Autocrine insulin increases plasma membrane K_ATP channel via PI3K-VAMP2 pathway in MIN6 cells

Regulation of ATP-sensitive inwardly rectifying potassium (K_ATP) channel plays a critical role in metabolism-secretion coupling of pancreatic β-cells. Released insulin from β-cells inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion with autocrine and paracrine modes. However, molecular mechanism by which insulin inhibits hormone secretion remains elusive. Here, we investigated the effect of autocrine insulin on surface abundance of K_ATP channel in mouse clonal β-cell line, MIN6. High glucose increased plasmalemmal sulfonylurea receptor 1 (SUR1), a component of K_ATP channel as well as exogenous insulin treatment. SUR1 trafficking by high glucose or insulin was blocked by inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) with wortmannin. Pretreatment with brefeldin A or silencing of vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) abolished insulin-mediated upregulation of surface SUR1. Functionally, glucose-stimulated cytosolic Ca²⁺ ([Ca²⁺]_i) increase was blunted by insulin or diazoxide, a K_ATP channel opener. Insulin-induced suppression of [Ca²⁺]_i oscillation was prevented by an insulin receptor blocker. These results provide a novel molecular mechanism for autocrine negative feedback regulation of insulin secretion.