Klf6 protects β-cells against insulin resistance-induced dedifferentiation

Objectives: In the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, development of insulin resistance triggers an increase in pancreatic beta-cell insulin secretion capacity and beta-cell number. Failure of this compensatory mechanism is caused by a dedifferentiation of beta-cells, which leads to insufficient insulin secretion and diabetic hyperglycemia. The beta-cell factors that normally protect against dedifferentiation remain poorly defined. Here, through a systems biology approach, we identify the transcription factor Klf6 as a regulator of beta-cell adaptation to metabolic stress. Methods: We used a beta-cell specific Klf6 knockout mouse model to investigate whether Klf6 may be a potential regulator of beta-cell adaptation to a metabolic stress. Results: We show that inactivation of Klf6 in beta-cells blunts their proliferation induced by the insulin resistance of pregnancy, high-fat highsucrose feeding, and insulin receptor antagonism. Transcriptomic analysis showed that Klf6 controls the expression of beta-cell proliferation genes and, in the presence of insulin resistance, it prevents the down-expression of genes controlling mature beta-cell identity and the induction of disallowed genes that impair insulin secretion. Its expression also limits the transdifferentiation of beta-cells into a-cells. Conclusion: Our study identifies a new transcription factor that protects beta-cells against dedifferentiation, and which may be targeted to prevent diabetes development. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.