Osteocalcin Effect on Human β-Cells Mass and Function

Endocrinology. 2015 Sep;156(9):3137-46. doi: 10.1210/EN.2015-1143. Epub 2015 Jul 7.

Abstract

The osteoblast-specific hormone osteocalcin (OC) was found to regulate glucose metabolism, fat mass, and β-cell proliferation in mice. Here, we investigate the effect of decarboxylated OC (D-OC) on human β-cell function and mass in culture and in vivo using a Nonobese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficiency mouse model. We found that D-OC at dose ranges from 1.0 to 15 ng/mL significantly augmented insulin content and enhanced human β-cell proliferation of cultured human islets. This was paralleled by increased expression of sulfonylurea receptor protein; a marker of β-cell differentiation and a component of the insulin-secretory apparatus. Moreover, in a Nonobese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficiency mouse model, systemic administration of D-OC at 4.5-ng/h significantly augmented production of human insulin and C-peptide from the grafted human islets. Finally, histological staining of the human islet grafts showed that the improvement in the β-cell function was attributable to an increase in β-cell mass as a result of β-cell proliferation indicated by MKI67 staining together with the increased β-cell number and decreased α-cell number data obtained using laser scanning cytometry. Our data for the first time show D-OC-enhanced β-cell function in human islets and support future exploitation of D-OC-mediated β-cell regulation for developing useful clinical treatments for patients with diabetes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • C-Peptide / metabolism
  • Cattle
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin / biosynthesis*
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects*
  • Islets of Langerhans Transplantation
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred NOD
  • Mice, SCID
  • Middle Aged
  • Osteocalcin / pharmacology*
  • Osteocalcin / therapeutic use

Substances

  • C-Peptide
  • Insulin
  • Osteocalcin