GSK-3 inactivation or depletion promotes beta-cell replication via down regulation of the CDK inhibitor, p27 (Kip1).

摘要

Diabetes (T1DM and T2DM) is characterized by a deficit in beta-cell mass. A broader understanding of human beta-cell replication mechanism is thus important to increase beta-cell proliferation for future therapeutic interventions. Here, we show that p27 (Kip1), a CDK inhibitor, is expressed abundantly in isolated adult human islets and interacts with various positive cell cycle regulatory proteins including D-type cyclins (D1, D2 and D3) and their kinase partners, CDK4 and CDK6. Also, we see interaction of cyclin E and its kinase partner, CDK2, with p27 suggesting a critical role of p27 as a negative cell cycle regulator in human islets. Our data demonstrate interaction of p27 with GSK-3 in beta-cells and show, employing rodent beta-cells (INS-1), isolated human islets and purified beta-cells derived from human islets, that siRNA-mediated depletion of GSK-3 or p27 or 1-AKP / BIO - mediated GSK-3 inhibition results in increased beta-cell proliferation. We also see reduction of p27 levels following GSK-3 inactivation or depletion. Our data show that serum induction of quiescent INS-1 cells leads to sequential phosphorylation of p27 on its S10 and T187 residues with faster kinetics for S10 corresponding with the decreased levels of p27. Altogether our findings indicate that p27 levels in beta-cells are stabilized by GSK-3 and thus p27 down regulation following GSK-3 depletion / inactivation plays a critical role in promoting beta-cell replication.