Project description:In this study, we investigated the molecular and cellular mechanisms of verapamil treatment on β-cell function and survival using MIN6 cells. Verapamil's molecular processes were studied using transcriptomic data. MTT, cell count, and flow cytometry assessed cell proliferation, growth, and cycle. MIN6 cell function was assessed by glucose-stimulated insulin release and total insulin content. Seahorse and metabolic stress kits examined metabolic activity and oxygen consumption rate. The protective impact of verapamil on MIN6 cells was evaluated by challenging the verapamil treated cell with streptozotocin, T1D-cytomix, or T2D-cytomix cocktail. Our results demonstrate that verapamil treatment induced higher proliferation of MIN6 cells, altered expression of various proteins and genes, improved insulin secretion in hyperglycemic conditions, increased basal and maximal respiration levels, along with β-cell survival against streptozotocin, T1D-, or T2D-cytomix-induced toxicity, and rendered a protective effect.
Project description:Currently, no oral medications are available for individuals suffering from type 1 diabetes (T1D). Our randomized placebo-controlled phase 2 trial recently revealed that oral verapamil has short- term beneficial effects in subjects with new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) 1. However, what exact biological changes verapamil elicits in humans with T1D, how long they may last, and how to best monitor any associated therapeutic success has remained elusive. We therefore now conducted extended analyses of the effects of continuous verapamil use over a 2-year period, performed unbiased proteomics analysis of serum samples and assessed changes in proinflammatory T-cell markers in subjects receiving verapamil or just standard insulin therapy. In addition, we determined the verapamil-induced changes in human islets using RNA sequencing. Our present results reveal that verapamil regulates the thioredoxin system and promotes an anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic gene expression profile in human islets, reverses T1D-induced elevations in circulating proinflammatory T-follicular-helper cells and interleukin-21 and normalizes serum levels of chromogranin A (CHGA), a recently identified T1D autoantigen 2,3. In fact, proteomics identified CHGA as the top serum protein altered by verapamil and as a potential therapeutic marker. Moreover, continuous use of oral verapamil delayed T1D progression, promoted endogenous beta cell function and lowered insulin requirements and serum CHGA levels for at least 2 years and these benefits were lost upon discontinuation. Thus, the current studies provide crucial mechanistic and clinical insight into the beneficial effects of verapamil in T1D.
Project description:To understand the response of M. tuberculosis (MTB) to the drug verapamil, we performed transcriptomics on MTB bacilli exposed to the drug.
Project description:To investigate the changed genes after verapamil treatment, we extracted primary BMMs from wild-type and then induced them to differentiate into osteoclasts with or without verapamil treatment for 5 days We then performed gene expression profiling analysis using data obtained from RNA-seq of 6 different cells (3 pairs repeat) at the same time points.