The effect of PINK1/Parkin pathway on glucose homeostasis imbalance induced by tacrolimus in mouse livers

Treatment using the immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus (TAC) is related to new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT). Previous studies focused mainly on islet β cells in the diabetogenic effect of TAC. Herein, we revealed that NODAT was probably induced by TAC via hepatic insulin resistance. After daily injection of mice with TAC, a glucose metabolism disorder was induced. In addition, TAC decreased the mRNA and protein levels of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2), glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2), and the phosphorylation of protein kinase B beta (pAKT2), which indicated impaired hepatic insulin signaling. Furthermore, the PTEN-induced novel kinase 1(PINK1)/Parkin pathway was shown to have a key role in the TAC-induced imbalance of hepatic glucose homeostasis. Mechanistic investigations in human hepatic cell lines revealed that TAC stimulated PINK1/Parkin expression and inhibited the expression of insulin signaling related molecules (e.g., IRS2, GLUT2 and pAKT2). Knockdown of hepatic PINK1 regulated downstream molecules of the PINK1/Parkin pathway (GLUT2 and IRS2), which reversed TAC-induced insulin resistance. Thus, in the liver, PINK1/Parkin signaling plays an important role in the TAC-induced imbalance of glucose homeostasis. TAC-induced diabetes might be prevented using Targeted treatment.