Targetting PED/PEA-15 for diabetes treatment

ABSTRACT

Introduction: PED/PEA-15 is an ubiquitously expressed protein, involved in the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis. It is commonly overexpressed in Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and in different T2D-associated comorbidities, including cancer and certain neurodegenerative disorders.

Areas covered: In mice, Ped/Pea-15 overexpression impairs glucose tolerance and, in combination with high fat diets, further promotes insulin resistance and T2D. It also controls β-cell mass, altering caspase-3 activation and the expression of pro- and antiapoptotic genes. These changes are mediated by PED/PEA-15-PLD1 binding. Overexpression of PLD1 D4 domain specifically blocks Ped/Pea-15-PLD1 interaction, reverting the effect of Ped/Pea-15 in vivo. D4α, a D4 N-terminal peptide, is able to displace Ped/Pea-15-PLD1 binding, but features greater stability in vivo compared to the entire D4 peptide. Here, we review early mechanistic studies on PED/PEA-15 relevance in apoptosis before focusing on its role in cancer and T2D. Finally, we describe potential therapeutic opportunities for T2D based on PED/PEA-15 targeting.

Expert opinion: T2D is a major problem for public health and economy. Thus, the identification of new molecules with pharmacological activity for T2D represents an urgent need. Further studies with D4α will help to identify smaller pharmacologically active peptides and innovative molecules of potential pharmacological interest for T2D treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Type 2 diabetes
• insulin resistance
• glucose tolerance
• glucose uptake
• insulin secretion
• beta cells
• apoptosis
• PED/PEA-15
• PLD1
• protein-protein interaction

Article highlights

• PED/PEA-15 is a ubiquitous protein commonly overexpressed in tissues from T2D individuals.

• The overexpression of PED/PEA-15 simultaneously impairs peripheral insulin sensitivity and beta-cell insulin secretion, impairing glucose tolerance.

• Binding of PED/PEA-15 to PLD1 and subsequent dysregulation of PKC signalling are key events in PED/PEA-15-induced derangement in glucose tolerance.

• Inhibition of PED/PEA-15 binding to PLD1 rescues insulin sensitivity and secretion in vitro and in vivo and improves glucose tolerance.

• Therapeutic targetting of PED/PEA-15 PLD1 interaction is now being harnessed to develop innovative antidiabetes molecules.

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Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stockownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD), by the Ministero dell’Istruzione, Università e della Ricerca Scientifica (grants PRIN number 20123BJ89E, PRIN number 2015MPESJS, FIRB-MERIT number RBNEO8NKH7 and PON number 01_02460 and number 03PE_0006) and by the Società Italiana di Diabetologia (SID-FO.DI.RI). This work was further supported by the P.O.R. Campania FSE 2007-2013, Project CREMe.