Published in

Nature Research, Nature Communications, 1(13), 2022

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29512-0

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Citrullination of glucokinase is linked to autoimmune diabetes

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

AbstractInflammation, including reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines in tissues amplify various post-translational modifications of self-proteins. A number of post-translational modifications have been identified as autoimmune biomarkers in the initiation and progression of Type 1 diabetes. Here we show the citrullination of pancreatic glucokinase as a result of inflammation, triggering autoimmunity and affecting glucokinase biological functions. Glucokinase is expressed in hepatocytes to regulate glycogen synthesis, and in pancreatic beta cells as a glucose sensor to initiate glycolysis and insulin signaling. We identify autoantibodies and autoreactive CD4+T cells to glucokinase epitopes in the circulation of Type 1 diabetes patients and NOD mice. Finally, citrullination alters glucokinase biologic activity and suppresses glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Our study define glucokinase as a Type 1 diabetes biomarker, providing new insights of how inflammation drives post-translational modifications to create both neoautoantigens and affect beta cell metabolism.