Potent humanin analog increases glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion through enhanced metabolism in the β cell

• Published in: The FASEB journal Vol. 27; no. 12; pp. 4890 - 4898
• Main Authors: Kuliawat, Regina, Klein, Laura, Gong, Zhenwei, Nicoletta‐Gentile, Marianna, Nemkal, Anjana, Cui, Lingguang, Bastie, Claire, Su, Kai, Huffman, Derek, Surana, Manju, Barzilai, Nir, Fleischer, Norman, Muzumdar, Radhika
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD, USA Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 01-12-2013
• Subjects: Animals; Cells, Cultured; diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - metabolism; Glucose - metabolism; hyperglycemic clamps; Insulin - blood; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin Secretion; Insulin-Secreting Cells - drug effects; Insulin-Secreting Cells - metabolism; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - pharmacology; KATP Channels - metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; pancreatic islets; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Leptin - genetics; Research Communications; diabetes; hyperglycemic clamps; pancreatic islets
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fj.13-231092

Humanin (HN) is a 24‐aa polypeptide that offers protection from Alzheimer's disease and myocardial infarction, increases insulin sensitivity, improves survival of β cells, and delays onset of diabetes. Here we examined the acute effects of HN on insulin secretion and potential mechanisms through which they are mediated. Effects of a potent HN analog, HNGF6A, on glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) were assessed in vivo and in isolated pancreatic islets and cultured murine β cell line (βTC3) in vitro. Sprague‐Dawley rats (3 mo old) that received HNGF6A required a significantly higher glucose infusion rate and demonstrated higher insulin levels during hyperglycemic clamps compared to saline controls. In vitro, compared to scrambled peptide controls, HNGF6A increased GSIS in isolated islets from both normal and diabetic mice as well as in βTC3 cells. Effects of HNGF6A on GSIS were dose dependent, K‐ATP channel independent, and associated with enhanced glucose metabolism. These findings demonstrate that HNGF6A increases GSIS in whole animals, from isolated islets and from cells in culture, which suggests a direct effect on the β cell. The glucose‐dependent effects on insulin secretion along with the established effects on insulin action suggest potential for HN and its analogs in the treatment of diabetes.—Kuliawat, R., Klein, L., Gong, Z., Nicoletta‐Gentile, M., Nemkal, A. Cui, L., Bastie, C., Su, K., Huffman, D., Surana, M., Barzilai, N., Fleischer, N., Muzumdar, R., Potent humanin analog increases glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion through enhanced metabolism in the β cell. FASEB J. 27, 4890–4898 (2013). www.fasebj.org