Deucravacitinib, a tyrosine kinase 2 pseudokinase inhibitor, protects human EndoC-ßH1 ß-cells against proinflammatory insults.

Introduction: Type 1 diabetes is characterized by pancreatic islet inflammation and autoimmune-driven pancreatic ß-cell destruction. Interferon-α (IFNα) is a key player in early human type 1 diabetes pathogenesis. IFNα activates the tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway, leading to inflammation, HLA class I overexpression, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and ß-cell apoptosis (in synergy with IL-1ß). As TYK2 inhibition has raised as a potential therapeutic target for the prevention or treatment of type 1 diabetes, we investigated whether the selective TYK2 inhibitor deucravacitinib could protect ß-cells from the effects of IFNα and other proinflammatory cytokines (i.e., IFNγ and IL-1ß). Methods: All experiments were performed in the human EndoC-ßH1 ß-cell line. HLA class I expression, inflammation, and ER stress were evaluated by real-time PCR, immunoblotting, and/or immunofluorescence. Apoptosis was assessed by the DNA-binding dyes Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide or caspase 3/7 activity. The promoter activity was assessed by luciferase assay. Results: Deucravacitinib prevented IFNα effects, such as STAT1 and STAT2 activation and MHC class I hyperexpression, in a dose-dependent manner without affecting ß-cell survival and function. A comparison between deucravacitinib and two Janus kinase inhibitors, ruxolitinib and baricitinib, showed that deucravacitinib blocked IFNα- but not IFNγ-induced signaling pathway. Deucravacitinib protected ß-cells from the effects of two different combinations of cytokines: IFNα + IL-1ß and IFNγ + IL-1ß. Moreover, this TYK2 inhibitor could partially reduce apoptosis and inflammation in cells pre-treated with IFNα + IL-1ß or IFNγ + IL-1ß. Discussion: Our findings suggest that, by protecting ß-cells against the deleterious effects of proinflammatory cytokines without affecting ß-cell function and survival, deucravacitinib could be repurposed for the prevention or treatment of early type 1 diabetes.

BCL-XL Overexpression Protects Pancreatic ß-Cells against Cytokine- and Palmitate-Induced Apoptosis.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects glucose metabolism, either by autoimmune-driven ß-cell loss or by the progressive loss of ß-cell function, due to continued metabolic stresses. Although both α- and ß-cells are exposed to the same stressors, such as proinflammatory cytokines and saturated free fatty acids (e.g., palmitate), only α-cells survive. We previously reported that the abundant expression of BCL-XL, an anti-apoptotic member of the BCL-2 family of proteins, is part of the α-cell defense mechanism against palmitate-induced cell death. Here, we investigated whether BCL-XL overexpression could protect ß-cells against the apoptosis induced by proinflammatory and metabolic insults. For this purpose, BCL-XL was overexpressed in two ß-cell lines-namely, rat insulinoma-derived INS-1E and human insulin-producing EndoC-ßH1 cells-using adenoviral vectors. We observed that the BCL-XL overexpression in INS-1E cells was slightly reduced in intracellular Ca2+ responses and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, whereas these effects were not observed in the human EndoC-ßH1 cells. In INS-1E cells, BCL-XL overexpression partially decreased cytokine- and palmitate-induced ß-cell apoptosis (around 40% protection). On the other hand, the overexpression of BCL-XL markedly protected EndoC-ßH1 cells against the apoptosis triggered by these insults (>80% protection). Analysis of the expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers suggests that resistance to the cytokine and palmitate conferred by BCL-XL overexpression might be, at least in part, due to the alleviation of ER stress. Altogether, our data indicate that BCL-XL plays a dual role in ß-cells, participating both in cellular processes related to ß-cell physiology and in fostering survival against pro-apoptotic insults.

G protein-coupled estrogen receptor activation by bisphenol-A disrupts the protection from apoptosis conferred by the estrogen receptors ERα and ERß in pancreatic beta cells.

17ß-estradiol protects pancreatic ß-cells from apoptosis via the estrogen receptors ERα, ERß and GPER. Conversely, the endocrine disruptor bisphenol-A (BPA), which exerts multiple effects in this cell type via the same estrogen receptors, increased basal apoptosis. The molecular-initiated events that trigger these opposite actions have yet to be identified. We demonstrated that combined genetic downregulation and pharmacological blockade of each estrogen receptor increased apoptosis to a different extent. The increase in apoptosis induced by BPA was diminished by the pharmacological blockade or the genetic silencing of GPER, and it was partially reproduced by the GPER agonist G1. BPA and G1-induced apoptosis were abolished upon pharmacological inhibition, silencing of ERα and ERß, or in dispersed islet cells from ERß knockout (BERKO) mice. However, the ERα and ERß agonists PPT and DPN, respectively, had no effect on beta cell viability. To exert their biological actions, ERα and ERß form homodimers and heterodimers. Molecular dynamics simulations together with proximity ligand assays and coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicated that the interaction of BPA with ERα and ERß as well as GPER activation by G1 decreased ERαß heterodimers. We propose that ERαß heterodimers play an antiapoptotic role in beta cells and that BPA- and G1-induced decreases in ERαß heterodimers lead to beta cell apoptosis. Unveiling how different estrogenic chemicals affect the crosstalk among estrogen receptors should help to identify diabetogenic endocrine disruptors.