Acute Inhibition of Adipose Triglyceride Lipase by NG497 Dysregulates Insulin and Glucagon Secretion From Human Islets

Lucy B Kim, Siming Liu, Syreine Richtsmeier, Michał Górniak, Anamika Vikram, Yumi Imai
Endocrinology, Volume 166, Issue 7, July 2025, bqaf090
https://doi.org/10.1210/endocr/bqaf090

Abstract

Adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), which catalyzes the breakdown of triglycerides in lipid droplets (LDs), plays a critical role in releasing fatty acids to support insulin secretion in pancreatic β cells. Based on genetic downregulation of ATGL in β cells, multiple mechanisms are proposed that acutely or chronically regulate insulin secretion. Currently, the contribution of acute vs chronic mechanisms in the regulation of insulin secretion is unclear. Also, little is known whether ATGL affects α-cell function. Using the human-specific ATGL inhibitor, NG497, this study investigates the impact of acute inhibition of ATGL on hormone secretion from human islets. In addition, morphological differences in LDs were assessed in confocal images of β and α cells. β cells exposed to NG497 overnight showed notable increases in LD size and number under glucose-sufficient culture. The effect of NG497 on LD accumulation in α cells was more prominent under fasting-simulated conditions than glucose-sufficient conditions, pointing toward a critical role for ATGL lipolysis under conditions that stimulate hormone secretion in β and α cells. When exposed to NG497 acutely, human islets reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion mildly, particularly first-phase insulin secretion, to an extent somewhat less pronounced than the impacts of chronic ATGL downregulation. Thus, chronic mechanisms may play a predominant role in reducing insulin secretion when ATGL is downregulated. Acute exposure of human islets to NG497 significantly reduced amino acid stimulated glucagon secretion at low glucose concentration, highlighting an important potential role of ATGL lipolysis in promoting hormone secretion acutely from α cells.

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