Yuji Uchizono

University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

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Publications (12)49.02 Total impact

  • Article: Role of HNF-1alpha in regulating the expression of genes involved in cellular growth and proliferation in pancreatic beta-cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1alpha is a homeodomain-containing transcription factor. Humans heterozygous for mutations in the HNF-1alpha gene develop maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY3), which is associated with reduced insulin secretion. The mechanisms responsible for defective glucose-induced insulin secretion due to HNF-1alpha deficiency are complex. In order to explore the relationship between HNF-1alpha and beta-cell proliferation, we have created a novel animal model. Mice lacking one allele of the HNF-1alpha gene were crossed with transgenic mice expressing the large T antigen driven by the rat insulin II promoter (RIP). The resulting mouse strains allowed us to study the effect of HNF-1alpha deficiency on the extensive beta-cell proliferation that occurs in these mice. Our results indicate that deficiency of HNF-1alpha severely constrains the extent of beta-cell proliferation occurring in RIP-Tag mice leading to significant changes in blood glucose concentrations as a result of reduced beta-cell number, insulin content, insulin secretion and intracellular responses in Ca(2+). Furthermore expression profiling studies using immortalized cell lines generated from HNF-1alpha/RIP-Tag mice showed changes in expression of genes involved in cellular growth and proliferation. These results provide insights into the mechanisms whereby HNF-1alpha affects beta-cell function.
    Diabetes research and clinical practice 02/2009; 84(1):19-26. · 2.16 Impact Factor
  • Article: Angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists prevent glucose-induced increases in islet blood flow in rats.
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    ABSTRACT: Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors are reported to be beneficial in delaying the onset of diabetes mellitus. Since islet blood hyperperfusion during hyperglycaemia may be detrimental to endothelium in pancreatic islets and eventually lead to beta-cell dysfunction, we studied acute and chronic effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARB) on islet blood flow before and after glucose load. Islet blood flow was measured using the colour microsphere method in anaesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats before and 3 min after glucose injection. Olmesartan significantly reduced blood pressure, but did not affect islet blood flow 10 min after its injection. However, pretreatment with olmesartan blunted the glucose-induced increase in islet blood flow (62% of control). In rats treated with olmesartan or candesartan for 4 weeks, islet blood flow was not different from untreated control, whereas the glucose-induced increase in islet blood flow was significantly suppressed in chronically ARB-treated rats (olmesartan 59% of control, candesartan 64% of control, respectively). Acute or chronic treatment with ARB did not change insulin secretion before and in response to glucose load. Pancreatic or duodenal blood flow was not affected by ARB treatment, although acute olmesartan administration reduced pancreatic blood flow after glucose load. ARB appears to suppress the hyperglycaemia-induced islet hyperperfusion, which may ameliorate haemodynamic stress in pancreatic islets.
    Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation 11/2008; 69(1):145-50. · 1.38 Impact Factor
  • Article: Impaired insulin secretion by diphenyleneiodium associated with perturbation of cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics in pancreatic beta-cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Pancreatic islets express the superoxide-producing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase system, but its role remains unknown. To address this, we studied the mechanisms of impaired insulin secretion induced by diphenyleneiodium (DPI), an NADPH oxidase inhibitor. We investigated the effects of DPI on glucose- and nonfuel-stimulated insulin secretion, islet glucose metabolism, and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) dynamics in rat islets and beta-cell line RINm5F cells. DPI did not affect insulin secretion at 3.3 mm glucose but totally suppressed insulin secretion stimulated by 16.7 mm glucose (percentage of control, 9.2 +/- 1.2%; P <0.001). DPI also inhibited insulin release by high K+-induced membrane depolarization (percentage of control, 36.0 +/- 5.3%; P <0.01) and protein kinase C activation (percentage of control, 30.2 +/- 10.6% in the presence of extracellular Ca2+, P <0.01; percentage of control, 42.0 +/- 4.7% in the absence of extracellular Ca2+, P <0.01). However, DPI had no effect on mastoparan-induced insulin secretion at 3.3 and 16.7 mm glucose under Ca2+-free conditions. DPI significantly suppressed islet glucose oxidation and ATP content through its known inhibitory action on complex I in the mitochondrial respiratory chain. On the other hand, DPI altered [Ca2+]i dynamics in response to high glucose and membrane depolarization, and DPI per se dose-dependently increased [Ca2+]i. The DPI-induced [Ca2+]i rise was associated with a transient increase in insulin secretion and was attenuated by removal of extracellular Ca2+, by L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel blockers, by mitochondrial inhibitors, or by addition of 0.1 or 1.0 microm H2O2 exogenously. Our results showed that DPI impairment of insulin secretion involved altered Ca2+ signaling, suggesting that NADPH oxidase may modulate Ca2+ signaling in beta-cells.
    Endocrinology 07/2008; 149(11):5391-400. · 4.46 Impact Factor
  • Article: A cis-element in the 5' untranslated region of the preproinsulin mRNA (ppIGE) is required for glucose regulation of proinsulin translation.
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    ABSTRACT: Insulin production in pancreatic beta cells is predominantly regulated through glucose control of proinsulin translation. Previously, this was shown to require sequences within the untranslated regions (UTRs) of the preproinsulin (ppI) mRNA. Here, those sequences were found to be sufficient for specific glucose-regulated proinsulin translation. Furthermore, an element 40-48 bp from the 5' end of the ppI mRNA specifically bound a factor present in islets of Langerhans. Glucose-responsive factor binding to this cis-element exhibited temporal and glucose-concentration-dependent patterns that paralleled proinsulin biosynthesis. Mutating this cis-element abolished the ability of ppI mRNA UTRs to confer glucose regulation upon translation. Like the rat 5'UTR, the human ppI 5'UTR conferred glucose regulation of translation. However alternative splicing of the human 5'UTR that disrupts the cis-element abolished glucose-regulated translation. These data indicate that glucose regulation of cis-element/trans-acting factor interaction is a key component of the mechanism by which glucose regulates insulin production.
    Cell Metabolism 04/2007; 5(3):221-7. · 13.67 Impact Factor
  • Article: Expression of isoforms of NADPH oxidase components in rat pancreatic islets.
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    ABSTRACT: Increased oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of beta-cell dysfunction and death. We studied isoforms of NADPH oxidase components in islets of Langerhans isolated from rat pancreas and tumoral rat beta-cell line RINm5F cells by RT-PCR and sequencing of its products. RT-PCR revealed that isolated islets constitutively expressed mRNA of NADPH oxidase components, Nox1, Nox2, Nox4 and p22(phox) as membrane-associated components and p47(phox), Noxo1 (homologue of p47(phox)), Noxa1 (homologue of p67(phox)), and p40(phox) as cytosolic components. RINm5F cells showed a similar pattern of expression but Nox2 mRNA was not detected. Expression of Nox1, Nox4, Noxo1 and Noxa1 was confirmed by sequencing the PCR products. Immunohistochemistry revealed the expression of NADPH oxidase component in beta-cells of rat pancreatic islets. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from isolated islets was suppressed by diphenyleneiodonium, a flavocytochrome inhibitor, but not by apocynin, an inhibitor of p47(phox) translocation to membranes. Our results suggest that the functional significance of NADPH oxidase in insulin secretion may merit further investigation.
    Life Sciences 01/2007; 80(2):133-9. · 2.53 Impact Factor
  • Article: Rapid intracellular acidification and cell death by H2O2 and alloxan in pancreatic beta cells.
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    ABSTRACT: Pancreatic beta-cell death induced by oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. We studied the relation between rapid intracellular acidification and cell death of pancreatic beta-cell line NIT-1 cells exposed to H2O2 or alloxan. Intracellular pH was measured by a pH-sensitive dye, and cell damage by double staining with Annexin-V and propidium iodide using flow cytometry. H2O2 and alloxan caused a rapid fall in intracellular pH and suppressed Na+/H+ exchanger activity in the NH4Cl prepulse method. H2O2 induced necrotic cell death, which shifted to apoptotic cell death when initial acidification was prevented by pH clamping to 7.4 using nigericin (unclamped cells vs clamped cells, necrosis 43.8 +/- 5.8% vs 21.1 +/- 10.6%, P < 0.05; apoptosis 8.0 +/- 1.9% vs 44.5 +/- 5.0%, P < 0.01). pH-clamped cells showed enhanced caspase 3 activity and proapoptotic Bax expression. On the other hand, NIT-1 cells were resistant to alloxan toxicity, but treatment with alloxan and nigericin strikingly enhanced the cytotoxicity. Antioxidants partly prevented cell death, although intracellular pH remained similarly acidic. The rapid intracellular acidification was not the cause of cell death but a significant determinant of the mode of death of H2O2 -treated beta cells, whereas no link between cell death and acidification was demonstrated in alloxan toxicity.
    Free Radical Biology and Medicine 06/2006; 40(11):2047-55. · 5.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: Nateglinide, a non-sulfonylurea rapid insulin secretagogue, increases pancreatic islet blood flow in rats.
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    ABSTRACT: We studied whether the rapid hypoglycemic action of nateglinide is associated with an increase in islet blood flow. Islet blood flow was measured using the two-colour microsphere method. Orally administered nateglinide with glucose acutely increased islet blood flow to levels greater than those after glucose alone or tolbutamide with glucose in conscious Sprague-Dawley rats (percent increase at 10 min after oral administration; nateglinide+glucose, 125+/-25%; glucose, 33+/-11%, p<0.001; tolbutamide+glucose, 42+/-23%, p<0.01). Nateglinide administered with non-metabolisable 3-O-methylglucose also increased islet blood flow (61+/-17%). The stimulated islet blood flow significantly correlated with serum insulin levels. N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, completely inhibited the increase in islet blood flow induced by nateglinide with glucose. Intravenously administered nateglinide did not significantly affect the already increased islet blood flow in diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats. Our results indicated that nateglinide acutely increased islet blood flow at least in part through a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism.
    European Journal of Pharmacology 08/2005; 518(2-3):243-50. · 2.52 Impact Factor
  • Article: Tacrolimus impairment of insulin secretion in isolated rat islets occurs at multiple distal sites in stimulus-secretion coupling.
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    ABSTRACT: Tacrolimus causes posttransplant diabetes mellitus, although the pathogenetic mechanisms remain controversial. We studied the mechanism of tacrolimus-induced impairment of insulin secretion using isolated rat pancreatic islets. Tacrolimus caused reductions in DNA and insulin contents per islet during 7-d culture. Tacrolimus time-dependently suppressed glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and at a therapeutic concentration of 0.01 micromol/liter, it suppressed glucose-stimulated insulin secretion to 32 +/- 5% of the control value after 7-d incubation. Tacrolimus did not change islet glucose utilization and oxidation, ATP production, insulin mRNA expression, or the capacity for high glucose to increase intracellular Ca(2+), but altered the rapid frequency oscillations of Ca(2+) concentration. Tacrolimus suppressed insulin secretion stimulated by mitochondrial fuel (combination of l-leucine and l-glutamine, and alpha-ketoisocaproate) and glibenclamide, but not by l-arginine. Tacrolimus suppressed insulin secretion induced by carbachol and by a protein kinase C agonist in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca(2+). Under stringent Ca(2+)-free conditions, tacrolimus did not affect mastoparan-induced insulin secretion, but suppressed its glucose augmentation. Our results suggest that tacrolimus impairs glucose-stimulated insulin secretion downstream of the rise in intracellular Ca(2+) at insulin exocytosis, and that protein kinase C-mediated (Ca(2+)-dependent and independent) and Ca(2+)-independent GTP signaling pathways may be involved. However, tacrolimus-induced impaired insulin secretion was reversed 3 d after removal of the drug. Our study demonstrated that tacrolimus impairs insulin secretion at multiple steps in stimulus-secretion coupling.
    Endocrinology 06/2004; 145(5):2264-72. · 4.46 Impact Factor
  • Article: Effect of exogenous cholecystokinin on islet blood flow in anesthetized rats.
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    ABSTRACT: Although a number of studies have investigated the effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) on pancreatic blood flow and exocrine function, few have addressed the effect of CCK on islet blood flow. Here, we studied the effect of exogenous CCK on islet blood flow in anesthetized rats. Islet blood flow was measured by the color microsphere method. Bolus intravenous administration of CCK (10 microg/kg) significantly increased pancreatic and islet blood flow in control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats, but not in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats lacking CCK-A receptors. Since fractional islet blood flow expressed as a percentage of whole pancreatic blood flow was decreased after CCK administration in LETO rats, the vasodilating effect of CCK appeared to be stronger in exocrine than endocrine tissue. Although vagotomy failed to alter the CCK-induced increase in pancreatic and islet blood flow, pretreatment with nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine completely prevented the increase in pancreatic and islet blood flow. Our results demonstrated that exogenous CCK is a potent vasodilator of exocrine as well as islet vasculature via CCK-A receptors, and that such action is mediated by a NO-dependent mechanism rather than by vagal mechanisms.
    Regulatory Peptides 12/2003; 116(1-3):87-93. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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    Article: Islet hyperperfusion during prediabetic phase in OLETF rats, a model of type 2 diabetes.
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    ABSTRACT: Although it has been hypothesized that initial hyperperfusion followed by late hypoperfusion in islet circulation occurs in rodent models of type 2 diabetes, islet blood flow has not been measured during prediabetic phase. We studied islet blood flow in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats, a model of slowly progressive obese type 2 diabetes. Islet blood flow was measured by the two-color microsphere method under anesthesia at different ages. Islet blood flow was significantly higher in young OLETF rats compared with control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats when the former were not obese or diabetic and had normal insulin secretion at 5 weeks of age (LETO 4.6 +/- 1.1, OLETF 8.8 +/- 1.2 ml. min(-1). mg(- 1), P < 0.01). At 6 months of age, islet hyperperfusion was observed in OLETF rats, and >40% of whole pancreatic blood flow was diverted into islets in OLETF rats. Prevention of obesity by food restriction increased basal islet blood flow. On the other hand, long-term hyperglycemia induced by sucrose feeding decreased fractional islet blood flow as well as glucose-stimulated islet blood flow. Our results indicate that hyperperfusion is present during the preobese and prediabetic phase in our type 2 diabetes rats.
    Diabetes 08/2002; 51(8):2530-5. · 8.29 Impact Factor
  • Article: Gastric emptying in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetes associated with mitochondrial DNA 3243 mutation using 13C-octanoic acid breath test.
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    ABSTRACT: Although the (13)C-octanoic acid breath test (OBT) has been applied to diabetic patients for assessing gastric emptying, such studies are still limited. Gastric emptying was measured using solid meal containing (13)C-octanoic acid in 52 patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and 4 diabetic patients with mitochondrial DNA (mitDNA) 3243 mutation. Delayed gastric emptying was detected in 29% of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and multiple regression analysis showed that gastric emptying was independently associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. Gastric emptying was not related to gastric dysrhythmia in cutaneous electrogastrography (EGG). Diabetic patients with mitDNA 3243 mutation showed delayed gastric emptying. Because the pathogenesis of delayed gastric emptying is multifactorial in diabetic patients, the recently developed OBT is useful for studying gastric emptying in various clinical settings of diabetic patients.
    Journal of Diabetes and its Complications 20(5):295-301. · 2.03 Impact Factor
  • Article: Expression of secretory phospholipase A 2 in insulitis of human transplanted pancreas and its insulinotropic effect on isolated rat islets.
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    ABSTRACT: The expression of secretory phospholipase A 2 (sPLA 2) is induced by inflammatory stimuli in various cells, and sPLA 2 contribute to produce proinflammatory lipid mediators via hydrolyzing plasma membrane phospholipids into free fatty acid and lysophospholipid. We studied the expression of group IIA sPLA 2 in human islets of transplanted pancreas before and after the recurrence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in a case study. In addition, the effects of exogenous sPLA 2 in isolated rat islets were investigated. Expression of group IIA sPLAs was immunohistochemicaly investigated in the pancreas graft biopsy specimens. Insulin secretion was evaluated by static incubation with different concentrations of snake venom sPLA 2. Intracellular free Ca ( 2) + concentration was measured with Fura 2 and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) contents in islets were determined by electrospray ionization-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Group IIA sPLA 2 was not expressed in islets without insulitis before the recurrence, whereas it was diffusely expressed in islets after the recurrence with insulitis. There were cells co-expressing group IIA sPLA 2 and insulin. sPLA 2 dose-dependently induced insulin secretion in isolated rat islets, which was completely prevented by a specific sPLA 2 inhibitor indoxam. The application of sPLA 2 did not affect intracellular free Ca ( 2) + concentration in β cells. On the other hand, LPC contents in islets were significantly increased in sPLA 2-treated islets compared with untreated islets. Incubation with indoxam suppressed the sPLA 2-induced increase of LPC. In conclusion, the present study suggests that group IIA sPLA 2 may be expressed in islets during insulitis in humans. Although sPLA 2 induced insulin secretion in vitro probably via the production of lysophospholipid, the significance of this enzyme expression in insulitis remains elusive.
    Islets 2(5):274-7.