A pancreatic player in dementia:pathological role for islet amyloid polypeptide accumulation in the brain

Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients have a markedly higher risk of developing dementia.While multiple factors contribute to this predisposition,one of these involves the increased secretion of amylin,or islet amyloid polypeptide,that accompanies the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Islet amyloid polypeptide accumulation has undoubtedly been implicated in various forms of dementia,including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia,but the exact mechanisms underlying islet amyloid polypeptide’s causative role in dementia are unclear.In this review,we have summarized the literature supporting the various mechanisms by which islet amyloid polypeptide accumulation may cause neuronal damage,ultimately leading to the clinical symptoms of dementia.We discuss the evidence for islet amyloid polypeptide deposition in the brain,islet amyloid polypeptide interaction with other amyloids implicated in neurodegeneration,neuroinflammation caused by islet amyloid polypeptide deposition,vascular damage induced by islet amyloid polypeptide accumulation,and islet amyloid polypeptide-induced cytotoxicity.There are very few therapies approved for the treatment of dementia,and of these,clinical responses have been controversial at best.Therefore,investigating new,targetable pathways is vital for identifying novel therapeutic strategies for treating dementia.As such,we conclude this review by discussing islet amyloid polypeptide accumulation as a potential therapeutic target not only in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus but as a future target in treating or even preventing dementia associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Islet amyloid polypeptide & amyloid beta peptide roles in Alzheimer’s disease:two triggers, one disease

Alzheimer’s disease(AD)is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions worldwide.Due to population ageing,the incidence of AD is increasing.AD patients develop cognitive decline and dementia,features for which is known,requiring permanent care.This poses a major socio-economic burden on healthcare systems as AD patients’relatives and healthcare workers are forced to cope with rising numbers of affected people.Despite recent advances,AD pathological mechanisms are not fully understood.Nevertheless,it is clear that the amyloid beta(Aβ)peptide,which forms amyloid plaques in AD patients’brains,plays a key role.Type 2 diabetes,the most common form of diabetes,affects hundreds of million people globally.Islet amyloid polypeptide(IAPP)is a hormone coproduced and secreted with insulin in pancreatic β-cells,with a key role in diabetes,as it helps regulate glucose levels and control adiposity and satiation.Similarly to Aβ,IAPP is very amyloidogenic,generating intracellular amyloid deposits that causeβ-cell dysfunction and death.It is now clear that IAPP can also have a pathological role in AD,decreasing cognitive function.IAPP harms the blood-brain barrier,directly interacts and co-deposits with Aβ,promoting diabetes-associated dementia.IAPP can cause a metabolic dysfunction in the brain,leading to other diabetes-related forms of AD.Thus,here we discuss IAPP association with diabetes,Aβand dementia,in the context of what we designate a“diabetes brain phenotype”AD hypothesis.Such approach helps to set a conceptual framework for future IAPP-based drugs against AD.

Potential of peptides and phytochemicals in attenuating different phases of islet amyloid polypeptide fi brillation for type 2 diabetes management

Islet amyloid polypeptide(IAPP),or amylin,has been identifi ed as a key factor in the development of type 2 diabetes(T2D).IAPP aggregates,which form amyloid fi brils,contribute to cytotoxicity of the pancreatic β-cells,resulting in loss of function and subsequent reduction in insulin production.As a result,surviving β-cells overcompensate for this reduction of insulin production,further contributing to the loss of function because of increased stress,thus leading to insulin resistance.Endogenously,IAPP monomers function in a variety of roles;however,aggregation renders them non-functional.The use of naturally occurring compounds,including peptides and phytochemicals,has been explored as a way to mitigate or inhibit IAPP fi bril formation.This review discusses the structure,endogenous roles and mechanism of IAPP fi bril formation,recent advances on inhibitors of IAPP fi bril formation,and new insights on the future development and application of foodderived inhibitors towards T2D management.

Interactions of human islet amyloid polypeptide with lipid structure of different curvatures

Curvature is one of the most important features of lipid membranes in living cells,which significantly influences the structure of lipid membranes and their interaction with proteins.Taken the human islet amyloid polypeptide(h IAPP),an important protein related to the pathogenesis of type II diabetes,as an example,we performed molecular dynamics(MD)simulations to study the interaction between the protein and the lipid structures with varied curvatures.We found that the lipids in the high curvature membrane pack loosely with high mobility.The h IAPP initially forms H-bonds with the membrane surface that anchored the protein,and then inserts into the membrane through the hydrophobic interactions between the residues and the hydrophobic tails of the lipids.h IAPP can insert into the membrane more deeply with a larger curvature and with a stronger binding strength.Our result provided important insights into the mechanism of the membrane curvature-dependent property of proteins with molecular details.

XBP1 splicing contributes to endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced human islet amyloid polypeptide up-regulation

As a pathological hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),islet amyloid is formed by the aggregation of islet amyloid polypeptide(IAPP).Endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress interacts with IAPP aggregates and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of T2DM.To examine the role of ER stress in T2DM,we cloned the hIAPP promoter and analyzed its promoter activity in human b-cells.We found that ER stress significantly enhanced hIAPP promoter activity and expression in human b-cells via triggering X-box binding protein 1(XBP1)splicing.We identified a binding site of XBP1 in the hIAPP promoter.Disruption of this binding site by substitution or deletion mutagenesis significantly diminished the effects of ER stress on hIAPP promoter activity.Blockade of XBP splicing by MKC3946 treatment inhibited ER stress-induced hIAPP up-regulation and improved human b-cell survival and function.Our study uncovers a link between ER stress and IAPP at the transcriptional level and may provide novel insights into the role of ER stress in IAPP cytotoxicity and the pathogenesis of T2DM.

Inhibition of YIPF2 Improves the Vulnerability of Oligodendrocytes to Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide

Excessive secretion of human islet amyloid polypeptide(hIAPP)is an important pathological basis of diabetic encephalopathy(DE).In this study,we aimed to investigate the potential implications of hIAPP in DE pathogenesis.Brain magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive scales were applied to evaluate white matter damage and cognitive function.We found that the concentration of serum hIAPP was positively correlated with white matter damage but negatively correlated with cognitive scores in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.In vitro assays revealed that oligodendrocytes,compared with neurons,were more prone to acidosis under exogenous hIAPP stimulation.Moreover,western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation indicated that hIAPP interfered with the binding process of monocarboxylate transporter(MCT)1 to its accessory protein CD147 but had no effect on the binding of MCT2 to its accessory protein gp70.Proteomic differential analysis of proteins co-immunoprecipitated with CD147 in oligodendrocytes revealed Yeast Rab GTPase-Interacting protein 2(YIPF2,which modulates the transfer of CD147 to the cell membrane)as a significant target.Furthermore,YIPF2 inhibition significantly improved hIAPP-induced acidosis in oligodendrocytes and alleviated cognitive dysfunction in DE model mice.These findings suggest that increased CD147 translocation by inhibition of YIPF2 optimizes MCT1 and CD147 binding,potentially ameliorating hIAPP-induced acidosis and the consequent DE-related demyelination.

Graphene quantum dots rescue protein dysregulation of pancreatic β-cells exposed to human islet amyloid polypeptide

The amyloid aggregation of peptides and proteins is a hallmark of neurological disorders and type 2 diabetes.Human islet amyloid polypeptide(IAPP),co-secreted with insulin by pancreaticβ-cells,plays dual roles in both glycemic control and the pathology of type 2 diabetes.While IAPP can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and modulate cellular autophagy,apoptosis and extracellular matrix metabolism,no data is available concerning intracellular protein expression upon exposure to the polypeptide.More surprisingly,how intracellular protein expression is modulated by nanoparticle inhibitors of protein aggregation remains entirely unknown.In this study,we first examined the changing proteomes ofβTC6,a pancreaticβ-cell line,upon exposure to monomeric,oligomeric and fibrillar IAPP,and detailed cellular protein expression rescued by graphene quantum dots(GQDs),an IAPP inhibitor.We found that 29 proteins were significantly dysregulated by the IAPP species,while majority of these proteins were nucleotide-binding proteins.Collectively,our liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry,fluorescence quenching,helium ion microscopy,cytotoxicity and discreet molecular dynamics simulations data revealed a remarkable capacity of GQDs in regulating aberrant protein expression through H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions,pointing to nanomedicine as a new frontier against human amyloid diseases.

Regional differences in islet amyloid deposition in the residual pancreas with new-onset diabetes secondary to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Islet amyloid deposition and reducedβ-cell mass are pathological hallmarks in type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects.To date,the pathological features of the islets in diabetes secondary to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)have not been specifically addressed.AIM To provide further insight into the relationship between islet amyloid deposition of the residual pancreas in PDAC patients and to explore whether regional differences(proximal vs distal residual pancreas)are associated with islet amyloid deposition.METHODS We retrospectively collected clinical information and pancreatic tissue removed from tumors of 45 PDAC patients,including 14 patients with normal glucose tolerance(NGT),16 patients with prediabetes and 15 new-onset diabetes(NOD)patients diagnosed before surgery by an oral glucose tolerance test at West China Hospital from July 2017 to June 2020.Pancreatic volume was calculated by multiplying the estimated area of pancreatic tissue on each image slice by the interval between slices based on abdominal computer tomography scans.Several sections of paraffin-embedded pancreas specimens from both the proximal and/or distal regions remote from the tumor were stained as follows:(1)Hematoxylin and eosin for general histological appearance;(2)hematoxylin and insulin for the determination of fractionalβ-cell area(immunohistochemistry);and(3)quadruple insulin,glucagon,thioflavin T and DAPI staining for the determination ofβ-cell area,α-cell area and amyloid deposits.RESULTS Screening for pancreatic histologic features revealed that duct obstruction with islet amyloid deposition,fibrosis and marked acinar atrophy were robust in the distal pancreatic regions but much less robust in the proximal regions,especially in the prediabetes and NOD groups.Consistent with this finding,the remnant pancreatic volume was markedly decreased in the NOD group by nearly one-half compared with that in the NGT group(37.35±12.16 cm^(3) vs 69.79±18.17 cm^(3),P<0.001).As expected,islets that stained positive for amyloid(islet amyloid density)were found in the majority of PDAC cases.The proportion of amyloid/islet area(severity of amyloid deposition)was significantly higher in both prediabetes and NOD patients than in NGT patients(P=0.002;P<0.0001,respectively).We further examined the regional differences in islet amyloid deposits.Islet amyloid deposit density was robustly increased by approximately 8-fold in the distal regions compared with that in the proximal regions in the prediabetes and NOD groups(3.98%±3.39%vs 0.50%±0.72%,P=0.01;12.03%vs 1.51%,P=0.001,respectively).CONCLUSION In conclusion,these findings suggest that robust alterations of the distal pancreas due to tumors can disturb islet function and structure with islet amyloid formation,which may be associated with the pathogenesis of NOD secondary to PDAC.

Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus:Pathophysiologic and pharmacotherapeutics links

At present,Alzheimer’s disease(AD)and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)are two highly prevalent disorders worldwide,especially among elderly individuals.T2DM appears to be associated with cognitive dysfunction,with a higher risk of developing neurocognitive disorders,including AD.These diseases have been observed to share various pathophysiological mechanisms,including alterations in insulin signaling,defects in glucose transporters(GLUTs),and mitochondrial dysfunctions in the brain.Therefore,the aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms implicated in the association of these pathologies as well as recent therapeutic alternatives.In this context,the hyperphosphorylation of tau and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles have been associated with the dysfunction of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways in the nervous tissues as well as the decrease in the expression of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 in the different areas of the brain,increase in reactive oxygen species,and production of mitochondrial alterations that occur in T2DM.These findings have contributed to the implementation of overlapping pharmacological interventions based on the use of insulin and antidiabetic drugs,or,more recently,azeliragon,amylin,among others,which have shown possible beneficial effects in diabetic patients diagnosed with AD.

DNA nanostructures prevent the formation of and convert toxic amyloid proteospecies into cytocompatible and biodegradable spherical complexes

The deposition of insoluble proteinaceous aggregates in the form of amyloidfibrils within the extracellular space of tissues is associated with numerous diseases.The development of molecular approaches to arrest amyloid formation and prevent cel-lular degeneration remains very challenging due to the complexity of the process of protein aggregation,which encompasses an infinite array of conformations and quaternary structures.Polyanionic biopolymers,such as glycosaminoglycans and RNAs,have been shown to modulate the self-assembly of amyloidogenic polypep-tides and to reduce the toxicity induced by the formation of oligomeric and/or pre-fibrillar proteospecies.This study evaluates the effects of double-stranded DNA(dsDNA)nanostructures(1D,2D,and 3D)on amyloid self-assembly,fibril dis-aggregation,and the cytotoxicity associated with amyloidogenesis.Using the islet amyloid polypeptide(IAPP)whose pancreatic accumulation is the hallmark of type 2 diabetes,it was observed that dsDNA nanostructures inhibit amyloid formation by inducing the formation of spherical complexes in which the peptide adopts a random coil conformation.Interestingly,the DNA nanostructures showed a per-sistent ability to disassemble enzymatically and thermodynamically stable amyloidfibrils into nanoscale DNA/IAPP entities that are fully compatible withβ-pancreatic cells and are biodegradable by proteolysis.Notably,dsDNA nanostructures avidly trapped highly toxic soluble oligomeric species in complete cell culture media and converted them into non-toxic binary complexes.Overall,these results expose the potent modulatory effects of dsDNA on amyloidogenic pathways,and these DNA nanoscaffolds could be used as a source of inspiration for the design of molecules tofight amyloid-related disorders.

Nanoscale inhibition of polymorphic and ambidextrous lAPP amyloid aggregation with small molecules

Understanding how small molecules interface with amyloid fibrils at the nanoscale is of importance for developing therapeutic treatments against amyloid-based diseases. Here, we show for the first time that human islet amyloid polypeptides （LAPP） in the fibrillar form are polymorphic, ambidextrous, and possess multiple periodicities. Upon interfacing with the small molecule epigallocatechin gallate （EGCG）, IAPP aggregation was rendered off-pathway and assumed a form with soft and disordered clusters, while mature IAPP fibrils displayed kinks and branching but conserved the twisted fibril morphology. These nanoscale phenomena resulted from competitive interactions between EGCG and the IAPP amyloidogenic region, as well as end capping of the fibrils by the small molecule. This information is crucial in delineating IAPP toxicity implicated in type 2 diabetes and for developing new inhibitors against amyloidogenesis.