SAT-LB035 The G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor GPER Plays a Dominant Role in Human Islet Cell Proliferation upon High Glucose

Estrogen exerts its effects through genomic and rapid extra-nuclear signaling pathways. The classic estrogen receptors, ERα and ERβ have demonstrated favorable effects on beta-cell function and survival but their clinical utility has been questioned owing to oncogenic potential and concerns regarding feminizing effects in men. Recent work indicates, however, that the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), expressed in pancreatic islet cells retains the estrogenic beta-cell protective effects, without the shortcomings of the classic ERs. GPER activation enhances glucose stimulated insulin secretion, reduces islet apoptosis upon insult and has been implicated in beta-cell mass expansion during pregnancy in rodent islets. Since GPER can thus comprise an attractive treatment target in hyperglycemic states we examined the effects of the three ERs on proliferation of human pancreatic islets in the presence of hyperglycemia. Islets from eight non diabetic human donors (6 males and 2 females) were grown at glucose concentrations of either 11mM or 25mM for 24 hours and examined for DNA synthesis after treatment with E2 (at increasing concentrations) and with specific agonists for ERα, ERβ and GPER (PPT 10nM, DPN 10nM and G1 100nM, respectively). At a glucose concentration of 11mM, E2 and all three ER agonists induced a significant ~2 folds increase in 3[H]-thymidine incorporation. However, under still higher glucose conditions (HG; 25mM) only the GPER agonist G1 increased proliferation equipotently (~2.5 folds; p<0.001), while stimulation of ERα and ERβ enhanced proliferation by ~1.4 folds only (p<0.05 for ERα). In search for an explanation for the differential effects, we examined expression of the three ERs at glucose concentrations of 11mM and 25mM, by qRT-PCR. High glucose reduced expression of ERα and ERβ (by 15%; p<0.05) but not the expression of GPER. Although beta-cells comprise the majority (~70%) of cells in human islets, expression of GPER has also been demonstrated in alpha and delta cells and thus the full effect of hyperglycemia on GPER expression in beta-cells may be masked. Hence, extending previous reports, our results suggest that GPER may comprise an attractive target in the therapy of human diabetes and point to the phenomenon of species specificity regarding effects of glucose on estrogen receptor subtype expression and activity. Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO are embargoed until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. Abstracts presented at a news conference are embargoed until the date and time of the news conference. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.