Cellular mechanisms underlying failed beta cell regeneration in offspring of protein-restricted pregnant mice

Low birth weight and poor foetal growth following low protein (LP) exposure are associated with altered islet development and glucose intolerance in adulthood. Additionally, LP-fed offspring fail to regenerate their β-cells following depletion with streptozotocin (STZ) in contrast to control-fed offspring that restore β-cell mass. Our objective was to identify signalling pathways and cellular functions that may be critically altered in LP offspring rendering them susceptible to developing long-term glucose intolerance and decreased β-cell plasticity. Pregnant Balb/c mice were fed a control (C; 20% protein) or an isocaloric LP (8% protein) diet throughout gestation and C diet thereafter. Female offspring were injected intraperitoneally with 35 mg/kg STZ or vehicle on days 1 to 5 for each dietary treatment. At 30 days of age, total RNA was extracted from pancreatic tissue for microarray analysis using the Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Genome 430 2.0. Gene and protein expression were quantified from isolated islets. Finally, β-cell proliferation was determined in vitro following REG1α treatment. The microarray data and GO enrichment analysis indicated that foetal protein restriction alters the early expression of genes necessary for many cell functions, such as oxidative phosphorylation and free radical scavenging. Expression of Reg1 was upregulated following STZ, whereas protein content was decreased in LP + STZ islets. Furthermore, REG1α failed to stimulate β-cell proliferation in vitro in LP + STZ islets. Therefore, early nutritional insults may programme the Reg1 pathway resulting in a limited ability to increase β-cell mass during metabolic stress. In conclusion, this study implicates the Reg1 pathway in β-cell regeneration and describes altered programming of gene expression in LP offspring, which underlies later development of cell dysfunction and glucose intolerance in adulthood.