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Updated: Dec 10, 2025

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Published on: June 25, 2017
Inhibitory effect of UDP-glucose on cAMP generation and insulin secretion
Fariborz Parandeh1, Stefan Amisten1, Gaurav Verma1
1Department of Clinical Science, Division of Islet Cell Physiology, UMAS University of Lund, Malmö, Sweden.
UDP-glucose (UDP-G) activates P2Y14 receptors, suppressing insulin secretion in type-2 diabetes (T2D). This study reveals UDP-G
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Metabolic Diseases
Background:
- Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by impaired pancreatic beta-cell insulin secretion.
- The precise molecular mechanisms causing beta-cell dysfunction in T2D remain incompletely understood.
- UDP-glucose (UDP-G) and its receptor P2Y14 are implicated in cellular signaling pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of UDP-glucose (UDP-G) and its specific receptor P2Y14 in regulating insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which UDP-G affects beta-cell function and viability in the context of type-2 diabetes.
Main Methods:
- Utilized human isolated pancreatic islets and INS-1 cells for experiments.
- Assessed glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) following P2Y14 activation with UDP-G.
- Employed pertussis-toxin (PTX) pretreatment and P2Y14 knockdown to investigate signaling pathways.
- Measured intracellular cAMP levels, cellular reductive capacity, cell viability, and apoptosis.
- Examined the impact of UDP-G on glucose-induced proliferation of INS-1 cells.
Main Results:
- P2Y14 is expressed in human and rodent pancreatic beta-cells.
- UDP-G activation of P2Y14 dose-dependently suppressed GSIS; P2Y14 knockdown abolished this effect.
- Pertussis-toxin (PTX) pretreatment improved GSIS and blocked UDP-G's inhibitory action.
- UDP-G-induced suppression of GSIS correlated with reduced cAMP levels.
- UDP-G diminished beta-cell reductive capacity and exacerbated glucose-induced cell death and apoptosis.
- These detrimental effects were counteracted by a cAMP analog.
- UDP-G modulated glucose-induced proliferation in INS-1 cells.
Conclusions:
- P2Y14 receptor activation by UDP-glucose plays a significant role in suppressing insulin secretion.
- UDP-G negatively impacts pancreatic beta-cell function and viability, potentially contributing to T2D pathogenesis.
- Targeting the P2Y14/UDP-G pathway may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for T2D.
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