Wnt4 is heterogeneously activated in maturing beta-cells to control calcium signaling, metabolism and function

Diabetes is characterized by loss or dysfunction of pancreatic beta-cells. Here the authors show that the signalling protein WNT4 is heterogeneously activated by beta-cells during their postnatal maturation with WNT4 positive cells being more mature, and that inactivating WNT4 in beta-cells after maturation impairs beta-cell function. Diabetes is a multifactorial disorder characterized by loss or dysfunction of pancreatic beta-cells. beta-cells are heterogeneous, exhibiting different glucose sensing, insulin secretion and gene expression. They communicate with other endocrine cell types via paracrine signals and between beta-cells via gap junctions. Here, we identify the importance of signaling between beta-cells via the extracellular signal WNT4. We show heterogeneity in Wnt4 expression, most strikingly in the postnatal maturation period, Wnt4-positive cells, being more mature while Wnt4-negative cells are more proliferative. Knock-out in adult beta-cells shows that WNT4 controls the activation of calcium signaling in response to a glucose challenge, as well as metabolic pathways converging to lower ATP/ADP ratios, thereby reducing insulin secretion. These results reveal that paracrine signaling between beta-cells is important in addition to gap junctions in controling insulin secretion. Together with previous reports of WNT4 up-regulation in obesity our observations suggest an adaptive insulin response coordinating beta-cells.