jte-013 and Diabetes-Mellitus--Type-2

Vascular complications are the main cause of morbidity and mortality associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. An early hallmark of the onset of vascular complications is endothelial dysfunction and apoptosis. We aimed to explore the role of sphingosine-1-phosphatereceptor 2 (S1PR2) in high glucose-induced endothelial cells apoptosis and to elaborate the underlying mechanism. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in a high glucose with or without S1PR2 antagonist. The apoptosis of the cells was measured by flow cytometry and mitochondrial membrane permeability was detected by the fluorescent probe JC-1. The expression of the related protein was determined by western blot. Cell apoptosis and the loss of mitochondrial membrane permeability were induced under high glucose conditions in HUVECs. The expression of mitochondrial apoptosis related protein bax increased and bcl-2 decreased in high glucose-induced HUVECs. The level of cytochrome c released into the cytoplasm increased when cells were exposed to high glucose. In addition, the expression of p-AKT and p-GSK3β was reduced when HUVECs were treated with high glucose. However, these effects were reversed in HUVECs when cells treated with S1PR2 antagonist. In conclusion, S1PR2 antagonist protects endothelial cells against high glucose-induced mitochondrial apoptosis through the Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway.

Topics: Apoptosis; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Endothelial Cells; Glucose; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; Humans; Mitochondria; Mitochondrial Membranes; Protective Agents; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Pyrazoles; Pyridines; Receptors, Lysosphingolipid; Signal Transduction; Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptors

Glucolipotoxic stress has been identified as a key player in the progression of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction contributing to insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). It has been suggested that bioactive lipid intermediates, formed under lipotoxic conditions, are involved in these processes. Here, we show that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) levels are not only increased in palmitate-stimulated pancreatic β-cells but also regulate β-cell homeostasis in a divergent manner. Although S1P possesses a prosurvival effect in β-cells, an enhanced level of the sphingolipid antagonizes insulin-mediated cell growth and survival via the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor subtype 2 (S1P2) followed by an inhibition of Akt-signaling. In an attempt to investigate the role of the S1P/S1P2 axis in vivo, the New Zealand obese (NZO) diabetic mouse model, characterized by β-cell loss under high-fat diet (HFD) conditions, was used. The occurrence of T2D was accompanied by an increase of plasma S1P levels. To examine whether S1P contributes to the morphologic changes of islets via S1P2, the receptor antagonist JTE-013 was administered. Most interestingly, JTE-013 rescued β-cell damage clearly indicating an important role of the S1P2 in β-cell homeostasis. Therefore, the present study provides a new therapeutic strategy to diminish β-cell dysfunction and the development of T2D.

Topics: Animals; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diet, High-Fat; Disease Models, Animal; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Insulin-Secreting Cells; Lysophospholipids; Male; Mice; Mice, Obese; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Pyrazoles; Pyridines; Receptors, Lysosphingolipid; Signal Transduction; Sphingosine