An intracellular role for ABCG1-mediated cholesterol transport in the regulated secretory pathway of mouse pancreatic β cells

Jeffrey M. Sturek, J. David Castle, Anthony P. Trace, Laura C. Page, Anna M. Castle, Carmella Evans-Molina, John S. Parks, Raghavendra G. Mirmira, Catherine C. Hedrick

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

128 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cholesterol is a critical component of cell membranes, and cellular cholesterol levels and distribution are tightly regulated in mammals. Recent evidence has revealed a critical role for pancreatic β cell-specific cholesterol homeostasis in insulin secretion as well as in β cell dysfunction in diabetes and the metabolic response to thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which are antidiabetic drugs. The ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) has been shown to play a role in cholesterol efflux, but its role in β cells is currently unknown. In other cell types, ABCG1 expression is downregulated in diabetes and upregulated by TZDs. Here we have demonstrated an intracellular role for ABCG1 in β cells. Loss of ABCG1 expression impaired insulin secretion both in vivo and in vitro, but it had no effect on cellular cholesterol content or efflux. Subcellular localization studies showed the bulk of ABCG1 protein to be present in insulin granules. Loss of ABCG1 led to altered granule morphology and reduced granule cholesterol levels. Administration of exogenous cholesterol restored granule morphology and cholesterol content and rescued insulin secretion in ABCG1-deficient islets. These findings suggest that ABCG1 acts primarily to regulate subcellular cholesterol distribution in mouse β cells. Furthermore, islet ABCG1 expression was reduced in diabetic mice and restored by TZDs, implicating a role for regulation. of islet ABCG1 expression in diabetes pathogenesis and treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2575-2589
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation
Volume120
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2010
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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