Role of the TSC1-TSC2 complex in the integration of insulin and glucose signaling involved in pancreatic beta-cell proliferation

Endocrinology. 2010 Jul;151(7):3084-94. doi: 10.1210/en.2010-0048. Epub 2010 Apr 28.

Abstract

Tuberous sclerosis complex proteins 1-2 (TSC1-TSC2) complex integrates both nutrient and hormonal signaling and is a critical negative regulator of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1. The use of different beta-cell lines expressing or not the insulin receptor (IR(+/+) and IR(-/-)) or with a reconstituted expression of IR isoform A or B (Rec A and Rec B) revealed that both phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/TSC/mTOR complex 1 and MAPK kinase/ERK pathways mediate insulin signaling in IR(+/+)-, IRA-, or IRB-expressing cells. However, glucose signaling was mediated by MAPK kinase/ERK and AMP-activated protein kinase pathways as assessed in IR(-/-) cells. The effect of insulin on Akt phosphorylation was completely inhibited by the use of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin in IR(+/+) and Rec B cells, a partial inhibitory effect being observed in Rec A cell line. The knockdown of TSC2 expression up-regulated the downstream basal phosphorylation of 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and mTOR. More importantly, upregulation of p70S6K signaling impaired insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt Ser(473) and p70S6K in IR(+/+) and Rec B but not in Rec A cell lines. In fact, insulin receptor substrate-1 Ser(307) phosphorylation signal in Rec B was stronger than in Rec A cell line during insulin action. Rec A cells induced a higher proliferation rate compared with Rec B or IR(+/+) during serum stimulation. Thus, we propose that the regulation of TSC2 phosphorylation by insulin or glucose independently integrates beta-cell proliferation signaling, the relative expression of IRA or IRB isoforms in pancreatic beta cells playing a major role.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Androstadienes / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Glucose / pharmacology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Insulin / pharmacology*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptor, Insulin / genetics
  • Receptor, Insulin / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 Protein
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Wortmannin

Substances

  • Androstadienes
  • Insulin
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tsc1 protein, mouse
  • Tsc2 protein, mouse
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 1 Protein
  • Tuberous Sclerosis Complex 2 Protein
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Receptor, Insulin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Glucose
  • Wortmannin