Perilipin is present in islets of Langerhans and protects against lipotoxicity when overexpressed in the beta-cell line INS-1.

Jörgen Borg, Cecilia Klint, Nils Wierup, Kristoffer Ström, Sara Larsson, Frank Sundler, Roberto Lupi, Piero Marchetti, Guoheng Xu, Alan Kimmel, Constantine Londos, Cecilia Holm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Lipids have been shown to play a dual role in pancreatic beta-cells - a lipid-derived signal appears to be necessary for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, whereas lipid accumulation causes impaired insulin secretion and apoptosis. The ability of the protein perilipin to regulate lipolysis prompted an investigation of the presence of perilipin in the islets of Langerhans. In this study evidence is presented for perilipin expression in rat, mouse and human islets of Langerhans as well as in the rat clonal beta-cell line INS-1. In rat and mouse islets, perilipin was verified to be present in beta-cells. In order to examine if the development of lipotoxicity could be prevented by manipulating the conditions for lipid storage in the beta-cell, INS-1 cells with adenoviral-mediated overexpression of perilipin were exposed to lipotoxic conditions for 72 hours. In cells exposed to palmitate, perilipin overexpression caused increased accumulation of triacylglycerols and decreased lipolysis compared to control cells. Whereas glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was retained following palmitate exposure in cells overexpressing perilipin, it was completely abolished in control beta-cells. Thus, overexpression of perilipin appears to confer protection against the development of beta-cell dysfunction following prolonged exposure to palmitate by promoting lipid storage and limiting lipolysis.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3049-3057
JournalEndocrinology
Volume150
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Bibliographical note

The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015.
The record was previously connected to the following departments: Neuroendocrine Cell Biology (013212008), Molecular Endocrinology (013212018)

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Endocrinology and Diabetes

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