β-Cell Uncoupling Protein 2 Regulates Reactive Oxygen Species Production, Which Influences Both Insulin and Glucagon Secretion

OBJECTIVE-The role of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in pancreatic beta-cells is highly debated, partly because of the broad tissue distribution of UCP2 and thus limitations of whole-body UCP2 knockout mouse models. To investigate the function of UCP2 in the beta-cell, beta-cell-specific UCP2 knockout mice (UCP2BKO) were generated and characterized. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-UCP2BKO mice were generated by crossing loxUCP2 mice with mice expressing rat insulin promoter-driven Cre recombinase. Several in vitro and in vivo parameters were measured, including respiration rate, mitochondrial membrane potential, islet ATP content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), glucagon secretion, glucose and insulin tolerance, and plasma hormone levels. RESULTS-UCP2BKO beta-cells displayed mildly increased glucose-induced mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization but unchanged rates of uncoupled respiration and islet ATP content. UCP2BKO islets had elevated intracellular ROS levels that associated with enhanced GSIS. Surprisingly, UCP2BKO mice were glucose-intolerant, showing greater alpha-cell area, higher islet glucagon content, and aberrant ROS-dependent glucagon secretion under high glucose conditions. CONCLUSIONS-Using a novel beta-cell-specific UCP2K0 mouse model, we have shed light on UCP2 function in primary beta-cells. UCP2 does not behave as a classical metabolic uncoupler in the beta-cell, but has a more prominent role in the regulation of intracellular ROS levels that contribute to GSIS amplification. In addition, beta-cell UCP2 contributes to the regulation of intraislet ROS signals that mediate changes in alpha-cell morphology and glucagon secretion. Diabetes 60:2710-2719, 2011