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Artemether Does Not Turn α Cells into β Cells.

Talitha van der Meulen1, Sharon Lee1, Els Noordeloos1

  • 1Department of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Cell Metabolism
|November 7, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Artemether does not promote pancreatic alpha to beta cell transdifferentiation. This antimalarial drug actually harms beta cells, reducing insulin secretion and glucose uptake, questioning its use for diabetes treatment.

Keywords:
GCaMP6artemetherartemisininsdedifferentiationdiabetesmaturationneogenesispancreatic islettransdifferentiation

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology
  • Diabetes Research

Background:

  • Pancreatic alpha cells exhibit plasticity and can potentially transdifferentiate into beta cells.
  • Artemether, an antimalarial, was proposed to promote alpha to beta cell transdifferentiation by suppressing the Arx transcription factor.
  • Previous studies relied on indirect evidence and cell lines, lacking direct demonstration of this conversion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether artemether promotes the transdifferentiation of primary pancreatic alpha cells into beta cells.
  • To evaluate the effects of artemether on primary beta cell function.

Main Methods:

  • Experiments using primary pancreatic islet cells.
  • Assessment of cell transdifferentiation markers.
  • Measurement of insulin expression (Ins2), glucose uptake, calcium signaling, and insulin secretion in response to glucose.

Main Results:

  • Artemether did not induce transdifferentiation of primary alpha cells into beta cells.
  • Artemether significantly reduced Ins2 expression in primary beta cells (>100-fold).
  • Artemether suppressed glucose uptake and abrogated glucose-stimulated calcium responses and insulin secretion in beta cells.

Conclusions:

  • Artemether does not promote alpha to beta cell transdifferentiation.
  • Artemether appears to induce general dedifferentiation of islet endocrine cells.
  • The use of artemisinins for promoting alpha to beta cell transdifferentiation in diabetes treatment is questionable.