Ablation of GPR56 Causes β-Cell Dysfunction by ATP Loss through Mistargeting of Mitochondrial VDAC1 to the Plasma

Israa Mohammad Al-Amily1, Marie Sjögren1, Pontus Duner2

  • 1Department of Clinical Science, SUS, Division of Islet Cell Physiology, University of Lund, SE-205 02 Malmö, Sweden.

Biomolecules
|March 29, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Collagen Type III activates G Protein-Coupled Receptor 56 (GPR56) to support pancreatic beta-cell function. GPR56 and VDAC1 are potential drug targets for improving beta-cell function in disease.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology and Metabolism
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Signaling

Background:

  • G Protein-Coupled Receptor 56 (GPR56/ADGRG1) activation by Collagen Type III (Coll III) influences cell growth and survival.
  • Pancreatic beta-cells are crucial for insulin secretion and are susceptible to glucotoxicity.
  • The interplay between GPR56, Collagen III, and mitochondrial function in beta-cells is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the signaling pathways linking GPR56 activation by Coll III to mitochondrial VDAC1 expression in pancreatic beta-cells.
  • To elucidate the role of GPR56 and VDAC1 in regulating beta-cell function, insulin secretion, and survival under glucotoxic conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized INS-1 and human EndoC βH1 cells under high glucose conditions (glucotoxicity).
  • Employed GPR56 knockdown (GPR56KD) to assess its impact on signaling cascades and gene expression.
  • Investigated VDAC1 localization, ATP levels, cAMP production, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS).
  • Tested the effects of VDAC1 inhibition using an antibody and VBIT-4.

Main Results:

  • GPR56KD attenuated Coll III-induced signaling pathways (P70S6K, JNK, AKT, NFκB, STAT3/5) under glucotoxicity.
  • GPR56KD increased VDAC1 expression and promoted its translocation to the plasma membrane, leading to ATP loss.
  • Impaired GSIS and reduced cAMP production were observed in GPR56KD cells, which were reversed by VDAC1 inhibition.
  • Coll III enhanced GSIS by increasing cAMP and preserving beta-cell function via GPR56, attenuating inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • Collagen Type III potentiates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion through GPR56 by preserving beta-cell function under glucotoxic stress.
  • GPR56 signaling is critical for maintaining beta-cell ATP levels and cAMP production, partly through regulating VDAC1 expression and localization.
  • GPR56 and VDAC1 represent promising therapeutic targets for treating conditions characterized by impaired beta-cell function.

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