Inhibition of mitochondrial Na+-Ca2+ exchanger increases mitochondrial metabolism and potentiates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in rat pancreatic islets

The mitochondrial Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (mNCE) mediates efflux of Ca2+ from mitochondria in exchange for influx of Na+. We show that inhibition of the mNCE enhances mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and increases glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in rat islets and INS-1 cells. The benzothiazepine CGP37157 inhibited mNCE activity in INS-1 cells (50% inhibition at IC50 = 1.5 mumol/l) and increased the glucose-induced rise in mitochondrial Ca2+ ([Ca2+](m)) 2.1 times. Cellular ATP content was increased by 13% in INS-1 cells and by 49% in rat islets by CGP37157 (1 mumol/l). Krebs cycle flux was also stimulated by CGP37157 when glucose was present. Insulin secretion was increased in a glucose-dependent manner by CGP37157 in both INS-1 cells and islets. In islets, CGP37157 increased insulin secretion dose dependently (half-maximal efficacy at EC50 = 0.06 mumol/l) at 8 mmol/I glucose and shifted the glucose dose response curve to the left. In perifused islets, mNCE inhibition had no effect on insulin secretion at 2.8 mmol/l glucose but increased insulin secretion by 46% at 11 mmol/l glucose. The effects of CGP37157 could not be attributed to interactions with the plasma membrane sodium calcium exchanger, L-type calcium channels, ATP-sensitive K+ channels, or [Ca2+](m) uniporter. In hyperglycemic clamp studies of Wistar rats, CGP37157 increased plasma insulin and C-peptide levels only during the hyperglycemic phase of the study. These results illustrate the potential utility of agents that affect mitochondrial metabolism as novel insulin secretagogues.