Ppid is necessary for overnutrition-induced β-cell loss

Type 2 diabetes involves progressive loss of functional β-cell mass. In a zebrafish muscle-specific insulin-resistant model, overnutrition triggers islet inflammation and nocturnal β-cell death. The cell death is prevented by the cyclophilin D (Ppid) inhibitor, cyclosporin A (CsA). Reducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species with mito-TEMPO or mitochondrial calcium with Ru360 protects β cells, further implicating the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in β-cell loss. The timing of β-cell death coincides with lower mitochondrial antioxidant gene expression, indicating nocturnal mitochondrial vulnerability. Global ppid^-/- preserves β-cell mass without altering islet inflammation or macrophage recruitment. Conversely, β-cell-specific PPID reexpression restores-and exacerbates-β-cell loss, which remains CsA-sensitive. These findings identify Ppid as a β-cell-intrinsic mediator of overnutrition-induced β-cell loss.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study provides the first evidence that Ppid-mediated opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) is necessary for overnutrition-induced β-cell death in zebrafish. Pharmacological inhibition of mPTP opening protected β cells. Global knockout of ppid prevented β-cell loss, which was reversed by transgenic PPID reexpression in the β cells. The time of β-cell death coincides with lower antioxidant gene expression at night. Thus, relieving mitochondrial stress at night may preserve β cells.