A crosstalk between E2F1 and GLP-1 signaling pathways modulates insulin secretion

Abstract

AbstractCompromised β-cell function contributes to type 2 diabetes (T2D) development. The glucagon like peptide 1 (Glp-1) has emerged as a hormone with broad pharmacological potential toward T2D treatment, notably by improving β-cell functions. Recent data have shown that the transcription factor E2f1, besides its role as a cell cycle regulator, is involved in glucose homeostasis by modulating β-cell mass, function and identity. Here, we demonstrate a crosstalk between the E2F1, phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and Glp-1 signaling pathways. We found that β-cell specificE2f1deficient mice (E2f1β−/−) presented with impaired glucose homeostasis and decreased glucose stimulated-insulin secretion mediated by exendin 4 (i.e., GLP1R agonist), which were associated with decreased expression ofGlp1rencoding Glp-1 receptor (GLP1R) inE2f1β−/−pancreatic islets. Decreasing E2F1 transcriptional activity with an E2F inhibitor in islets from nondiabetic humans decreasedGLP1Rlevels and blunted the incretin effect of exendin 4 on insulin secretion. Conversely, overexpressingE2f1in pancreatic β cells increasedGlp1rexpression associated with enhanced insulin secretion mediated by GLP1R agonist. Interestingly, kinome analysis of mouse islets demonstrated that an acute treatment with exendin 4 increased pRb phosphorylation and subsequent E2f1 transcriptional activity. This study suggests a molecular crosstalk between the E2F1/pRb and GLP1R signaling pathways that modulates insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis.