This study unveils verapamil’s compelling cytoprotective and proliferative effects on pancreatic β-cells amidst diabetic stressors, spotlighting its unforeseen role in augmenting cholecystokinin (CCK) expression. Through rigorous investigations employing MIN6 β-cells and zebrafish models under type 1 and type 2 diabetic conditions, we demonstrate verapamil’s capacity to significantly boost β-cell proliferation, enhance glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, and fortify cellular resilience. A pivotal revelation of our research is verapamil’s induction of CCK, a peptide hormone known for its role in nutrient digestion and insulin secretion, which signifies a novel pathway through which verapamil exerts its therapeutic effects. Furthermore, our mechanistic insights reveal that verapamil orchestrates a broad spectrum of gene and protein expressions pivotal for β-cell survival and adaptation to immune-metabolic challenges. In vivo validation in a zebrafish larvae model confirms verapamil’s efficacy in fostering β-cell recovery post-metronidazole infliction. Collectively, our findings advocate for verapamil’s reevaluation as a multifaceted agent in diabetes therapy, highlighting its novel function in CCK upregulation alongside enhancing β-cell proliferation, glucose sensing, and oxidative respiration. This research enriches the therapeutic landscape, proposing verapamil not only as a cytoprotector but also as a promoter of β-cell regeneration, thereby offering fresh avenues for diabetes management strategies aimed at preserving and augmenting β-cell functionality.
Unraveling Verapamil’s Multidimensional Role in Diabetes Therapy: From β-Cell Regeneration to Cholecystokinin Induction in Zebrafish and MIN6 Cell-Line Models
H. Arefanian,A. Al Madhoun,Fatema Al-Rashed,F. Alzaid,Fatemah Bahman,R. Nizam,Mohammed Alhusayan,S. John,S. Jacob,Michayla R Williams,N. Abukhalaf,S. Shenouda,S. Joseph,Halemah Alsaeed,Shihab Kochumon,A. Mohammad,Lubaina Koti,S. Sindhu,Mohamed Abu-Farha,J. Abubaker,T. Thanaraj,Rasheed Ahmad,Fahd Al-Mulla
Published 2024 in Cells
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2024
- Venue
Cells
- Publication date
2024-05-30
- Fields of study
Biology, Medicine
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
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