Involvement of RhoA/ROCK in insulin secretion of pancreatic β-cells in 3D culture

Cell Tissue Res. 2014 Nov;358(2):359-69. doi: 10.1007/s00441-014-1961-2. Epub 2014 Aug 17.

Abstract

Cell-cell contacts and interactions between pancreatic β-cells and/or other cell populations within islets are essential for cell survival, insulin secretion, and functional synchronization. Three-dimensional (3D) culture systems supply the ideal microenvironment for islet-like cluster formation and functional maintenance. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, mouse insulinoma 6 (MIN6) cells were cultured in a rotating 3D culture system to form islet-like aggregates. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and the RhoA/ROCK pathway were investigated. In the 3D-cultured MIN6 cells, more endocrine-specific genes were up-regulated, and GSIS was increased to a greater extent than in cells grown in monolayers. RhoA/ROCK inactivation led to F-actin remodeling in the MIN6 cell aggregates and greater insulin exocytosis. The gap junction protein, connexin 36 (Cx36), was up-regulated in MIN6 cell aggregates and RhoA/ROCK-inactivated monolayer cells. GSIS dramatically decreased when Cx36 was knocked down by short interfering RNA and could not be reversed by RhoA/ROCK inactivation. Thus, the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway is involved in insulin release through the up-regulation of Cx36 expression in 3D-cultured MIN6 cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Line
  • Connexins / metabolism
  • Cytoskeleton / drug effects
  • Cytoskeleton / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation / drug effects
  • Gap Junction delta-2 Protein
  • Glucose / pharmacology
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Secretion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / enzymology*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • rho-Associated Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism*
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • Connexins
  • Insulin
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • rho-Associated Kinases
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein
  • Glucose