Vitamin A deficiency causes islet dysfunction by inducing islet stellate cell activation via cellular retinol binding protein 1.

International Journal of Biological Sciences
Yunting ZhouZilin Sun

Abstract

Background: Vitamin A (VA) plays an essential role in pancreatic homeostasis. Islet stellate cells (ISCs) are VA-storing cells in pancreatic islets. Herein, we have investigated the effect of VA on glucose homeostasis trough regulation of ISCs function in dietary VA deficiency model mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly fed a VA-sufficient, a VA-deficient (VAD) or a VAD-rescued diet. Glucose metabolism was assessed by glucose tolerance tests and immunohistochemistry. ISCs activation degree was evaluated by immunofluorescence, quantitative PCR and western blotting in both, retinol-treated cultured ISCs and model mice. Changes in ISCs phenotype and their effect on islets were assessed by lentiviral transduction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in a co-culture system. Results: VAD mice showed irregular shaped islet, glucose intolerance, islet size distribution excursions, and upregulated expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA, marker of ISCs activation). Reintroduction of dietary VA restored pancreatic VA levels, endocrine hormone profiles, and inhibited ISCs activation. Incubation with retinol increased the expression of VA signaling factors in ISCs, including cellular retinol binding protein 1 (CRBP1). The kno...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 25, 2020·Journal of Medicinal Food·Yan ZhangGuoxun Chen
Mar 9, 2021·Frontiers in Endocrinology·Yunting ZhouJianhua Ma
Sep 28, 2021·Frontiers in Endocrinology·Xiaohang WangZilin Sun

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BETA
PCR
electrophoresis
transfection
scraping
light microscopy

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Sigma Plot
Prism
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GraphPad
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