β-cell serotonin production is associated with female sex, old age, and diabetes-free condition

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2017-11, Vol.493 (3), p.1197-1203
• Main Authors: Kim, Yeong Gi, Moon, Joon Ho, Kim, Kyuho, Kim, Hyeongseok, Kim, Juok, Jeong, Ji-Seon, Lee, Junguee, Kang, Shinae, Park, Joon Seong, Kim, Hail
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; ABUNDANCE; Adult; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Animals; Cell Line; Chromatography, Liquid - methods; CONCENTRATION RATIO; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus - metabolism; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique - methods; FORMALDEHYDE; Humans; INSULIN; Insulin-Secreting Cells - metabolism; Islet; LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY; Male; MASS SPECTROSCOPY; MICE; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Middle Aged; NERVE CELLS; NEUTRON SPECTROSCOPY; Ovariectomy; PANCREAS; PARAFFIN; SEROTONIN; Serotonin - analysis; Serotonin - metabolism; Sex; Sex Factors; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; β-cell
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.09.130

Serotonin is known to be present in pancreatic β-cells and to play several physiological roles, including insulin secretion, β-cell proliferation, and paracrine inhibition of α-cells. However, the serotonin production of different cell lines and islets has not been compared based on age, sex, and diabetes related conditions. Here, we directly compared the serotonin concentrations in βTC and MIN6 cell lines, as well as in islets from mice using ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The average serotonin concentration was 5–10 ng/mg protein in the islets of male and non-pregnant female mice. The serotonin level was higher in females than males at 8 weeks, although there was no difference at 1 year. Furthermore, we observed serotonin by immunofluorescence staining in the pancreatic tissues of mice and human. Serotonin was detected by immunofluorescence staining in a portion of β-cells from islets of old female mice, but not of male or young female mice. A similar pattern was observed in human pancreas as well. In humans, serotonin production in β-cells was associated with a diabetes-free condition. Thus, serotonin production in β-cells was associated with old age, female sex, and diabetes-free condition. •Actual serotonin concentrations in cell lines and islets are compared.•Serotonin over-production in mouse β-cell is aged and female specific.•Ovariectomy lowers serotonin concentrations in islets.•Serotonin over-production in human β-cell is aged, female, and non-diabetes specific.