Acute exposure of beta-cells to troglitazone decreases insulin hypersecretion via activating AMPK.

BACKGROUND: It has been recognized that insulin hypersecretion can lead to the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is substantial evidence demonstrating that thiazolidinediones are able to delay and prevent the progression of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. However, the mechanism underlying the protective effect of thiazolidinediones on β-cell function remains elusive.

METHODS: We synchronously detected the effects of troglitazone on insulin secretion and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity under various conditions in isolated rat islets and MIN6 cells.

RESULTS: Long-term exposure to high glucose stimulated insulin hypersecretion and inhibited AMPK activity in rat islets. Troglitazone-suppressed insulin hypersecretion was closely related to the activation of AMPK. This action was most prominent at the moderate concentration of glucose. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was decreased by long-term troglitazone treatment, but significantly increased after the drug withdrawal. Compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, reversed troglitazone-suppressed insulin secretion in MIN6 cells and rat islets. Knockdown of AMPKα2 showed a similar result. In MIN6 cells, troglitazone blocked high glucose-closed ATP-sensitive K(+) (KATP) channel and decreased membrane potential, along with increased voltage-dependent potassium channel currents. Troglitazone suppressed intracellular Ca(2+) response to high glucose, which was abolished by treatment with compound C.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that troglitazone provides β-cell "a rest" through activating AMPK and inhibiting insulin hypersecretion, and thus restores its response to glucose.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: These data support that AMPK activation may be an important mechanism for thiazolidinediones preserving β-cell function.