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) and ER Ca2+ concentrations. Thapsigargin induced a biphasic increase in [Ca2+]i, with an initial peak followed by a plateau phase (Fig. 6A, upper left panel). This increase results from the leak-out of Ca2+ from the ER in the presence of SERCA inhibition, and hence it indirectly reflects ER Ca2+ stores (18). In agreement with such a view, the acute exposure to thapsigargin failed to increase [Ca2+]i in ß-cells cultured for 24 h in the presence of the SERCA inhibitor (data not shown). Preculture of ß-cells for 24 h in the presence of IL-1ß + IFN- reduced the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by the acute exposure to thapsigargin (P 0.01, n = 3) (Fig. 6A, lower left panel), indicating that exposure to the combination of cytokines depleted ER Ca2+ stores. This effect of IL-1ß + IFN- was partially prevented by LMA (Fig. 6A, lower right panel). The low-affinity Ca2+ indicator furaptra was used to monitor free Ca2+ concentration in the ER of individual ß-cells after controlled permeabilization of the plasma membrane (18,26). After recording the fluorescence obtained by excitation at 340 and 380 nm, cells were permeabilized in "intracellular medium" containing 4 µmol/l digitonin and 200 nmol/l Ca2+. Upon the sudden drop in fluorescence caused by the loss of cytoplasmic furaptra, the detergent was removed while continuing the measurement of the fluorescence at both wavelengths. The loss of cytoplasmic furaptra was associated with an inversion of the 340-nm–to–380-nm fluorescence excitation ratio, indicating that the remaining indicator was exposed to the higher concentrations of free Ca2+ prevailing in intracellular stores (18,26). This corresponds to the initial increase in fluorescence excitation ratio illustrated in Fig. 6B (upper left panel). This initial rise was reduced by 53 ± 7 and 68 ± 6% in IL-1ß–and IL-1ß + IFN- –treated cells, respectively (P 0.05, n = 3) (Fig. 6B, lower panels). When the fluorescence ratio is converted into Ca2+ concentrations, the initial increase in control cells was 212 µmol/l. This peak was reduced to 54 and 32 µmol/l in IL-1ß–and IL-1ß + IFN- –treated cells, respectively (one representative experiment). We have previously observed that thapsigargin released 50% of the Ca2+ pool sensed by furaptra under the present condition (18). Therefore, thapsigargin was used to estimate Ca2+ stores in the ER. In control cells, the acute exposure to thapsigargin induced a 80% decrease in the furaptra 340-nm–to–380-nm fluorescence excitation ratio (Fig. 6B, upper left panel). This effect of thapsigargin was reduced by 63 ± 13 and 83 ± 6% in IL-1ß–and IL-1ß + IFN- –treated cells, respectively (Fig. 6B, lower panels), compared with control cells (P 0.05 and P 0.01, respectively; n = 3). Again, the effect of IL-1ß + IFN- was partially prevented by LMA (data not shown). In cells cultured for 24 h in the presence of the SERCA inhibitor, thapsigargin failed to reduce the fluorescence excitation ratio (Fig. 6B, upper right panel). These functional data are in good agreement with the SERCA2b mRNA and protein observations, and they suggest that cytokine-induced NO formation leads to decreased SERCA2b expression and severe depletion of ER Ca2+.
Characterization of the ER stress pathways activated by cytokines in ß-cells. The data described above indicate that cytokines induce IRE-1 activation/xbp-1 processing (Fig. 3). IRE-1 activation activates the JNK pathway in fibroblasts (7). We thus determined phosphorylation of JNK 1/2 in INS-1E cells exposed to cytokines or thapsigargin. IL-1ß or IL-1ß + IFN- induced an early (1 h) and marked JNK activation; JNK activity remained slightly increased after 8 h but returned to control levels after 24 h of continuous cytokine exposure (Fig. 7). In contrast, thapsigargin increased JNK activity only after 8 h, with peak activation after 24 h (Fig. 7). Thus, cytokines induce an early and transitory JNK activation in INS-1E cells that precedes both NO production and ER stress.
To characterize whether cytokines induce activation of ATF6 in ß-cells, we used a construct containing the luciferase reporter gene downstream of five ATF6 binding sites (5xATF6). Although thapsigargin and CPA (data not shown) activated the ATF6 luciferase construct in INS-1E cells (Fig. 8A) and primary ß-cells (Fig. 8B), a combination of cytokines failed to increase activity of the ATF6 construct in these cells. One of the known targets of ATF6 is the ER chaperone BiP. In agreement with the ATF6 promoter data, ß-cells exposed for 24 h to IL-1ß + IFN- failed to induce BiP mRNA, whereas thapsigargin induced a sixfold increase in BiP mRNA. The values for real-time RT-PCR of BiP/GAPDH were: 27 ± 3 for control, 30 ± 7 for cytokines, and 180 ± 33 for thapsigargin (P 0.01 for thapsigargin versus control, n = 3–7).
ER stress activates PERK, leading to activation of the transcription factor ATF4 (5). ATF4 contributes to induce CHOP mRNA expression (34). In line with this, we observed a two- to fivefold induction of ATF4 mRNA expression in primary ß-cells exposed for 6 or 24 h to IL-1ß + IFN- (Fig. 9A). A similar induction was observed after thapsigargin (Fig. 9A) or CPA (data not shown) treatment. Cytokine-induced ATF4 mRNA expression was prevented by the iNOS blocker LMA. IFN- alone did not induce ATF4 expression, and LMA failed to prevent thapsigargin- or CPA-induced ATF-4 mRNA expression (data not shown). Cytokines induced a progressive increase in ATF4 mRNA expression in INS-1E cells, reaching significant levels at 8 h and peaking at 24 h, with a sevenfold increase as compared with control cells (Fig. 9B). CHOP expression followed a similar pattern. Both cytokine-induced ATF4 and CHOP mRNA expression in INS-1E cells were prevented by LMA (data not shown). These data are compatible with the hypothesis that ATF4 participates in the induction of CHOP expression.
IL-1ß + IFN- induce the death of rodent and human ß-cells mostly by apoptosis (10). Cytokine-triggered ß-cell apoptosis depends on the activation of a complex network of transcription factors and effector genes (14–16). The transcription factor nuclear factor- B and the mitogen-activated protein kinase/stress-activated protein kinase signaling seem to play a key role in this process (10,35,36), but it remains to be clarified how modifications in gene networks will transduce the signal(s) that activate the apoptotic program. The present study suggests that ER stress might be one component for induction of ß-cell death. Cytokine-induced ER stress was prevented by the iNOS blocker LMA, indicating that it is mediated via iNOS activation and NO production. LMA, however, failed to prevent thapsigargin- or CPA-induced ER stress and ß-cell apoptosis, confirming that the main effect of LMA is prevention of NO production. Of note, cytokine-induced iNOS expression is regulated by nuclear factor- B (33). Sensitivity of ß-cells to NO-induced cell death varies with the species under study. Rat ß-cells are more susceptible to cytokine-mediated NO formation than mouse or human ß-cells (11–13,37). For both mouse (12) and rat islets (present data), cytokine-induced NO formation is the main determinant for necrosis, whereas cytokine-induced apoptosis has both an NO-dependent and an NO-independent component (10). This NO-dependent component is more pronounced in rat (current findings) than in mouse islet cells (12,13).
Chemical NO donors induce ER stress (as evaluated by CHOP expression) and apoptosis in the mouse insulinoma cell line MIN6 (8). To test whether cytokine-induced NO formation triggers an ER stress response in primary ß-cells, we first analyzed IRE-1 After establishing that cytokines, via NO production, trigger an ER stress response in ß-cells, we next investigated the mechanisms involved in this effect. Because we have previously observed by microarray analysis that cytokines decrease mRNA expression of the ER Ca2+ pump SERCA2b (14–16), a finding confirmed in the current study at the mRNA and protein level, we focused on the possibility that cytokines, via NO formation, would lead to a depletion of ER Ca2+. Of note, inhibition of SERCA2b by thapsigargin or CPA triggers ER stress and apoptosis in pancreatic ß-cells (current data) (17,18), and ß-cells are much more sensitive than fibroblasts to the proapoptotic effect of SERCA inhibition. We showed that cytokines severely deplete ER Ca2+ stores, using two complementary approaches, namely the determination of acute Ca2+ release from ER stores to the cytosol induced by thapsigargin (an indirect estimation of ER Ca2+ contents) (18,25) and a direct determination of ER Ca2+ concentration with furaptra (18,26). Blocking NO production with LMA prevented cytokine-induced SERCA2b inhibition, ER Ca2+ depletion, xbp-1 mRNA processing, CHOP expression, and ß-cell death, suggesting that these processes are NO mediated. As suggested above, the mechanism by which cytokines/NO deplete ER Ca2+ probably involves downregulation of the ER Ca2+ pump SERCA2b, but we cannot exclude other mechanisms, such as alterations in the function of Ins(1,4,5)P3 or ryanodine receptors. In line with this possibility, LMA only partially prevents cytokine-induced ER Ca2+ depletion. ß-Cells express three isoforms of SERCA3 (a–c) and SERCA2b (39), but SERCA2b seems to be the crucial regulator of basal ER Ca2+ in ß-cells (40). Of note, NO also inhibits ER Ca2+ uptake by SERCA pumps via a direct effect (41,42) and via generation of the radical peroxynitrite (43,44). Additional experiments are required to provide a "cause and effect" link between the observed decrease in SERCA2 expression and ß-cell death. Increased expression of CHOP mRNA is one of the mechanisms by which ER stress causes cell death (45,46), and we observed that cytokines induce CHOP mRNA and protein expression in ß-cells via NO production. Induction of CHOP protein, however, was observed in ß-cells exposed to IL-1ß alone, which is not sufficient to induce apoptosis. Islets from CHOP knockout mice are resistant to NO-induced cell death, but they are only partially protected against cytokine-induced apoptosis (8). These data suggest that CHOP induction is not the sole mediator of ER-triggered apoptosis in ß-cells. Another potential mechanism for ER stress-induced apoptosis is JNK activation (7), and cytokine-induced JNK activation has a proapoptotic role in insulin-producing cells (47). Although thapsigargin induced a progressive increase in JNK activation, with kinetics well correlated with activation of the other components of the ER stress pathway, cytokines induced an early and transitory JNK phosphorylation that preceded the subsequent ER stress. Thus, it seems that under the current experimental conditions, JNK is not a major executioner of ER stress–triggered ß-cell death. It could, however, be an early and contributory signal for ER stress.
ER stress mobilizes PERK, leading to phosphorylation of eIF2
This work was conducted in collaboration with and with support from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF) Center for Prevention of ß-Cell Destruction in Europe under Grant 4-2002-457. This work was also made possible by grants from the EFSD (European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes)/JDRF/Novo Nordisk European Programme in Type 1 Diabetes Research, the Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), and the Communauté Française de Belgique -Actions de Recherche Concertées. A.K.C. is the recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship from the JDRF. We thank the personnel from the Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Laboratory of Pharmacology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, M.A. Neef, G. Vandenbroeck, C. Pastiels, M. Urbain, J. Schoonheydt, and N. El Amrite for excellent technical support.
T.M.-P. is employed by, holds stock in, and has received grant/research support from Novo Nordisk. Received for publication April 7, 2004 and accepted in revised form October 19, 2004
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