Interleukin-22 restored mitochondrial damage and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion through down-regulation of uncoupling protein-2 in INS-1 cells

Defective glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) induced by chronic exposure to fatty acids is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Interleukin-22 (IL-22) has been shown to exert beneficial effects on insulin secretion and to protect pancreatic β-cells from stress. Moreover, uncoupling protein-2 (UCP-2) plays a central role in the regulation of GSIS and β-cell dysfunction, whereas the role of UCP-2 in IL-22-enhanced glycemic control under conditions of lipotoxicity remains unclear. In this present study, we investigated the effects of IL-22 on rat insulin-secreting cells (INS-1 cells) and the mechanisms that underlie IL-22 and lipotoxicity-impaired GSIS in vitro. Chronic palmitate (PA) treatment impaired insulin secretion and activated UCP-2 expression in INS-1 cells. Furthermore, in INS-1 cells, both reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and impaired GSIS induced by PA treatment were effectively reversed by an inhibitor of UCP-2 (genipin). Additionally, compared with the PA-treated group, INS-1 cells treated with IL-22 down-regulated UCP-2 expression, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, and restored GSIS. Together, our findings indicate that chronic exposure to PA could activate UCP-2, resulting in mitochondrial damage and impaired GSIS in INS-1 cells. We also suggest that IL-22 plays a protective role in this process via the down-regulation of UCP-2.