Regulation and function of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD1) in pancreatic β-cells

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is characterized by high blood sugar and is caused by resistance to (type 2) or insufficiency of (type 1) the pancreatic β-cell hormone insulin. Most commonly, type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity whereas type 1 diabetes is largely a result of immune-mediated destruction of the β-cell. One rare but significant cause of type 2 diabetes is excess blood glucocorticoid levels (Cushing’s syndrome). High circulating glucocorticoids potently induce metabolic disorders including peripheral insulin resistance in key metabolic tissues (muscle, liver and fat) as well as directly suppressing β-cell function and can precipitate type 2 diabetes. However, in common forms of metabolic syndrome (visceral obesity, type 2 diabetes, increased cardiovascular disease risk) it appears that amplification of local tissue glucocorticoid action by increased levels of the intracellular enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), particularly in adipose tissue, is a key driver of the adverse metabolic phenotype rather than altered circulating glucocorticoid levels. 11β-HSD1 is also elevated in pancreatic islets from obese rodents. This thesis aimed to determine the role of 11β-HSD1 in pancreatic islets (β-cells) under normal conditions and its potential pathogenic role in the development of diabetes. We first determined that 11β-HSD1 acted primarily as a reductase (amplifying glucocorticoid action) in pancreatic islets. We then determined that islet 11β-HSD1 transcription is under the control of the promoters that express in other tissues like liver. Islet 11β-HSD1 is significantly regulated by factors relevant to the diabetic state; high glucose and insulin suppressed whereas fatty acids and TNFα increased 11β-HSD1 activity. To test whether the high islet 11β-HSD1 found in obese rodents was directly diabetogenic, we generated transgenic mice specifically overexpressing β-cell 11β-HSD1 under the mouse insulin promoter (MIP-HSD1 mice) in a mouse strain prone to develop β-cell failure when subjected to diabetic challenge (eg. chronic high fat feeding). Unexpectedly, MIP-HSD1tg/+ mice (expressing ~2 fold elevated 11β-HSD1 activity) exhibited markedly improved β-cell insulin secretory responses, whereas MIP-HSD1tg/tg mice had partially impaired β-cell insulin secretory function in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, MIP-HSD1tg/+ mice completely resisted the mild hyperglycaemia induced by multiple-low doses of the β-cell toxin streptozotocin (40mg/kg i.p. for 5 days) and partially resisted the profound hyperglycaemia induced by a single high dose of streptozotocin (180mg/kg). Notably, MIP-HSD1tg/+ mice exhibited lower macrophage infiltration (MAC-2) and higher T-regulatory cell (Foxp3) infiltration after these challenges with evidence of increased insulin-positive cells and maintenance of normal levels of proliferation-competent β-cells. Overall, MIP-HSD1tg/tg exhibited a partial protection from the streptozotocin challenge. Modestly increased 11β-HSD1 expression in β-cells unexpectedly supports compensatory insulin hypersecretion preventing type 2 diabetes and protects β-cells from inflammatory mediated damage in the setting of type 1 diabetes. Above a protective threshold, elevated β-cell 11β-HSD1 may result in β-cell dysfunction and diabetes. These findings have important implications for the currently advocated therapeutic strategies to inhibit 11β-HSD1 in the context of obesity and diabetes.