TY - JOUR

T1 - Growth arrest specific protein (GAS) 6

T2 - a role in the regulation of proliferation and functional capacity of the perinatal rat beta cell

AU - Haase, T N

AU - Rasmussen, Morten

AU - Jaksch, C A M

AU - Gaarn, L W

AU - Petersen, Camilla K

AU - Billestrup, N

AU - Nielsen, Jens Høiriis

PY - 2013/4

Y1 - 2013/4

N2 - Aims/hypothesisMaternal low-protein (LP) diet during gestation results in a reduced beta cell mass in the offspring at birth and this may hamper the ability to adapt to high-energy food and sedentary lifestyle later in life. To investigate the biology behind the LP-offspring phenotype, this study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in the pancreas and their potential role in the fetal programming.MethodsWistar rats were given either an LP diet or normal-chow (NC) diet during gestation and differentially expressed genes in the offspring around the time of birth were identified using RNA microarray and quantitative PCR. The role of a differentially expressed gene, growth arrest specific protein 6 (GAS6), was evaluated in vitro using neonatal rat islets.ResultsThe mRNA level of Gas6, known to be mitogenic in other tissues, was reduced in LP offspring. The mRNA content of Mafa was increased in LP offspring suggesting an early maturation of beta cells. When applied in vitro, GAS6 increased proliferation of neonatal pancreatic beta cells, while reducing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion without changing the total insulin content of the islets. In addition, GAS6 decreased the mRNA content of Mafa.Conclusions/interpretationWe propose a role for GAS6 in the regulation of pancreatic beta cells in the critical period around the time of birth. Our results support the hypothesis that the reduced beta cell mass seen in LP offspring is caused by a change in the intra-uterine environment that favours premature maturation of the beta cells.

AB - Aims/hypothesisMaternal low-protein (LP) diet during gestation results in a reduced beta cell mass in the offspring at birth and this may hamper the ability to adapt to high-energy food and sedentary lifestyle later in life. To investigate the biology behind the LP-offspring phenotype, this study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in the pancreas and their potential role in the fetal programming.MethodsWistar rats were given either an LP diet or normal-chow (NC) diet during gestation and differentially expressed genes in the offspring around the time of birth were identified using RNA microarray and quantitative PCR. The role of a differentially expressed gene, growth arrest specific protein 6 (GAS6), was evaluated in vitro using neonatal rat islets.ResultsThe mRNA level of Gas6, known to be mitogenic in other tissues, was reduced in LP offspring. The mRNA content of Mafa was increased in LP offspring suggesting an early maturation of beta cells. When applied in vitro, GAS6 increased proliferation of neonatal pancreatic beta cells, while reducing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion without changing the total insulin content of the islets. In addition, GAS6 decreased the mRNA content of Mafa.Conclusions/interpretationWe propose a role for GAS6 in the regulation of pancreatic beta cells in the critical period around the time of birth. Our results support the hypothesis that the reduced beta cell mass seen in LP offspring is caused by a change in the intra-uterine environment that favours premature maturation of the beta cells.

U2 - 10.1007/s00125-012-2821-9

DO - 10.1007/s00125-012-2821-9

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23334461

VL - 56

SP - 763

EP - 773

JO - Diabetologia

JF - Diabetologia

SN - 0012-186X

IS - 4

ER -