Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41003698›Full record

ArticleDiabetologia2025

I-BET151 modulates glucokinase gene expression and beta cell function in part through changes in FOXO1 expression.

Qing Wei Calvin Ho, James A Miller, Divya Gunaseelan, Rosi Chelliah, Hemapriya Jayaranga Babu, Xin Yan Chew, Surabhi Devaraj, Vanessa Shiyun Tay, Dewei Kong, Xiaoling Wang and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Diabetologia, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Qing Wei Calvin HoLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
James A MillerLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Divya GunaseelanLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Rosi ChelliahLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Hemapriya Jayaranga BabuLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Xin Yan ChewLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Surabhi DevarajLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Vanessa Shiyun TayLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Dewei KongStem Cells and Diabetes Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Xiaoling WangLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Daphne Yuanling TanLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Guy A RutterLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Bernett LeeLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Adrian Kee Keong TeoStem Cells and Diabetes Laboratory, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Yusuf AliLee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Singapore, Republic of Singapore. Yusuf.ali@ntu.edu.sg.

Funding

Ministry of Education Singapore 2019-T1-001-059Ministry of Education Singapore MOE-T2EP30221-0003Ministry of Education Singapore RG30/23National Research Foundation Singapore NRF2020-THE003-0006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aims/hypothesisThe bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) protein family acts as 'epigenetic readers' to identify the acetylation marks on histones that convert the acetylated lysine residues into observable phenotypes. BET proteins have gained attention due to their ability to modulate the transcription of pathology-related genes involved in cancer and autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes mellitus. However, targeting BET proteins may have secondary effects on other host cells. We aimed to elucidate possible secondary effects of BET inhibition on pancreatic beta cell function.

methodsWe studied the effect of the small-molecule BET inhibitor I-BET151 on pancreatic beta cells in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. GTTs, ITTs and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion assays were performed in healthy mice and a mouse model of diabetes following daily i.p. injections of I-BET151 for 2 weeks. Transcriptomic analysis was carried out on primary mouse islets, which were subjected to ex vivo I-BET151 treatment. Changes in expression were further validated in primary human islets.

resultsAdministration of I-BET151 modestly but significantly increased glucose excursions and reduced insulin responses in both healthy mice and diabetic mice. We found that I-BET151 exposure significantly reduced the expression of Hnf4α (also known as Hnf4a; MODY1), Gck (MODY2), Hnf1α (also known as Hnf1a; MODY3), Glut2 and other genes essential for beta cell function in rat INS-1E insulinoma cells and in mouse primary islets and human islets. Global gene expression analysis in cells treated with I-BET151 showed a downregulation of the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway. Downregulation of forkhead box protein O1, a downstream transcriptional factor of the PI3K-Akt pathway, partially rescued I-BET151-driven downregulation of Gck and insulin secretion. Likewise, islets from I-BET151-treated mice showed a modest reduction in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. CONCLUSIONS/

interpretationThe results presented here suggest that BET inhibition therapy should be used with caution due to possible bimodal effects at high concentrations at the detriment of pancreatic beta cell function.

Indexed as

Forkhead Box Protein O1GlucokinaseInsulin-Secreting CellsAnimalsDiabetes Mellitus, ExperimentalHeterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More RingsHumansInsulinMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLRatsForkhead Box Protein O1GlucokinaseGSK1210151AHeterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More RingsInsulinBeta cellsBET protein inhibitorsEpigenetic modulatorsFOXO1GCKHNF4aI-BET151INS-1EMODYPancreatic islets

Identifiers

PMID41003698
PMCPMC12594672

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.