Mitochondrial regulation of β-cell function: maintaining the momentum for insulin release.

All forms of diabetes share the common etiology of insufficient pancreatic β-cell function to meet peripheral insulin demand. In pancreatic β-cells, mitochondria serve to integrate the metabolism of exogenous nutrients into energy output, which ultimately leads to insulin release. As such, mitochondrial dysfunction underlies β-cell failure and the development of diabetes. Mitochondrial regulation of β-cell function occurs through many diverse pathways, including metabolic coupling, generation of reactive oxygen species, maintenance of mitochondrial mass, and through interaction with other cellular organelles. In this chapter, we will focus on the importance of enzymatic regulators of mitochondrial fuel metabolism and control of mitochondrial mass to pancreatic β-cell function, describing how defects in these pathways ultimately lead to diabetes. Furthermore, we will examine the factors responsible for mitochondrial biogenesis and degradation and their roles in the balance of mitochondrial mass in β-cells. Clarifying the causes of β-cell mitochondrial dysfunction may inform new approaches to treat the underlying etiologies of diabetes.

1. Introduction

“Lex II: Mutationem motus proportionalem esse vi motrici impressae, et fieri secundum lineam rectam qua vis illa imprimitur.”

“Law II: The alteration of motion is ever proportional to the motive force impress’d; and is made in the direction of the right line in which that force is impress’d.”

- Second Law of Motion, Sir Isaac Newton, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, 1687 (English translation by Andrew Motte, 1729).

Perhaps one of the most impactful scientific works ever written; the Principia outlined the guiding characteristics and seminal definitions of modern physics and astronomy. A foundation for classical mechanics, Newton’s Second Law of Motion illustrates that the net force of an object’s movement is derived from its linear momentum, which is a product of the mass and velocity of an object (p=mv). The impact of this work has reached beyond the physical world to other fields, including the metaphysical, and it is useful to illustrate biological concepts.

In this sense, Newton’s Second Law can be applied liberally to describe how pancreatic β-cell health and function alters the balance of glucose homeostasis from the non-diabetic to diabetic state. All forms of diabetes share the common defect of inadequate β-cell function to meet peripheral insulin demand. Pancreatic β-cells secrete insulin following post-prandial glucose influx through a coordinated process requiring mitochondrial ATP generation necessary for closure of the ATP sensitive KATP channel, ultimately leading to Ca2+ influx and insulin exocytosis (Satin, 2000). Furthermore, β-cells rely heavily upon their mitochondria to generate the necessary currency (ATP) for nearly all key cellular processes, not limited to, but including insulin transcription, translation, packaging, and secretion (Wiederkehr and Wollheim, 2006). Therefore, mitochondria maintain the energy output (or momentum) needed for normal insulin release and glucose control, with defects in mitochondrial bioenergetics or metabolic coordination underlying the eventual development of diabetes.

In a Newtonian context, mitochondrial momentum would therefore be estimated as a product of mitochondrial mass and velocity (Figure 1A). As would be expected, a decline in either variable would reduce β-cell function and insulin release due to a decline in mitochondrial momentum (Figure 1B). Mitochondrial “velocity” represents mitochondrial respiration or metabolism, while maintenance of mitochondrial mass is a balance of mitochondrial biogenesis and turnover. We hypothesize that in β-cells, defects in either mitochondrial metabolism or mass can disrupt the delicate balance required to maintain mitochondrial momentum, resulting in hyperglycemia and diabetes.

Figure 1

Mitochondrial momentum is necessary for maintenance of insulin secretion and glucose control

(A) Schematic model of key contributors to mitochondrial momentum, adapted from Newton’s Second Law. (B) The outcomes of mitochondrial momentum resulting in normal β-cell function (with adequate mitochondrial mass and velocity). Reduced mitochondrial mass or velocity leads to poor mitochondrial momentum and insulin secretion, ultimately resulting in hyperglycemia and diabetes.

In this chapter, we will examine this hypothesis, by first discussing the importance of mitochondrial metabolism to pancreatic β-cell function and describing how defects in fuel sensing and glucose oxidation occur in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Second, we will examine the nuclear and mitochondrial specific factors responsible for mitochondrial biogenesis and maintenance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and the role that these factors play in β-cell function and glucose control. Lastly, we will discuss the relevance of the mitochondrial quality control machinery, mediated by mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, in coordinating mitochondrial mass and function in β-cells. Through the examination of β-cell mitochondrial momentum, we will evaluate recent mitochondrially focused studies (including focused examinations of mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and mitohormesis) from a new and previously unappreciated perspective. A deeper mechanistic understanding of the loss of mitochondrial momentum in diabetes may inspire new therapies to improve β-cell function and insulin secretion.

2. Mitochondrial “velocity”: fuel metabolism in the control of insulin release

Insulin secretion is modulated by the metabolism of the three principal fuel sources: carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Several vital metabolic enzymes couple glucose availability to insulin secretion to regulate glucose homeostasis. Key among these, glucokinase (GCK) is an important pancreatic β-cell glucose sensor that responds to changes in ambient glucose concentration and determines the rate of glucose oxidation, thus leading to an activation of insulin release (Matschinsky et al., 1993). Both gain and loss-of-function studies affirm that GCK enzymatic activity ultimately correlates with downstream mitochondrial metabolic function and glucose-stimulated insulin release (Matschinsky, 1996).

Regulators of amino acid-stimulated insulin secretion (AASIS) also play an important role in connecting metabolite availability via the mitochondrial TCA cycle to insulin release. Defects in AASIS have been primarily observed in monogenic hyperinsulinism/hypoglycemia syndromes, illustrating the importance of amino acid stimulation of insulin secretion in humans (Chandran et al., 2014). While these gain-of-function mutations lead to enhanced insulin secretion, they also demonstrate the importance of mitochondrial “velocity” in control of insulin release and diabetes.

2.1 Glucose metabolism in human islets

Islet glucose metabolism is strongly activated following meal intake and leads to both increased β-cell insulin secretion and suppressed α-cell glucagon secretion to return blood glucose levels back to baseline. In diabetes, both glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and glucagon suppression are impaired. To evaluate the contribution of glucose metabolism in T2DM, U-13C-glucose stable isotope tracing in human islets demonstrates an alteration of glucose metabolism in T2DM which correlates with β-cell dysfunction and impairment of glucagon suppression (Li et al., 2013). Islets from T2DM donors demonstrate a lack of glucose-stimulated oxygen consumption, paralleling the defects in GSIS, suggesting that a defect in β-cell mitochondrial function is a major cause of impaired GSIS in T2DM. Furthermore, pharmacologic activation of GCK can partially correct the impairments of both mitochondrial metabolism and GSIS in T2DM human islets (Doliba et al., 2012). Additional analysis of T2DM islet samples demonstrated that islet donors with milder disease (glucose controlled with diet or metformin monotherapy alone) maintain relatively normal GSIS, mitochondrial function, as well as amino acid metabolites and glucose-mediated glucagon suppression. On the other hand, islets from T2DM donors with more advanced disease (including loss of GSIS and glucagon suppression) displayed a dramatically altered metabolic profile with large accumulations of alanine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine and serine (a near tripling of the sum of this group of AAs), indicating a generalized defect of amino acid metabolism. Interestingly, concentrations of the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a glutamate metabolite synthesized in β-cells, were reduced by nearly 80% in the advanced disease subgroup. Reduced GABA metabolism due to decreased TCA cycle flux could potentially lead to lower levels of downstream α-cell inhibitory neurotransmitters, such as γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Reduced GABA and GHB levels may explain the loss of glucagon suppression within T2DM islets, similar to findings observed with pharmacologic inhibitors of the GABA pathway (Molven et al., 2004). Taken together, these studies highlight mitochondrially mediated metabolic imbalances downstream of glucose within T2DM islets, resulting in dysregulation of both insulin and glucagon secretion.

2.2 Glutaminolysis and insulin secretion

While glucose is the major physiological regulator of insulin secretion, amino acids (including glutamine, leucine, and alanine) also promote insulin release from pancreatic β-cells (Fajans et al., 1967; Newsholme et al., 2007). Glutamine is consumed at high rates in pancreatic islets (Dixon et al., 2003) and is utilized for nucleic acid synthesis and protein synthesis, as well as a mitochondrial metabolic substrate to promote insulin secretion under basal (or low glucose) conditions (Gao et al., 1999). Glutaminolysis, the conversion of glutamine to α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) that occurs within the mitochondria, is a well known regulator of AASIS (Sener and Malaisse, 1980). The key enzymes in glutaminolysis, including phosphate-dependent glutaminase and the mitochondrial matrix protein glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), serve as intracellular energy sensors of changes of fuel supply (mainly glucose) to switch glutamine oxidation on or off in the β-cell (Gao et al., 1999; Li et al., 2003). Glutamine oxidation through GDH is activated by ADP and leucine (during prolonged starvation or protein intake alone) or inhibited by GTP and ATP (following post-prandial glucose uptake) to catalyze the reversible oxidative deamination of L-glutamate to α-KG (Li et al., 2011b). Thus, glucose oxidation and glutaminolysis exist in a balance mediated by GDH to regulate insulin release in both basal and stimulated conditions.

Activating mutations of GDH have been identified in children with hyperinsulinism and hyperammonemia (HI/HA) syndrome, with mutations leading to a lack of sensitivity to GTP allosteric inhibition (Gloyn, 2003). GDH-linked hyperinsulinism (GDH-HI) patients are sensitive to protein feeding, with notable hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia following protein rich meals (Hsu et al., 2001; Kelly et al., 2001). Transgenic mice with β-cell specific expression of the activating H454Y GDH mutation also develop hypoglycemia similar to GDH-HI patients, with enhanced insulin release following amino acid exposure in vivo or in isolated islets (Li et al., 2011a; Li et al., 2006). Furthermore, stable isotopic labeling and GDH flux analysis reveals that H454Y GDH islets have increased enzymatic flux correlating with loss of allosteric inhibition of GDH (Li et al., 2006).

Mitochondrial GTP (mtGTP) serves as a major regulator of GSIS (Kibbey et al., 2007), in addition to its role as an allosteric inhibitor of GDH. Levels of mtGTP, produced by the GTP-specific isoform of succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS), directly reflect the flux rate of TCA cycle and glucose oxidation in β-cells. Suppression of GTP production by siRNA knockdown of GTP-specific SCS leads to impaired insulin release, mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and cytosolic Ca2+ influx in response to glucose (Kibbey et al., 2007). Mitochondrial GTP drives KATP channel independent, non-canonical insulin secretion through anapleurotic phosphoenolpyruvate cycling (Stark et al., 2009). In hypoglycemic hypoglucagonemic H454Y GDH transgenic mice, glucagon secretion is restored following pharmacologic GDH inhibition, which suggests that allosteric mtGTP-inhibition of GDH may also have paracrine effects on α-cells (Kibbey et al., 2014). These observations not only implicate both GDH and mtGTP in control of AASIS and hyperinsulinism, but also connect GDH and mtGTP to the maintenance of both α and β-cell function.

2.3 Cross-talk between amino acid and fatty acid metabolism at the mitochondria: implications for insulin release

The observation of hyperinsulinemia due to short-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (SCHAD) deficiency highlights the importance of fatty acid oxidation enzymes to insulin release (Hussain et al., 2005; Molven et al., 2004). SCHAD is a mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation enzyme that catalyzes the β-oxidation cycle for medium and short-chain 3-hydroxy fatty acyl-CoAs (C4 to C10). SCHAD deficiency leads to an accumulation of fatty acid metabolites and ketones, yet the implications of these metabolites on insulin secretion are unclear (Li et al., 2011a; Li et al., 2006). As expected, loss of SCHAD function in mouse models also leads to hypoglycemia as well as fatty acid metabolite accumulation (Stanley et al., 1998). Surprisingly, SCHAD deficiency also leads to amino acid-induced hypoglycemia, similar to what is observed with activating GDH mutations (Zelent et al., 2005). SCHAD loss of function does not lead to enhanced GSIS or increased insulin secretion after treatment with fatty acids. The defects observed in SCHAD knockout islets were primarily secondary to altered enzyme kinetics in GDH. SCHAD knockout islets possess a reduced affinity of GDH for α-KG while leading to increased enzyme efficiency, suggesting that SCHAD modulates GDH substrate binding affinity within its catalytic site. The effects of SCHAD on GDH activity may be secondary to a physical interaction between these two mitochondrial enzymes, as they exist within a protein complex in mitochondria (Li et al., 2010), and highlights a unique connection between two key metabolic enzymes and their respective metabolic pathways in the control of insulin secretion.

It is increasingly evident that metabolism of glucose, proteins, and lipids all play important roles in the regulation of insulin secretion. Through their effects on glutamine metabolism in the mitochondria (in the case of GABA utilization or GDH activity), glucose, amino acid, and fatty acid metabolism are connected in shared pathways of β-cell dysfunction either in states of insulin deficiency or insulin excess (Figure 2). The intersection of the metabolism of these fuel sources and thresholds for metabolite switching within the islets of patients with T2DM remains to be a topic for future investigation. Understanding the mechanisms of mitochondrial “velocity” or fuel metabolism, in both T2DM and HI, will not only help us to identify the disease-causing metabolic pathways, but also could provide new targets for drug therapy applicable for both diseases.

Figure 2

Regulators of β-cell fuel metabolism intersect at the mitochondria to control ATP generation and insulin secretion

Focused model of metabolism of principal fuel sources in β-cells (black boxes), metabolites (black text), and their key enzymatic regulators (bold black text) vital for fuel metabolism, ATP generation, and insulin secretion. The effects of allosteric activators or inhibitors on GDH activity are indicated with grey lines.

GLS – glutaminase, GS – glutamine synthase, GDH – glutamate dehydrogenase, SCHAD – short-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, GCK – glucokinase, GAD – glutamic acid decarboxylase, SCFA – short-chain fatty acids, GABA – γ-aminobutyric acid

3. Mitochondrial mass: mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) – a tale of two genomes

Due to the necessity of ATP for both insulin exocytosis and insulin biosynthesis, complex regulatory networks coordinate energy metabolism to meet insulin demand. These networks are also responsible for adaptation of β-cell mitochondria during progressive peripheral insulin resistance to preserve normal glycemic control. This accommodation involves changes in gene expression to increase the levels of mitochondrial proteins (mitochondrial biogenesis), although other mitochondrial maintenance processes, such as mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, presumably contribute as well (see Section 4 below).

The assembly of new respiratory complexes is complicated; there are a large number of subunits per complex, and these subunits are encoded on two genomes. The vast majority of mitochondrial proteins are nuclear-encoded and subject to nuclear gene expression regulatory mechanisms. In contrast, the mitochondrial genome, a roughly 16kb circular DNA present in thousands of copies, encodes a small number of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) subunits and the RNAs required for their expression, with each of these subunits essential for mitochondrial respiration. The abundance of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is tightly regulated, and the relative abundance broadly correlates with respiratory activity across tissues. Mutations in mtDNA sequences occur at an estimated carrier rate of 1/200 live births (Elliott et al., 2008); however, the large number of these genomes can buffer against mitochondrial dysfunction as inherited mitochondrial disorders are more rare, estimated at 1/5000-1/8000 lives births (Thorburn, 2004). The regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, which is a major contributor to establishing the levels of mtDNA, is presumably an essential factor in coordinating the two genomes to maintain mitochondrial function in the β-cell.

3.1 PGC1α regulatory axis in the β-cell

The best-studied regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis is peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 or Pgc1α, a transcriptional co-activator that acts with numerous transcription factors to influence the expression of fatty acid metabolism, mitochondrial proteins, and antioxidant defenses (St-Pierre et al., 2006). Pgc1α acts primarily with nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2 (Nrf1 and Nrf2) to regulate expression of nuclear-encoded components of the electron transport chain (Gugneja and Scarpulla, 1997; Gugneja et al., 1995; Wu et al., 1999). Pgc1α and Nrf1/Nrf2 transcription factors target numerous genes involved in mitochondrial function, with both shared and unique targets between Nrf1 and Nrf2 (Kelly and Scarpulla, 2004). Pgc1α human diabetic muscle cells (Mootha et al., 2003), potentially suggesting Pgc1α-dependent control of glucose uptake and mitochondrial function in T2DM.

The β cell-specific role of Pgc1α is less clear. In humans, decreased expression of PGC1α T2DM islets (Gillberg et al., 2013; Ling et al., 2008) and an increased odds ratio for T2DM with the G482S PGC1α variant have been observed; however, correlative reductions of β-cell function by indirect measures (such as fasting glucose and insulin levels) are not always seen (reviewed in (Mulder and Ling, 2009)). Reduced PGC1α expression in human islets by RNA interference leads to decreased insulin expression and secretion, suggesting that its expression is necessary for β-cell function (Ling et al., 2008). On the other hand, Pgc1α expression is significantly elevated in the islets of diabetic ZDF rats and ob/ob mice (Yoon et al., 2003a). Adenoviral overexpression of Pgc1α in islets or β-cell lines significantly impairs insulin release (Yoon et al., 2003a); however, transgenic Pgc1α overexpression negatively impacts insulin secretion only if overexpression occurs during fetal development (Valtat et al., 2013). Pgc1α overexpression appears to reduce levels of Pdx1, an essential β-cell transcription factor expressed in islet progenitors as well as adult β-cells, but this may not clearly explain the negative developmentally-induced effects of Pgc1α (Valtat et al., 2013; Yoon et al., 2003a). Further study may be necessary to clarify Pgc1α function in the pancreatic β-cell, including investigation of the effects of Pgc1α on mitochondrial respiratory function in β-cell specific knockout models as well as identification of Pgc1α transcriptional targets and binding partners necessary for its action.

Of the two nuclear transcription factors known to collaborate with Pgc1α to regulate expression of mitochondrial proteins, only NRF1 has been associated with diabetes (Cho et al., 2005; Liu et al., 2008). In both Korean and Han Chinese cohorts, two distinct NRF1 haplotypes were found to be either protective or increased risk alleles for T2DM (Cho et al., 2005; Liu et al., 2008). NRF1 function is associated with insulin action and glucose uptake in the muscle of T2DM patients (Patti et al., 2003) and has been recently found to regulate mitochondrial metabolism and GSIS in rodent islets (Zheng et al., 2015). Interestingly, Pdx1 occupies the Nrf1 gene locus in chromatin IP assays in both mouse and human islets (Khoo et al., 2012), suggesting that Pdx1 could regulate Nrf1-dependent expression of mitochondrial proteins. How mitochondrial function is dynamically regulated in the β-cell may in fact lie with the coordinated actions of Pgc1α, Nrf1, and Pdx1.

3.2 Pdx1 and the regulation of mitochondrial function

Islet development and β-cell maintenance is dependent on the homeodomain transcription factor PDX1. Mutations in PDX1 (also known as IPF1) lead to several heritable forms of diabetes, including Maturity Onset of Diabetes in the Young, neonatal diabetes, and early onset T2DM (Hani et al., 1999; Nicolino et al., 2010; Stoffers et al., 1997). Pdx1 loss of function in several rodent models also has been shown to lead to reduced GSIS and mitochondrial function (Brissova et al., 2002; Gauthier et al., 2004; Gauthier et al., 2009). Specifically, the expression a dominant negative form of Pdx1 (Pdx1-DN) in isolated rat islets leads to reduced insulin secretion and mitochondrial respiration as well as altered expression of numerous TCA cycle and OXPHOS enzymes; of the mtDNA-encoded transcripts, mt-ND1 expression was decreased while mt-ATP6 was increased (Gauthier et al., 2004). The mt-ND1 expression closely correlated with mtDNA levels. Additional analysis implicated decreased expression of Tfam, the primary mtDNA packaging and transcription factor (Campbell et al., 2012), to be the potential cause of decreased mtDNA content. By restoring Tfam levels through viral expression, mtDNA abundance, mt-ND1 expression, ATP levels and GSIS were all normalized, indicating that mtDNA depletion was sufficient to cause β-cell dysfunction (Gauthier et al., 2009). β-cell-specific ablation of Tfam is known to lead to a complete loss of mtDNA content and consequentially diminished β-cell mass (Silva et al., 2000), consistent with its well known function to act as a “kill switch” when deleted in respiring cell types (Wang et al., 2001). On the other hand, Tfam expression in Pdx1 haploinsufficient mice is not significantly reduced despite impairments in mitochondrial function and glucose homeostasis (Brissova et al., 2002; Sachdeva et al., 2009). Taken together, these observations suggest that dysregulating the precise control of mitochondrial content, even mildly, can be of major consequence to β-cell function.

3.3 mtDNA mutations and diabetes

Pathogenic mtDNA mutations have been known since 1988, where mutations in the mitochondrial tRNA-Lys were shown to be the cause of the conditions of myoclonic epilepsy and ragged red muscle fibers (MERFF) and Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) (Wallace et al., 1988a; Wallace et al., 1988b). As a highly metabolically active cell type, mtDNA sequence stability is particularly essential for normal β-cell function. This is illustrated by the identification of maternally inherited mitochondrial diabetes and deafness (MIDD), which is associated with the A3243G mutation in mitochondrial tRNA-Leu, a mutation that also causes mitochondrial encephalomyelopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) (van den Ouweland et al., 1992). MIDD generally occurs later in life (4th decade) and, contrary to early suggestions, does occur with other mtDNA mutations, although the most common presenting mutation is the A3243G MELAS mutation (Whittaker et al., 2007). MIDD is usually progressive, with deafness preceding diabetes, and shows reduction in β-cell mass and subsequent insulin deficiency without reduced insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues. MIDD mutations were among the first evidence of a role for energetic failure in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

The integrity and content of mtDNA may play key roles in the development of hyperglycemia. Certainly β-cell function requires mitochondrial activity, as ablation of Tfam and subsequent loss of mtDNA causes hyperglycemia in mice (Silva et al., 2000), although this form of mtDNA depletion does not allow for a nuanced understanding of mitochondrial genome stability in diabetes. On the other hand, more common occurrences of mitochondrial genome deficiencies caused by mtDNA deletions and mtDNA depletion also cause respiratory dysfunction. Mitochondrial genome mutations occur either as single deletions, which usually manifest as de novo mutations, or multiple mtDNA deletions, which usually occur somatically and accumulate with age. Both forms can result in mitochondrial respiratory chain deficiency and disease (Copeland, 2012). In Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS), which is associated with a single deletion myopathy, patients can develop impaired GSIS, reduced β-cell mass, and dysmorphic islet architecture (Poulton et al., 1995; Stark and Roden, 2007). The involvement of multiple mtDNA deletions, which accumulate with age in other highly respiring tissues (Damas et al., 2014), in β-cell dysfunction has not been adequately explored. However, islet mtDNA content does decrease with age (Cree et al., 2008), similar to other tissues. When considering age-related accumulation of mtDNA point mutations and deletions in the context of decreasing mtDNA content, the hypothesis that mtDNA stability contributes to age related vulnerability for mitochondrial dysfunction becomes potentially applicable to the β-cell. With the addition of increasing insulin demand by obesity, susceptibility to age-dependent mitochondria genome instability could be a potential contributor to age-related β-cell failure.

3.4 Mitochondrial gene expression

Beyond mtDNA instability, aberrations in mitochondrial gene expression lead to β-cell dysfunction. The mitochondrial methyltransferase Tfb1m regulates mitochondrial gene expression by methylating 12S rRNA and is essential for ribosome subunit assembly (Metodiev et al., 2009). Hypermethylation, either by Tfb1m overexpression or mutation in the nearby ribosomal sequence (position A1555), causes altered mitochondrial ribosome function and OXPHOS defects, increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), activation of proapoptotic transcription factor E2F1, culminating in the progressive loss of critical cells of the inner ear (Raimundo et al., 2012). In T2DM, a common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the TFB1M locus is associated with an increased risk for diabetes in females and decreased complex I activity and content in human pancreatic islets (Koeck et al., 2011). Islet dysfunction was confirmed in the germ-line deleted Tfb1m+/− mice, as well in islets or β-cell lines following Tfb1m loss of function, suggesting a mitochondrial gene expression defect, potentially through mitochondrial translation (Koeck et al., 2011). More recently, β-cell specific Tfb1m knockout mice were shown to develop impaired insulin production and secretion, as well as reduced β-cell mass (Sharoyko et al., 2014). Concomitant with β-cell dysfunction, β-cell specific Tfb1m knockouts possess increased mitochondrial content with more dysmorphic mitochondria, features commonly found in patients with mitochondrial dysfunction.

3.5 Non-classical regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis

During the development of T2DM, hyperglycemia ensues due to impaired β-cell insulin release to meet the high demands (or insulin resistance) of insulin-responsive peripheral tissues (including skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver). Important insights into islet mitochondrial dysfunction secondary to peripheral insulin resistance have been gleaned from the muscle IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor 1) receptor-lysine-arginine (MKR) mouse model (Lu et al., 2010). MKR mice express a dominant negative form of the IGF-I receptor specifically in muscle (Fernandez et al., 2001), which results in increased peripheral insulin resistance. MKR mice subsequently develop progressive β-cell mitochondrial structural and functional decline with age culminating in reduced insulin secretion and hyperglycemia (Lu et al., 2010). Additionally, MKR have decreased expression of nuclear encoded mitochondrial metabolic enzymes, mtDNA levels, and mitochondrial gene expression along with increased β-cell oxidative stress (Lu et al., 2010). Interestingly, the precipitating causes of mitochondrial failure are not necessarily clear in this model. Despite the limited change in the expression of mitochondrial genes, mitochondrial protein levels are generally decreased in the MKR islets, so other alterations to the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, such as phosphorylation of the protein import pathway, are potential contributors.

Control of β-cell mitochondrial function is tenuous; studies of mitochondrial biogenesis demonstrate that even small changes in mitochondrial respiratory function are important to β-cell function. Numerous factors contribute to vulnerability to respiratory dysfunction in the β-cell, encompassing genetic influences on mitochondrial function, variation in mtDNA copy number, and progressive, age-related changes to mitochondrial biogenesis. It is possible that other genetic risk factors for defective mitochondrial biogenesis in T2DM, in addition to TFB1M, are yet to be identified, as only ~10% of genetic risk for T2DM has been characterized (Vassy et al., 2014). Studies into the component causes of diminished mitochondrial function in β-cells with age and stress will continue to be important to the understanding of the etiology of diabetes.

4. Mitochondrial mass (part 2): mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in the regulation of mitochondrial turnover

The contributions of mitochondrial metabolic flux through the mitochondria to nutrient-stimulated insulin release are among the most well-studied facets of β-cell function (reviewed in (Wollheim and Maechler, 2002)). From these studies, it is clear that bioenergetic defects impairing the ATP/ADP ratio ultimately leads to reduced insulin secretion. An area of growing interest is the importance of mitochondrial quality control in the maintenance of mitochondrial function and regulated insulin release. The mitochondrial quality control machinery involves mitochondrial-specific structural proteins, cytosolic factors, and components of the autophagy machinery to maintain a balance of repair or clearance of damaged, unhealthy, or old mitochondria. Specifically, multiple elements control discrete portions of this coordinated process (including mitochondrial fission, fusion, and mitophagy) and loss of any of these functions can lead to impaired insulin release and glucose intolerance.

4.1 Mitochondrial dynamics – mitochondrial fission and fusion

Mitochondrial dynamics involves a network of mitochondria continuously undergoing both fission and fusion. Mitochondrial dynamics has been extensively reviewed elsewhere (Stiles and Shirihai, 2012); however, here we will cover recent developments in this area as well as association to human T2DM pathogenesis. Mitochondrial fusion is regulated by the outer mitochondrial membrane dynamin related protein GTPases mitofusin 1 (Mfn1) and mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) (Santel and Fuller, 2001), as well as an inner mitochondrial membrane GTPase protein optic atrophy protein 1 (Opa1) (Misaka et al., 2002). In brief, during mitochondrial fusion, intermixing of membrane proteins, metabolites, and mtDNA aid in preserving functional mitochondria, which may have become depolarized by intracellular or extracellular stress, such as glucolipotoxicity (Molina et al., 2009). Mitochondrial fission is mediated by several proteins, including the transmembrane protein fission 1 (Fis1) (James et al., 2003) and the outer membrane protein mitochondrial fission factor (Mff) (Gandre-Babbe and van der Bliek, 2008), as well as the soluble GTPase dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), which is recruited to the mitochondria by Fis1 and Mff to initiate fission events (Yoon et al., 2003b). Mitochondrial fission is essential to isolate dysfunctional or damaged mitochondria, where they can be ultimately sorted to repair mechanisms through the fusion cycle or to degradation via the mitophagy/autophagy machinery (van der Bliek et al., 2013).

Alterations of the balance of mitochondrial dynamics, by gain or loss of function of several of the fission or fusion proteins mentioned above, have been shown to lead to impairments in mitochondrial structure (i.e. fragmentation), function, and/or glucose-stimulated insulin release (Molina et al., 2009; Park et al., 2008; Twig et al., 2008; Zhang et al., 2011). Further, β-cell specific loss of prohibitin 2, a mitochondrial scaffolding protein critical for inner membrane integrity and upstream regulator of Opa1, leads to mitochondrial fragmentation, impaired mitochondrial function, glucose intolerance, reduced insulin release, and increased β-cell apoptosis (Supale et al., 2013). Mitochondrial outer membrane proteins, such as Mfn2 (de Brito and Scorrano, 2008), also mediate mitochondrial-ER interactions and could subsequently regulate mitochondrial function and insulin release through alterations in mitochondrial-ER coupling (Arruda et al., 2014).

Defects in mitochondrial structure, function and dynamics have been explored in animal models of T2DM as well as isolated human T2DM islets. Both diabetic Goto Kakizaki (GK) and Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats develop mitochondrial fragmentation (Dlaskova et al., 2010; Higa et al., 1999). Specifically, ZDF rats also show mitochondrial ultrastructural defects, with swollen mitochondrial membranes and altered cristae structure (Higa et al., 1999). A study of islets from human T2DM donors also suggests that mitochondrial structural defects correlate with reduced mitochondrial function (Anello et al., 2005); however, the mechanisms underlying these structural defects remain to be explored. It is possible that these changes could be secondary to defects in components of the mitochondrial fusion apparatus; for example, SNPs in the human MFN2 locus have been associated with T2DM in a Han Chinese cohort. (Li et al., 2012b). Further study is needed to determine if other T2DM populations have associations with these MFN2 SNPs, or if β-cell mitochondrial dysfunction in T2DM is secondary to defective mitochondrial dynamics induced by glucolipotoxicity.

4.2 Selective mitochondrial turnover by mitophagy

Mitochondrial autophagy or mitophagy is a selective catabolic process critical for the clearance of damaged, depolarized, or aging mitochondria that have been segregated by fission for removal by autophagosomes and lysosomes (Twig et al., 2008). In mammalian cells, several distinct pathways regulate mitophagy. The best understood pathway of mammalian mitophagy is principally regulated by two proteins, the PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and the E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin (Jin and Youle, 2012). While erythroid cells also depend on the Bcl-2 family member Nix (or Bnip3L) to induce mitochondrial autophagy (Sandoval et al., 2008; Schweers et al., 2007; Zhang and Ney, 2008), Nix deletion has not been shown to impair β-cell autophagy, insulin secretion or glucose control (Fujimoto et al., 2010), suggesting that Nix does not contribute to β-cell mitophagy.

PINK1 acts as a molecular detector of damaged mitochondria (Narendra et al., 2010; Vives-Bauza et al., 2010). PINK1 is a mitochondrially targeted serine-threonine kinase, which localizes to healthy mitochondria, and is rapidly degraded (Muqit et al., 2006). Following mitochondrial damage or depolarization, full length PINK1 accumulates at the mitochondrial outer membrane, with its kinase domain present facing the cytosol (Narendra et al., 2010). While dependent on mitochondrial PINK1 accumulation, the exact mechanism leading to Parkin recruitment to the mitochondrial surface after mitochondrial depolarization is not known. Parkin localization to the mitochondrial surface subsequently leads to activation of mitophagy (Narendra et al., 2008) by ubiquitinating its target proteins, including mitofusins 1 and 2 (Mfn1 and 2) and porin (Gegg et al., 2010; Geisler et al., 2010), to promote their proteosomal degradation. Additionally, ubiquitination of porin leads to recruitment of cytosolic factors required for recruitment of the autophagy machinery, including sequestosome 1 (p62) and histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) (Geisler et al., 2010; Lee et al., 2010). p62 and HDAC6 interaction with autophagosomal proteins, including Beclin and Ambra1, ultimately leads to turnover of Parkin-bound mitochondria through autophagosome-lysosome degradation (Michiorri et al., 2010; Van Humbeeck et al., 2011).

The terminal aspects of mitophagy (i.e. phagophore formation, autophagosome engulfment of mitochondria, autophagosome fusion with autolysosomes) bear many similarities to those of macroautophagy, which is a coordinated cannibalization of cellular organelles and proteins classically in response to nutrient deficiency. β-cell macroautophagy, which has been recently reviewed (Lee, 2014), is vital for the maintenance of normal glucose control through preservation of ER homeostasis (Quan et al., 2012), maintenance of insulin content (Marsh et al., 2007), compensation for peripheral insulin resistance (Ebato et al., 2008), and elimination of accumulated human islet amyloid polypeptide deposits (Kim et al., 2014; Rivera et al., 2014; Shigihara et al., 2014). Dysfunctional β-cell macroautophagy induced by deletion of a key autophagosomal initiation protein, autophagy-related 7 (Atg7), also leads to mitochondrial dysfunction (Jung et al., 2008). It is unclear whether mitochondrial defects following Atg7 loss of function are due to prevention of normal mitochondrial turnover or due to secondary defects (such as ER stress) indirectly leading to reduced cellular respiration.

4.3 Consequences of dysfunctional mitophagy in β-cells

Originally identified as key genetic components of Familial Parkinson’s disease, PINK1 and Parkin have been implicated in mediating mitochondrial turnover and cellular function in numerous cell types (Scarffe et al., 2014). Previously observed associations between T2DM and Parkinson’s disease (Sandyk, 1993; Sun et al., 2012) could be suggestive of common defects in mitophagy that may permeate both β-cells and dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta. Furthermore, the PINK1 N521T variant and several Parkin SNPs associate with T2DM and reduced insulin secretion respectively, suggesting a direct role for PINK1 and Parkin in β-cell dysfunction and diabetes pathogenesis (Jin et al., 2014; Qu et al., 2011). However, it should be known that these genetic connections are from limited sample sizes and require validation in larger cohorts.

Studies on the importance of regulators of mitophagy to β-cell function have been limited to date but have provided interesting insights on the importance of mitochondrial turnover to insulin secretion. The β-cell specific role of Parkin has been controversial when extrapolated from studies in β-cell lines, with evidence of impaired insulin secretion when Parkin expression is transiently increased (Hofmeister-Brix et al., 2013) or reduced by RNAi (Jin et al., 2014). Parkin loss in vivo impairs insulin secretion, mitochondrial function, mitochondrial structure and mitophagy in pancreatic β-cells in the context of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced toxicity (Hoshino et al., 2014); however, β-cell survival was not assessed in this study. Interestingly, the effects of Parkin loss of function were limited to induction of β-cell damage following STZ treatment but were not observed in untreated mice. This suggests an induction of β-cell mitochondrial damage is necessary to elicit Parkin-dependent mitochondrial clearance, consistent with previous observations of mitochondrial depolarization preceding Parkin recruitment to selectively eliminate impaired (but not healthy) mitochondria (Narendra et al., 2008). Unfortunately, these studies do not address the importance of Parkin during physiologic mitophagy in the turnover of impaired or aging mitochondria in β-cells.

Recent profiling of PINK1 in β-cell function and glucose homeostasis indicates additional roles for PINK1 outside of mitophagy (Deas et al., 2014). PINK1 deficiency in islets or MIN6 cells led to reduced glucose-stimulated mitochondrial function and downstream calcium flux. Surprisingly, whole body PINK1 knockout mice displayed improved glucose clearance as well as basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion that were not due to effects on peripheral insulin sensitivity. It is possible that PINK1 deficient mice display enhanced insulin release and glucose control due to upregulation of several key β-cell specific factors, including glucokinase, NeuroD, Nkx6.1, and FoxA2 (Deas et al., 2014) or increases in β-cell replication and mass as PINK1 has been shown to regulate cell proliferation (O’Flanagan et al., 2014), but this remains to be determined. Similar to approaches utilized in Parkin deficient models, it is possible that induction of mitochondrial stress or damage is necessary to observe PINK1 relevance in control of diabetes and β-cell-related mitophagy.

We recently identified a role for mitophagy in the maintenance of β-cell function in the study of the type 1 diabetes susceptibility gene C-type lectin domain family 16, member A (also known as Clec16a or KIAA0350) (Soleimanpour et al., 2014). While Clec16a does not actually possess a true C-type lectin domain, high-throughput proteomic analyses have identified novel interacting proteins that shed light into Clec16a function. Clec16a is an endolysosomal protein that interacts with the E3 ubiquitin ligase neuregulin receptor degradation protein-1 (Nrdp1). Nrdp1 targets both Parkin and Nrdp1 itself for proteosomal degradation (Qiu and Goldberg, 2002; Zhong et al., 2005). Clec16a stabilizes and prevents the proteosomal degradation of Nrdp1 limiting recruitment of Parkin to the mitochondrial surface and also promotes autophagosome-lysosome fusion during the terminal steps of mitophagy (Soleimanpour et al., 2014) (Figure 3). Nrdp1 interaction with, and stabilization by, the deubiquitination enzyme USP8 (Wu et al., 2004) could suggest a tripartite complex whereby Clec16a, USP8, and Nrdp1 coordinate together to regulate Parkin-mediated mitophagy. The importance of USP8 in removal of K6-linked polyubiquitin moieties from Parkin to allow for Parkin recruitment to defective mitochondria is supportive of this model (Durcan et al., 2014).

Figure 3

Clec16a regulates mitophagy

Schematic model of Clec16a control of Parkin-mediated mitophagy and autophagosome-lysosome fusion, via its interaction with, and stabilization of, the E3 ubiquitin ligase Nrdp1. Loss of Clec16a-Nrdp1 leads to an accumulation of unhealthy mitochondria due to unrestrained Parkin activity that are trapped and cannot complete mitophagy as a result of impaired autophagosome-lysosome fusion.

Adapted (with permission) from Soleimanpour, et al. Cell, 2014.

Loss of Clec16a in pancreatic islets leads to an accumulation of unhealthy mitochondria due to dysfunctional mitophagy, ultimately leading to impaired glucose homeostasis and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in mice. Importantly, loss of Clec16a in vivo leads to defects in physiologic mitophagy, illustrating the importance of mitochondrial turnover as a key regulatory process in β-cells. Additionally, diabetogenic CLEC16A polymorphisms lead to reduced islet CLEC16A expression, as well as reduced β-cell function and glucose control in human subjects (Dupuis et al., 2010; Soleimanpour et al., 2014). While of importance to β-cell mitophagy and type 1 diabetes pathogenesis, Clec16a may also play an important role in the pathogenesis of T2DM. Regulation of Clec16a expression by Pdx1 (Sachdeva et al., 2009) could serve as a potential connection between dysfunctional mitophagy and T2DM. The role of mitophagy (and its regulation by PINK1, Parkin, and Clec16a) in the pathogenesis of T2DM remains to be determined.

5. Mitochondria and oxidative stress: a unifying hypothesis

Among the major metabolic triggers of β-cell dysfunction in T2DM is glucose and lipid-induced toxicity. In the context of obesity, elevated circulating glucose and fatty acids increase insulin demand and contribute to β-cell oxidative stress. Mitochondrial oxidative stress leads to oxidation of numerous targets and culminates in impaired GSIS and β-cell apoptosis (Ma et al., 2012; MacDonald et al., 2013). The cellular responses to this stress may vary by experimental system or approach. Increased oxidative stress can activate UCP2, a mitochondrial inner membrane protein that uncouples membrane potential, possibly to reduce mitochondrial oxidant generation at the expense of ATP generation. Reduction in UCP2-dependent proton leak improves insulin resistance-driven β-cell dysfunction in vitro and in vivo (De Souza et al., 2007; Joseph et al., 2002; Zhang et al., 2001), although some background-dependent effects have been observed (reviewed in (Pi and Collins, 2010)). Indeed, the UCP2 β-cell specific knockout shows enhanced GSIS with elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which is explained as increased metabolic flux to fuel β-cell function (Robson-Doucette et al., 2011). However, these mice also develop glucose intolerance related to intra-islet ROS signals that potentiate glucagon release. Additional studies are needed to identify whether mitochondrial-specific ROS, and possibly oxidative modifications, are enhanced in the mitochondria and whether cellular adaptation or mitochondrial biogenesis has occurred thus contributing to enhanced insulin release. Nonetheless, these studies suggest that adaptation to β-cell oxidative stress involving increased UCP2 expression could contribute to a decline in GSIS during obesity and insulin resistance.

The concept that an increase in levels of oxidant production could drive normal metabolic adaptation, however, are in conflict with other observations of oxidative stress induced β-cell failure. Antioxidant enzyme expression within β-cells is low compared to other tissues, suggesting they are more sensitive to oxidative stress induced dysfunction (Robertson and Harmon, 2006). For example, β-cell specific transgenic overexpression of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) substantially improves β-cell mass, insulin secretion, and glucose homeostasis in db/db mice (Harmon et al., 2009). Similarly, β-cell specific transgenic overexpression of thioredoxin also improves glucose homeostasis and insulin content in db/db mice (Yamamoto et al., 2008). Overexpression of antioxidant enzymes is principally thought to improve β-cell function by preventing inactivation of key β-cell transcription factors, including Pdx1 and MafA (Guo et al., 2013). It is also possible that inactivation of Pdx1 by oxidative stress reduces the expression of key downstream mitochondrial targets necessary to maintain oxygen consumption and insulin secretion. Alternatively, the potential decrease in oxidant load in β-cell antioxidant transgenic mouse models may decrease regulated expression of UCP2, thus increasing mitochondrial membrane potential and driving increased GSIS (reviewed in (Lei and Vatamaniuk, 2011)). Islet oxidative stress could also be ameliorated by inhibition of proinflammatory enzymes that suppress antioxidant expression, such as 12-lipooxygenase, which has been shown to suppress Gpx1 and superoxide dismutase 1 expression as well as preventing nuclear localization of Nrf2 (Tersey et al., 2014). The many pathways that respond to mitochondrial function, including acetyl-CoA availability, NAD+/NADH levels, oxidant load, and ATP availability all bear on nuclear expression posture, and each could contribute ultimately to the demise the essential maintenance expression pathways (Pdx1, MafA, and others).

The dichotomy of responses to oxidative stress in pancreatic β-cells could be best explained by the capacity of β-cell mitochondria to appropriately adapt to cellular stressors, including glucolipotoxicity. Hormesis, an adaptive response to cellular stress, refers to the capacity of cells to withstand and respond to sublethal toxin exposure by upregulating repair and defense mechanisms (Kolb and Eizirik, 2012). The generation and responsiveness to ROS in β-cells primarily involves the mitochondria and could therefore be suggestive of mitochondrial hormesis as a key defense mechanism, which may be dysfunctional in the progression to β-cell failure and T2DM (Li et al., 2012a). Future studies directed at β-cell mitohormesis (perhaps mediated by UCP2) may be instructive in evaluating the importance of this hypothesis in β-cell mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, the key targets causing ROS-mediated lethality are not known, which may inform preventative therapies.

6. Challenges

Developing a complete image of factors that render β-cells incapable of glycemic control remains a major challenge. Currently, 1 in 3 patients require insulin replacement therapy for T2DM. Can we identify triggers of mitochondrial dysfunction or vulnerability to mitochondrial dysfunction to preserve β-cell mass in pre-diabetic or diabetic patients? The potential for improved β-cell function through reduction of toxic mitochondrial ROS or reducing UCP2-dependent proton leak may prove to be useful approaches for future mitochondrial targeted therapies (Mahadevan et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2006). Alternatively, approaches to improve peripheral insulin sensitivity and reduce lipotoxicity may prove to be important mitochondrial-directed measures to preserve β-cell function by reducing energy demands on the β-cell. As reviewed here, there exists in the literature a plethora of data supporting a model in which mitochondrial metabolism and mass are key determinants of beta cell function (Figure 1). Thus, it is likely that approaches to improve mitochondrial momentum through maintenance of mitochondrial mass and velocity could improve insulin secretion and glucose control. Many new insights are needed to understand the factors involved, and then to propose solutions to restore mitochondrial metabolism in the context of aging and the metabolic syndrome.