Imperial College London

Dr Aida Martinez-Sanchez

Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction

Senior Lecturer
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 3366a.martinez-sanchez Website

 
 
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Location

 

326ICTEM buildingHammersmith Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Publication Type
Year
to

35 results found

Chabosseau P, Yong F, Delgadillo-Silva LF, Lee EY, Melhem R, Li S, Gandhi N, Wastin J, Noriega LL, Leclerc I, Ali Y, Hughes JW, Sladek R, Martinez-Sanchez A, Rutter GAet al., 2023, Molecular phenotyping of single pancreatic islet leader beta cells by "Flash-Seq", Life Sciences, Vol: 316, ISSN: 0024-3205

AIMS: Spatially-organized increases in cytosolic Ca2+ within pancreatic beta cells in the pancreatic islet underlie the stimulation of insulin secretion by high glucose. Recent data have revealed the existence of subpopulations of beta cells including "leaders" which initiate Ca2+ waves. Whether leader cells possess unique molecular features, or localisation, is unknown. MAIN METHODS: High speed confocal Ca2+ imaging was used to identify leader cells and connectivity analysis, running under MATLAB and Python, to identify highly connected "hub" cells. To explore transcriptomic differences between beta cell sub-groups, individual leaders or followers were labelled by photo-activation of the cryptic fluorescent protein PA-mCherry and subjected to single cell RNA sequencing ("Flash-Seq"). KEY FINDINGS: Distinct Ca2+ wave types were identified in individual islets, with leader cells present in 73 % (28 of 38 islets imaged). Scale-free, power law-adherent behaviour was also observed in 29 % of islets, though "hub" cells in these islets did not overlap with leaders. Transcripts differentially expressed (295; padj < 0.05) between leader and follower cells included genes involved in cilium biogenesis and transcriptional regulation. Providing some support for these findings, ADCY6 immunoreactivity tended to be higher in leader than follower cells, whereas cilia number and length tended to be lower in the former. Finally, leader cells were located significantly closer to delta, but not alpha, cells in Euclidian space than were follower cells. SIGNIFICANCE: The existence of both a discrete transcriptome and unique localisation implies a role for these features in defining the specialized function of leaders. These data also raise the possibility that localised signalling between delta and leader cells contributes to the initiation and propagation of islet Ca2+ waves.

Journal article

Chabosseau P, Yong F, Delgadillo-Silva LF, Lee EY, Li S, Gandhi N, Wastin J, Noriega LL, Leclerc I, Ali Y, Hughes JW, Sladek R, Martinez-Sanchez A, Rutter GAet al., 2022, Molecular phenotyping of single pancreatic islet leader beta cells by “Flash-Seq”

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Aims</jats:title><jats:p>Spatially-organised increases in cytosolic Ca<jats:sup>2+</jats:sup>within pancreatic beta cells in the pancreatic islet underlie the stimulation of insulin secretion by high glucose. Recent data have revealed the existence of subpopulations of beta cells including “leaders” which initiate Ca<jats:sup>2+</jats:sup>waves. Whether leader cells possess unique molecular features, or localisation, is unknown.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Main methods</jats:title><jats:p>High speed confocal Ca<jats:sup>2+</jats:sup>imaging was used to identify leader cells and connectivity analysis, running under MATLAB and Python, to identify highly connected “hub” cells. To explore transcriptomic differences between beta cell sub-groups, individual leaders or followers were labelled by photo-activation of the cryptic fluorescent protein PA-mCherry and subjected to single cell RNA sequencing (“Flash-Seq”).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Key findings</jats:title><jats:p>Distinct Ca<jats:sup>2+</jats:sup>wave types were identified in individual islets, with leader cells present in 73 % (28 of 38 islets imaged). Scale-free, power law-adherent behaviour was also observed in 29% of islets, though “hub” cells in these islets did not overlap with leaders. Transcripts differentially expressed (295; padj&lt;0.05) between leader and follower cells included genes involved in cilium biogenesis and transcriptional regulation. Functionally validating these findings, cilia number and length tended to be lower in leader<jats:italic>vs</jats:italic>follower cells. Leader cells were also located significantly closer to delta cells in Euclidian space than were follower cells.</jats:p>

Journal article

Cheung R, Pizza G, Chabosseau P, Rolando D, Tomas A, Burgoyne T, Wu Z, Salowka A, Thapa A, Macklin A, Cao Y, Nguyen-Tu M-S, Dickerson MT, Jacobson DA, Marchetti P, Shapiro J, Piemonti L, de Koning E, Leclerc I, Bouzakri K, Sakamoto K, Smith DM, Rutter GA, Martinez-Sanchez Aet al., 2022, Glucose-Dependent miR-125b Is a Negative Regulator of beta-Cell Function, DIABETES, Vol: 71, Pages: 1525-1545, ISSN: 0012-1797

Journal article

Rial SA, Alkhoury A, Lavoie G, Roux P, Durcan TM, Martinez-Sanchez A, Lim GEet al., 2022, Critical Cellular Functions That Mediate the Early Stages of Adipogenesis Are Directly Influenced by 14-3-3zeta and Its Interactome, Publisher: AMER DIABETES ASSOC, ISSN: 0012-1797

Conference paper

Chabosseau PL, Yong SWF, Lopez L, Leclerc I, Ali Y, Martinez-Sanchez A, Rutter GAet al., 2022, A Transcriptomic Signature of Pancreatic Islet Leader Beta Cells, Publisher: AMER DIABETES ASSOC, ISSN: 0012-1797

Conference paper

Georgia S, Arda HE, Martinez-Sanchez A, Dhawan Set al., 2022, Editorial: Epigenetics of Glucose Homeostasis, FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY, Vol: 13, ISSN: 1664-2392

Journal article

Nguyen-Tu M-S, Harris J, Martinez-Sanchez A, Chabosseau P, Hu M, Georgiadou E, Pollard A, Otero P, Lopez-Noriega L, Leclerc I, Sakamoto K, Schmoll D, Smith DM, Carling D, Rutter GAet al., 2022, Opposing effects on regulated insulin secretion of acute vs chronic stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase, DIABETOLOGIA, Vol: 65, Pages: 997-1011, ISSN: 0012-186X

Journal article

Salowka A, Martinez-Sanchez A, 2021, Molecular Mechanisms of Nutrient-Mediated Regulation of MicroRNAs in Pancreatic beta-cells, FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY, Vol: 12, ISSN: 1664-2392

Journal article

Cheung R, Pizza G, Chabosseau P, Rolando D, Tomas A, Burgoyne T, Salowka A, Macklin A, Cao Y, Nguyen-Tu M-S, Marchetti P, Shapiro J, Piemonti L, de Koning E, Leclerc I, Sakamoto K, Smith DM, Rutter GA, Martinez-Sanchez Aet al., 2021, Glucose-dependent miR-125b is a negative regulator of β-cell function, BioRxiv

<jats:title>SUMMARY</jats:title><jats:p>Impaired pancreatic β-cell function and insulin secretion are hallmarks of type 2 diabetes. MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that silence gene expression, vital for the development and function of β-cells. MiR-125b-5p (miR-125b), a highly conserved miRNA, is abundant in β-cells, though its role in these cells is unclear. Here we show that miR-125b levels in human islets correlate with body mass index (BMI), and its expression is regulated by glucose in an AMP-activated protein kinase-dependent manner. An unbiased high-throughput screen identified multiple miR-125b targets, including the transporter of lysosomal hydrolases <jats:italic>M6pr</jats:italic> and the mitochondrial fission regulator <jats:italic>Mtfp1</jats:italic>. Inactivation of miR-125b in human β-cells shortened mitochondria and enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, whilst mice over-expressing miR-125b selectively in β-cells were glucose intolerant. β-cells from these animals contained enlarged lysosomal structures and showed reduced insulin content and secretion. Thus, we identify miR125b as a glucose-controlled regulator of organelle dynamics that modulates insulin secretion.</jats:p><jats:sec id="s1"><jats:title>Highlights</jats:title><jats:list list-type="bullet"><jats:list-item><jats:p>Islet miR-125b correlates with BMI and is regulated by glucose via AMP-activated protein kinase in β-cells</jats:p></jats:list-item><jats:list-item><jats:p>miR-125b targets dozens of genes including several involved in the regulation of mitochondrial (<jats:italic>Mtfp1</jats:italic>) and lysosomal (<jats:italic>M6pr</jats:italic>) morphology or function</jats:p></jats:list-item><jats:list-item><jats:p>Deletion of miR-125b results in shorter mitochondria an

Journal article

Chabosseau PL, Martinez-Sanchez A, Leclerc I, Salem V, Rutter GAet al., 2021, Repetitive Ca2+Waves Emanate from a Stable Leader Cell in Mouse Islets, 81st Virtual Scientific Sessions of the American-Diabetes-Association (ADA), Publisher: AMER DIABETES ASSOC, ISSN: 0012-1797

Conference paper

Mousavy Gharavy SN, Owen BM, Millership SJ, Chabosseau P, Pizza G, Martinez-Sanchez A, Tasoez E, Georgiadou E, Hu M, Fine NHF, Jacobson DA, Dickerson MT, Idevall-Hagren O, Montoya A, Kramer H, Mehta Z, Withers DJ, Ninov N, Gadue PJ, Cardenas-Diaz FL, Cruciani-Guglielmacci C, Magnan C, Ibberson M, Leclerc I, Voz M, Rutter GAet al., 2021, Sexually dimorphic roles for the type 2 diabetes-associated C2cd4b gene in murine glucose homeostasis, Diabetologia, Vol: 64, Pages: 850-864, ISSN: 0012-186X

Aims/hypothesisVariants close to the VPS13C/C2CD4A/C2CD4B locus are associated with altered risk of type 2 diabetes in genome-wide association studies. While previous functional work has suggested roles for VPS13C and C2CD4A in disease development, none has explored the role of C2CD4B.MethodsCRISPR/Cas9-induced global C2cd4b-knockout mice and zebrafish larvae with c2cd4a deletion were used to study the role of this gene in glucose homeostasis. C2 calcium dependent domain containing protein (C2CD)4A and C2CD4B constructs tagged with FLAG or green fluorescent protein were generated to investigate subcellular dynamics using confocal or near-field microscopy and to identify interacting partners by mass spectrometry.ResultsSystemic inactivation of C2cd4b in mice led to marked, but highly sexually dimorphic changes in body weight and glucose homeostasis. Female C2cd4b mice displayed unchanged body weight compared with control littermates, but abnormal glucose tolerance (AUC, p = 0.01) and defective in vivo, but not in vitro, insulin secretion (p = 0.02). This was associated with a marked decrease in follicle-stimulating hormone levels as compared with wild-type (WT) littermates (p = 0.003). In sharp contrast, male C2cd4b null mice displayed essentially normal glucose tolerance but an increase in body weight (p < 0.001) and fasting blood glucose (p = 0.003) after maintenance on a high-fat and -sucrose diet vs WT littermates. No metabolic disturbances were observed after global inactivation of C2cd4a in mice, or in pancreatic beta cell function at larval stages in C2cd4a null zebrafish. Fasting blood glucose levels were also unaltered in adult C2cd4a-null fish. C2CD4B and C2CD4A were partially localised to the plasma membrane, with the latter under the control of intracellular Ca2+. Binding partners for both included secretory-granule-localised PTPRN2/phogrin.Conclusions/interpretationOur studies sugge

Journal article

Nguyen-Tu M-S, Martinez-Sanchez A, Leclerc I, Rutter GA, da Silva Xavier Get al., 2020, Adipocyte-specific deletion of Tcf7l2 induces dysregulated lipid metabolism and impairs glucose tolerance in mice, DIABETOLOGIA, Vol: 64, Pages: 129-141, ISSN: 0012-186X

Journal article

Rutter GA, Georgiadou E, Martinez-Sanchez A, Pullen TJet al., 2020, Metabolic and functional specialisations of the pancreatic beta cell: gene disallowance, mitochondrial metabolism and intercellular connectivity, DIABETOLOGIA, Vol: 63, Pages: 1990-1998, ISSN: 0012-186X

Journal article

Nguyen-Tu M-S, Martinez-Sanchez A, Leclerc I, Rutter GA, da Silva Xavier Get al., 2020, Reduced expression of TCF7L2 in adipocyte impairs glucose tolerance associated with decreased insulin secretion, incretins levels and lipid metabolism dysregulation in male mice

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) is a downstream effector of the Wnt/beta-catenin signalling pathway and its expression is critical for adipocyte development. The precise role of TCF7L2 in glucose and lipid metabolism in adult adipocytes remains to be defined. Here, we aim to investigate how changes in TCF7L2 expression in mature adipocytes affect glucose homeostasis. <jats:italic>Tcf7l2</jats:italic> was selectively ablated from mature adipocytes in C57BL/6J mice using an adiponectin promoter-driven <jats:italic>Cre</jats:italic> recombinase to recombine alleles floxed at exon 1 of the <jats:italic>Tcf7l2</jats:italic> gene. Mice lacking <jats:italic>Tcf7l2</jats:italic> in mature adipocytes displayed normal body weight. Male mice exhibited normal glucose homeostasis at eight weeks of age. Male heterozygote knockout mice (aTCF7L2het) exhibited impaired glucose tolerance (AUC increased 1.14 ± 0.04 -fold, p=0.03), as assessed by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, and changes in fat mass at 16 weeks (increased by 1.4 ± 0.09-fold, p=0.007). Homozygote knockout mice exhibited impaired oral glucose tolerance at 16 weeks of age (AUC increased 2.15 ± 0.15-fold, p=0.0001). Islets of Langerhans exhibited impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic> (decreased 0.54 ± 0.13-fold aTCF7L2KO vs control, p=0.02), but no changes in <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Female mice in which one or two alleles of the <jats:italic>Tcf7l2</jats:italic> gene was knocked out in adipocytes displayed no changes in glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity or insulin secretion. Plasma levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 and gastric inhibitory polypeptide were lowered in knockout mice (decreased 0.57 ± 0.03-fold and 0.41 ± 0.12-fold

Journal article

Martinez-Sanchez A, Lazzarano S, Sharma E, Lockstone H, Murphy CLet al., 2020, High-Throughput Identification of MiR-145 Targets in Human Articular Chondrocytes, LIFE-BASEL, Vol: 10

Journal article

Georgiadou E, Haythorne E, Dickerson MT, Lopez-Noriega L, Pullen TJ, da Silva Xavier G, Davis SPX, Martinez-Sanchez A, Semplici F, Rizzuto R, McGinty JA, French PM, Cane MC, Jacobson DA, Leclerc I, Rutter GAet al., 2020, The pore-forming subunit MCU of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter is required for normal glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo in mice, Diabetologia, Vol: 63, Pages: 1368-1381, ISSN: 0012-186X

Aims/hypothesisMitochondrial oxidative metabolism is central to glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Whether Ca2+ uptake into pancreatic beta cell mitochondria potentiates or antagonises this process is still a matter of debate. Although the mitochondrial Ca2+ importer (MCU) complex is thought to represent the main route for Ca2+ transport across the inner mitochondrial membrane, its role in beta cells has not previously been examined in vivo.MethodsHere, we inactivated the pore-forming subunit of the MCU, encoded by Mcu, selectively in mouse beta cells using Ins1Cre-mediated recombination. Whole or dissociated pancreatic islets were isolated and used for live beta cell fluorescence imaging of cytosolic or mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration and ATP production in response to increasing glucose concentrations. Electrophysiological recordings were also performed on whole islets. Serum and blood samples were collected to examine oral and i.p. glucose tolerance.ResultsGlucose-stimulated mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation (p< 0.05), ATP production (p< 0.05) and insulin secretion (p< 0.01) were strongly inhibited in beta cell-specific Mcu-null (βMcu-KO) animals, in vitro, as compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Interestingly, cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations increased (p< 0.001), whereas mitochondrial membrane depolarisation improved in βMcu-KO animals. βMcu-KO mice displayed impaired in vivo insulin secretion at 5 min (p< 0.001) but not 15 min post-i.p. injection of glucose, whilst the opposite phenomenon was observed following an oral gavage at 5 min. Unexpectedly, glucose tolerance was improved (p< 0.05) in young βMcu-KO (<12 weeks), but not in older animals vs WT mice.Conclusions/interpretationMCU is crucial for mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake in pancreatic beta cells and is required for normal GSIS. The apparent compensatory mechanisms that maintain glucose tolerance in βMcu-KO mice remain

Journal article

Clough TJ, Baxan N, Coakley EJ, Rivas C, Zhao L, Leclerc I, Martinez-Sanchez A, Rutter GA, Long NJet al., 2020, Synthesis and in vivo behaviour of an exendin-4-based MRI probe capable of beta-cell-dependent contrast enhancement in the pancreas, Dalton Transactions: an international journal of inorganic chemistry, Vol: 49, Pages: 4732-4740, ISSN: 1477-9226

Global rates of diabetes mellitus are increasing, and treatment of the disease consumes a growing proportion of healthcare spending across the world. Pancreatic β-cells, responsible for insulin production, decline in mass in type 1 and, to a more limited degree, in type 2 diabetes. However, the extent and rate of loss in both diseases differs between patients resulting in the need for the development of novel diagnostic tools, which could quantitatively assess changes in mass of β-cells over time and potentially lead to earlier diagnosis and improved treatments. Exendin-4, a potent analogue of glucagon-like-peptide 1 (GLP-1), binds to the receptor GLP-1R, whose expression is enriched in β-cells. GLP-1R has thus been used in the past as a means of targeting probes for a wide variety of imaging modalities to the endocrine pancreas. However, exendin-4 conjugates designed specifically for MRI contrast agents are an under-explored area. In the present work, the synthesis and characterization of an exendin-4-dota(ga)-Gd(III) complex, GdEx, is reported, along with its in vivo behaviour in healthy and in β-cell-depleted C57BL/6J mice. Compared to the ubiquitous probe, [Gd(dota)]−, GdEx shows selective uptake by the pancreas with a marked decrease in accumulation observed after the loss of β-cells elicited by deleting the microRNA processing enzyme, DICER. These results open up pathways towards the development of other targeted MRI contrast agents based on similar chemistry methodology.

Journal article

Cheung R, Pizza G, Rolando DM, Chabosseau PL, Nguyen-Tu M-S, Leclerc I, Rutter GA, Martinez-Sanchez Aet al., 2019, miR-125b Is Regulated by Glucose via AMPK and Impairs beta-Cell Function, 79th Scientific Sessions of the American-Diabetes-Association (ADA), Publisher: AMER DIABETES ASSOC, ISSN: 0012-1797

Conference paper

Martinez-Sanchez A, Nguyen-Tu M-S, Cebola I, Yavari A, Marchetti P, Piemonti L, de Koning E, Shapiro AMJ, Johnson P, Sakamoto K, Smith DM, Leclerc I, Ashrafian H, Ferrer J, Rutter GAet al., 2018, MiR-184 expression is regulated by AMPK in pancreatic islets., FASEB Journal, Vol: 32, Pages: 2587-2600, ISSN: 0892-6638

AMPK is a critical energy sensor and target for widely used antidiabetic drugs. In β-cells, elevated glucose concentrations lower AMPK activity, and the ablation of both catalytic subunits (βAMPKdKO mice) impairs insulin secretion in vivo and β-cell identity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that silence gene expression that are essential for pancreatic β-cell function and identity and altered in diabetes. Here, we have explored the miRNAs acting downstream of AMPK in mouse and human β-cells. We identified 14 down-regulated and 9 up-regulated miRNAs in βAMPKdKO vs. control islets. Gene ontology analysis of targeted transcripts revealed enrichment in pathways important for β-cell function and identity. The most down-regulated miRNA was miR-184 (miR-184-3p), an important regulator of β-cell function and compensatory expansion that is controlled by glucose and reduced in diabetes. We demonstrate that AMPK is a potent regulator and an important mediator of the negative effects of glucose on miR-184 expression. Additionally, we reveal sexual dimorphism in miR-184 expression in mouse and human islets. Collectively, these data demonstrate that glucose-mediated changes in AMPK activity are central for the regulation of miR-184 and other miRNAs in islets and provide a link between energy status and gene expression in β-cells.-Martinez-Sanchez, A., Nguyen-Tu, M.-S., Cebola, I., Yavari, A., Marchetti, P., Piemonti, L., de Koning, E., Shapiro, A. M. J., Johnson, P., Sakamoto, K., Smith, D. M., Leclerc, I., Ashrafian, H., Ferrer, J., Rutter, G. A. MiR-184 expression is regulated by AMPK in pancreatic islets.

Journal article

Martinez-Sanchez A, Nguyen-Tu M-S, Leclerc I, Rutter GAet al., 2018, Manipulation and Measurement of AMPK Activity in Pancreatic Islets., Methods Mol Biol, Vol: 1732, Pages: 413-431

The role of the energy sensor AMPK-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the insulin-secreting β-cell remains unclear and a subject of intense research. With this chapter, we aim to provide a detailed description of the methods that our group routinely applies to the study of AMPK function in mouse and human pancreatic islets. Thus, we provide detailed protocols to isolate and/or culture mouse and human islets, to modulate and measure AMPK activity in isolated islets, and to evaluate its impact on islet function.

Journal article

Martinez-Sanchez A, Shapiro J, Marchetti P, Sakamoto K, Smith DM, Leclerc I, Rutter GAet al., 2017, AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) Regulates beta-Cell MicroRNA Expression, 77th Scientific Sessions of the American-Diabetes-Association, Publisher: AMER DIABETES ASSOC, Pages: A29-A29, ISSN: 0012-1797

Conference paper

Martinez-Sanchez A, Rutter GA, Latreille M, 2017, MiRNAs in β-Cell development, identity, and disease., Frontiers in Genetics, Vol: 7, ISSN: 1664-8021

Pancreatic β-cells regulate glucose metabolism by secreting insulin, which in turn stimulates the utilization or storage of the sugar by peripheral tissues. Insulin insufficiency and a prolonged period of insulin resistance are usually the core components of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although, decreased insulin levels in T2D have long been attributed to a decrease in β-cell function and/or mass, this model has recently been refined with the recognition that a loss of β-cell "identity" and dedifferentiation also contribute to the decline in insulin production. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulatory molecules that display tissue-specific expression patterns and maintain the differentiated state of somatic cells. During the past few years, great strides have been made in understanding how miRNA circuits impact β-cell identity. Here, we review current knowledge on the role of miRNAs in regulating the acquisition of the β-cell fate during development and in maintaining mature β-cell identity and function during stress situations such as obesity, pregnancy, aging, or diabetes. We also discuss how miRNA function could be harnessed to improve our ability to generate β-cells for replacement therapy for T2D.

Journal article

Yavari A, Stocker CJ, Ghaffari S, Wargent ET, Steeples V, Czibik G, Pinter K, Bellahcene M, Woods A, Martínez de Morentin PB, Cansell C, Lam BY, Chuster A, Petkevicius K, Nguyen-Tu MS, Martinez-Sanchez A, Pullen TJ, Oliver PL, Stockenhuber A, Nguyen C, Lazdam M, O'Dowd JF, Harikumar P, Tóth M, Beall C, Kyriakou T, Parnis J, Sarma D, Katritsis G, Wortmann DD, Harper AR, Brown LA, Willows R, Gandra S, Poncio V, de Oliveira Figueiredo MJ, Qi NR, Peirson SN, McCrimmon RJ, Gereben B, Tretter L, Fekete C, Redwood C, Yeo GS, Heisler LK, Rutter GA, Smith MA, Withers DJ, Carling D, Sternick EB, Arch JR, Cawthorne MA, Watkins H, Ashrafian Het al., 2016, Chronic activation of γ2 AMPK induces obesity and reduces β cell function, Cell Metabolism, Vol: 23, Pages: 821-836, ISSN: 1932-7420

Despite significant advances in our understanding of the biology determining systemic energy homeostasis, the treatment of obesity remains a medical challenge. Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been proposed as an attractive strategy for the treatment of obesity and its complications. AMPK is a conserved, ubiquitously expressed, heterotrimeric serine/threonine kinase whose short-term activation has multiple beneficial metabolic effects. Whether these translate into long-term benefits for obesity and its complications is unknown. Here, we observe that mice with chronic AMPK activation, resulting from mutation of the AMPK γ2 subunit, exhibit ghrelin signaling-dependent hyperphagia, obesity, and impaired pancreatic islet insulin secretion. Humans bearing the homologous mutation manifest a congruent phenotype. Our studies highlight that long-term AMPK activation throughout all tissues can have adverse metabolic consequences, with implications for pharmacological strategies seeking to chronically activate AMPK systemically to treat metabolic disease.

Journal article

Martinez-Sanchez A, Pullen TJ, Chabosseau PL, Zhang Q, Haythorne E, Cane MC, Nguyen-Tu MS, Rutter GAet al., 2016, Disallowance of acyl-CoA thioesterase 7 (Acot7) in beta cells is required for normal insulin secretion and glucose tolerance, DIABETIC MEDICINE, Vol: 33, Pages: 38-38, ISSN: 0742-3071

Journal article

Rutter GA, 2016, Disallowance of Acot7 in b-Cells is required for normal glucosetolerance and insulin secretion, Diabetes, Vol: 65, Pages: 1268-1282, ISSN: 0012-1797

Acot7, encoding acyl-CoA thioesterase-7, is one of ∼60 genes expressed ubiquitously across tissues but relatively silenced, or “disallowed”, in pancreatic β-cells. The capacity of ACOT7 to hydrolyse long-chain acyl-CoA esters suggests potential roles in β-oxidation, lipid biosynthesis, signal transduction or insulin exocytosis. Here, we explored the physiological relevance of β-cell-specific Acot7 silencing by re-expressing ACOT7 in these cells. ACOT7 overexpression in clonal MIN6 and INS1(832/13) β-cells impaired insulin secretion in response to glucose plus fatty acids. Furthermore, examined in a panel of transgenic mouse lines, we demonstrate that overexpression of mitochondrial ACOT7 selectively in the adult β-cell reduced glucose tolerance dose-dependently and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. By contrast, depolarisation-induced secretion was unaffected, arguing against a direct action on the exocytotic machinery. Acyl-CoA levels, ATP/ADP increases, membrane depolarization and Ca2+ fluxes were all markedly reduced in transgenic mouse islets, whereas glucose-induced O2-consumption was unchanged. Whilst glucose-induced increases in ATP/ADP ratio were similarly lowered after ACOT7 over-expression in INS1(832/13) cells, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) were unaffected, consistent with an action of Acot7 to increase cellular ATP consumption. Since Acot7 mRNA levels are increased in human islets in type 2 diabetes, inhibition of the enzyme might provide a novel therapeutic strategy.

Journal article

Seidl CI, Martinez-Sanchez A, Murphy CL, 2016, Derepression of MicroRNA-138 Contributes to Loss of the Human Articular Chondrocyte Phenotype, ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY, Vol: 68, Pages: 398-409, ISSN: 2326-5191

Journal article

Martinez-Sanchez A, Nguyen-Tu M-S, Rutter GA, 2015, DICER Inactivation Identifies Pancreatic β-Cell "Disallowed" Genes Targeted by MicroRNAs., Mol Endocrinol, Vol: 29, Pages: 1067-1079

Pancreatic β-cells are the body's sole source of circulating insulin and essential for the maintenance of blood glucose homeostasis. Levels of up to 66 "disallowed" genes, which are strongly expressed and play housekeeping roles in most other mammalian tissues, are unusually low in β-cells. The molecular mechanisms involved in repressing these genes are largely unknown. Here, we explore the role in gene disallowance of microRNAs (miRNAs), a type of small noncoding RNAs that silence gene expression at the posttranscriptional level and are essential for β-cell development and function. To selectively deplete miRNAs from adult β-cells, the miRNA-processing enzyme DICER was inactivated by deletion of the RNase III domain with a tamoxifen-inducible Pdx1CreER transgene. In this model, β-cell dysfunction was apparent 2 weeks after recombination and preceded a decrease in insulin content and loss of β-cell mass. Of the 14 disallowed genes studied, quantitative RT-quantitative real-time PCR revealed that 6 genes (Fcgrt, Igfbp4, Maf, Oat, Pdgfra, and Slc16a1) were up-regulated (1.4- to 2.1-fold, P < .05) at this early stage. Expression of luciferase constructs bearing the 3'-untranslated regions of the corresponding mRNAs in wild-type or DICER-null β-cells demonstrated that Fcgrt, Oat, and Pdgfra are miRNA direct targets. We thus reveal a role for miRNAs in the regulation of disallowed genes in β-cells and provide evidence for a novel means through which noncoding RNAs control the functional identity of these cells independently of actions on β-cell mass.

Journal article

Rutter GA, Pullen TJ, Hodson DJ, Martinez-Sanchez Aet al., 2015, Pancreatic beta-cell identity, glucose sensing and the control of insulin secretion, BIOCHEMICAL JOURNAL, Vol: 466, Pages: 203-218, ISSN: 0264-6021

Journal article

Kone M, Sun G, Ibberson M, Martinez-Sanchez A, Sayers S, Marie-Sophie N-T, Kantor C, Swisa A, Dor Y, Gorman T, Ferrer J, Thorens B, Reimann F, Gribble F, McGinty JA, Chen L, French PM, Birzele F, Hildebrandt T, Uphues I, Rutter GAet al., 2014, LKB1 and AMPK differentially regulate pancreatic beta-cell identity, Faseb Journal, Vol: 28, Pages: 4972-4985, ISSN: 1530-6860

Fully differentiated pancreatic b cellsare essential for normal glucose homeostasis in mammals.Dedifferentiation of these cells has been suggestedto occur in type 2 diabetes, impairing insulinproduction. Since chronic fuel excess (“glucotoxicity”)is implicated in this process, we sought here to identifythe potential roles in b-cell identity of the tumor suppressorliver kinase B1 (LKB1/STK11) and the downstreamfuel-sensitive kinase, AMP-activated proteinkinase (AMPK). Highly b-cell-restricted deletion ofeach kinase in mice, using an Ins1-controlled Cre, wastherefore followed by physiological, morphometric,and massive parallel sequencing analysis. Loss of LKB1strikingly (2.0–12-fold, E<0.01) increased the expressionof subsets of hepatic (Alb, Iyd, Elovl2) and neuronal(Nptx2, Dlgap2, Cartpt, Pdyn) genes, enhancing glutamatesignaling. These changes were partially recapitulatedby the loss of AMPK, which also up-regulated b-cell“disallowed” genes (Slc16a1, Ldha, Mgst1, Pdgfra) 1.8- to3.4-fold (E<0.01). Correspondingly, targeted promoterswere enriched for neuronal (Zfp206; P51.3310233)and hypoxia-regulated (HIF1; P52.5310216) transcriptionfactors. In summary, LKB1 and AMPK, through onlypartly overlapping mechanisms, maintain b-cell identityby suppressing alternate pathways leading to neuronal,hepatic, and other characteristics. Selective targetingof these enzymes may provide a new approach tomaintaining b-cell function in some forms of diabetes.—Kone,M., Pullen, T. J., Sun, G., Ibberson, M.,Martinez-Sanchez, A., Sayers, S., Nguyen-Tu, M.-S.,Kantor, C., Swisa, A., Dor, Y., Gorman, T., Ferrer, J.,Thorens, B., Reimann, F., Gribble, F., McGinty, J. A.,Chen, L., French, P. M., Birzele, F., Hildebrandt, T.,Uphues, I., Rutter, G. A. LKB1 and AMPK differentiallyregulate pancreatic b-cell identity.

Journal article

Martinez-Sanchez A, Pullen TJ, Rutter GA, 2014, Repression of Acot7 in beta-Cells Is Required for the Potentiation of GSIS by Fatty Acids, Publisher: AMER DIABETES ASSOC, Pages: A552-A552, ISSN: 0012-1797

Conference paper

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