Calcium-dependent ultrasound stimulation of secretory events from pancreatic beta cells

Abstract

Background: Our previous studies have indicated that ultrasound can stimulate the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells, providing a potential novel treatment for type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to explore the temporal dynamics and Ca2+-dependency of ultrasound-stimulated secretory events from dopamine-loaded pancreatic beta cells in an in vitro setup. Methods: Carbon fiber amperometry was used to detect secretion from INS-1832/13 beta cells in real time. The levels of released insulin were also measured in response to ultrasound treatment using insulin-specific ELISA kit. Beta cells were exposed to continuous wave 800kHz ultrasound at intensities of 0.1W/cm2, 0.5W/cm2 and 1W/cm2 for several seconds. Cell viability tests were done with trypan blue dye exclusion test and MTT analysis. Results: Carbon fiber amperometry experiments showed that application of 800kHz ultrasound at intensities of 0.5 and 1W/cm2 was capable of stimulating secretory events for durations lasting as long as the duration of the stimulus. Furthermore, the amplitude of the detected peaks was reduced by 64% (p<0.01) when extracellular Ca2+ was chelated with 10mM EGTA in cells exposed to ultrasound intensity of 0.5W/cm2. Measurements of released insulin in response to ultrasound stimulation showed complete inhibition of insulin secretion by chelating extracellular Ca2+ with 10mM EGTA (p<0.01). Viability studies showed that 800kHz, 0.5W/cm2 ultrasound did not cause any significant effects on viability and metabolic activity in cells exposed to ultrasound as compared to sham-treated cells. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that application of ultrasound was capable of stimulating the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells in a safe, controlled and Ca2+-dependent manner.