Activation of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in rat pancreatic β-cells by linoleic acid through both intracellular metabolites and membrane receptor signalling pathway

Abstract

ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP channels) determine the excitability of pancreatic β-cells and importantly regulate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Long-chain free fatty acids (FFAs) decrease GSIS after long-term exposure to β-cells, but the effects of exogenous FFAs on KATP channels are not yet well clarified. In this study, the effects of linoleic acid (LA) on membrane potential (MP) and KATP channels were observed in primary cultured rat pancreatic β-cells. LA (20 μM) induced hyperpolarization of MP and opening of KATP channels, which was totally reversed and inhibited by tolbutamide, a KATP channel blocker. Inhibition of LA metabolism by acyl-CoA synthetase inhibitor, triacsin C (10 μM), partially inhibited LA-induced opening of KATP channels by 64%. The non-FFA G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 40 agonist, GW9508 (40 μM), induced an opening of KATP channels, which was similar to that induced by LA under triacsin C treatment. Blockade of protein kinases A and C did not influence the opening of KATP channels induced by LA and GW9508, indicating that these two protein kinase pathways are not involved in the action of LA on KATP channels. The present study demonstrates that LA induces hyperpolarization of MP by activating KATP channels via both intracellular metabolites and activation of GPR40. It indicates that not only intracellular metabolites of FFAs but also GPR40-mediated pathways take part in the inhibition of GSIS and β-cell dysfunction induced by FFAs. © 2008 Society for Endocrinology.