Effects of Akkermansia muciniphila on the Proliferation, Apoptosis and Insulin Secretion of Rat Islet Cell Tumor Cells

  Objective  To investigate the effects of Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) on the proliferation, apoptosis and insulin secretion of rat pancreatic islet cell tumor cells (INS-1).

  Methods   INS-1 cells were divided into three groups, normal, repair, and protect groups, and subsequently every group was subjected with A. muciniphila metabolites, live A. muciniphila orpasteurized A. muciniphila for 48 h. A group that did not treat with anything was set as blank control. After intervention, the cell viability was determined by MTT method, the insulin secretion level stimulated by glucose was determined by ELISA, the expressions of the genes involved in insulin secretion and apoptosis were tested by qRT-PCR, and the expression of apoptosis related protein Bax was evaluated by Western blot.

  Results   There was no significant change in INS-1 cell morphology after co-incubation with 3 types of A. Muciniphila interventions for 48 h. The proliferative activity of INS-1 cells was decreased in the repair group that treated with live A. muciniphila than that of control (P<0.005). A. muciniphila intervention had no effect on insulin secretion in INS-1 cells in normal, repair or protection group (P>0.05). A. muciniphila secretions promoted the expression of glucose transporter 2 (Glut2) in 3 groups and the expression of glucokinase (GCK) in repair group (P<0.05). The expression of Bax of the INS-1 cell in the normal group was decreased after intervented with 3 kinds of A. muciniphila intervention materials (P<0.001).The expression of Bax gene of the INS-1 cell in the repair group that treated with dead A. muciniphila was decreased (P<0.05). The expression of Bax protein of INS-1 cells that treated with A. muciniphila interventions was decreased.

  Conclusion  A. muciniphila can promote the expression of insulin secretion-related genes in INS-1 cells, inhibit the expression of apoptotic genes and apoptosis protein Bax.This research provides a new direction for applying A. muciniphila in improving type 2 diabetes.