GSE193857
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals a role for reactive oxygen species and peroxiredoxins in fatty-acid-induced rat ß-cell proliferation
The functional mass of insulin-secreting pancreatic ß cells expands to maintain glucose homeostasis in the face of nutrient excess, in part via replication of existing ß cells. To decipher the underlying molecular mechanisms, we assessed ß-cell proliferation in isolated rat islets exposed to glucose and oleate or palmitate for 48 h and analyzed the transcriptional response by single-cell RNA sequencing. Unsupervised clustering of pooled ß cells identified subpopulations, including proliferating ß cells. ß-cell proliferation increased in response to oleate but not palmitate. Both fatty acids enhanced the expression of genes involved energy metabolism and mitochondrial activity. Comparison of proliferating vs. non-proliferating ß cells and pseudotime ordering suggested the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and peroxiredoxin signaling. Accordingly, the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine and the peroxiredoxin inhibitor Conoidin A both blocked oleate-induced ß-cell proliferation. Our data reveal a key role for ROS signaling in ß-cell proliferation in response to nutrients. Overall design: Isolated rat pancreatic islets were treated for 48h in the presence of 16,7mM glucose (VEH; 4 replicates), 16,7mM glucose + 0.5mM palmitate (PAL; 3 biological replicates) or oleate (OL; 4 biological replicates) prior single cell RNA-sequencing