Gene expression of glucose and vitamin D stimulated rodent and human islets

Experiments on isolated pancreatic islets have elicited positive effects of 1,25(OH)2vitamin D on glucose-induced insulin secretion. Our previous study showed direct effects of 25(OH)vitamin D and 1,25(OH)2vitamin D on insulin secretion in INS1E cells when combined with glucose (GSIS). In addition, in vivo studies in rodents have also given support to the beneficial effect of vitamin D on pancreatic function .We have recently reported the genomic effects of 25(OH)vitamin D and 1,25(OH)2vitamin D in INS1E cells. Both vitamin D metabolites significantly changed expression of more than 700 genes, especially genes concerning apoptosis and beta cell survival were found to be upregulated. Results from other studies on rodents and human islets support this, but to our knowledge none have yet investigated the effect of both 25(OH)vitamin D and 1,25(OH)2vitamin D on GSIS and gene expression in in rodent and human islets.

The aim of the present study is to find out whether both 25(OH)vitamin D and 1,25(OH)2vitamin affected glucose-induced insulin secretion in mouse and human islets and whether transcriptional changes investigated with array techniques  could explain the positive link between vitamin D and GSIS.

News from 2021:
Studies of GSIS and array of mouse islet were conducted and a paper on this with the title: “VITAMIN D METABOLITES AFFECT GLUCOSE INDUCED INSULIN SECRETION AND INFLUENCE GENE EXPRESSION CONCERNING β-CELL FUNCTION AND VIABILITY IN MOUSE PANCREATIC ISLETS” is submitted for publication

Primary Investigator: Per Medbøe Thorsby, MD, PhD – Hormone laboratory, OUS

Co-investigators/participants:  
Mette Eskild Bornsted, MD– Hormone laboratory, OUS
May Kristin Lyamouri Bredahl, Msc, PhD– Hormone laboratory, OUS
Jens Petter Berg, MD, PhD – Dep. Medical Biochemistry, OUS

External collaborators:
Hanne Scholz, Mcs, PhD - Dep. of Surgical Research,OUS
Ole Kristoffer Olstad, PhD - Dep. of Medical Biochemistry, OUS