Forskolin suppresses insulin gene transcription in islet beta-cells through
a protein kinase A-independent pathway.
Ding WQ, Dong M, Ninova D, Holicky EL, Stegall MD, Miller LJ.
Department of Medicine, Center for Basic Research in Digestive Diseases, Mayo
Clinic and Foundation, Guggenheim 17, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
This work was designed to evaluate the effect of cAMP on insulin gene
regulation. We studied the effects of forskolin on insulin gene transcription in
the INS-1 beta-cell line, confirming key results in primary cultures of human
islet cells. Forskolin increased intracellular cAMP and cAMP-responsive
element-binding activity. Insulin gene transcription was studied using a
reporter construct in which the human insulin promoter was fused to luciferase.
When cells were treated with forskolin for 12 h, insulin promoter activity was
decreased 2- to 3-fold, whereas islet amyloid polypeptide promoter activity was
significantly increased. This effect of forskolin on the insulin gene was time-
and concentration-dependent, and was mimicked by 8-bromo-cAMP. Mutagenesis of
the CRE-like elements in the insulin promoter had no effect on the forskolin-induced
suppression, but dramatically decreased basal insulin promoter activity.
Inhibition of PKA with H-89 also did not reverse the forskolin-induced
suppression of insulin transcription. However, this effect was completely
reversed by inhibition of cellular MAP kinase activity with PD98059 or U0126.
These results demonstrate that forskolin suppresses insulin transcription in
INS-1 cells through a PKA-independent mechanism that probably involves MAP
kinase signalling. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Inc.