Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G1 (ADGRG1/GPR56) and pancreatic β-cell function

Summary, in English

Context: Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-G1 (ADGRG1) is the most abundant GPCR in human pancreatic islets, but its role in islet function is unclear. Objective: Investigate how ADGRG1 expression and activation by its ligand, collagen III, impacts β-cell function in normal and type 2 diabetic (T2D) islets. Design: Genes associated with the ADGRG1 in human islets was probed by RNA-sequencing of human pancreatic islet isolated from cadaveric donors, followed by functional studies on β-cell proliferation, apoptosis, and insulin secretion in human and mouse islets and in INS-1 cells. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in β-cell gene expression, proliferation, apoptosis, and insulin secretion were quantified by RNA-sequencing, qPCR, Thymidine incorporation, Western blotting, and RIA, respectively. Results: ADGRG1 is the most abundant GPCR mRNA in both human and mouse islets, and its expression inhumanislets strongly correlates with genes important for β-cell function and T2 Drisk. Theexpression ofADGRG1wasreduced in islets ofT2Ddonors, in db/dbmouseislets,andin isolated human islets exposed to chronic hyperglycemia. Beneficial effects of collagen type III on β-cell function via activation of the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway, suppression of RhoA and caspase-3 activity, increased β-cell viability, and proliferation were abolished when ADGRG1 was downregulated in β-cells. Conclusions:Wedemonstrate a mechanistic link between ADGRG1 expression andβ-cell function. Pharmacological agents that promote expression or activation of the ADGRG1 receptor may represent a novel approach for the treatment of T2D.