Angiogenin and Osteoprotegerin are type II muscle specific myokines protecting pancreatic beta-cells against proinflammatory cytokines

Tissue cross-talk is emerging as a determinant way to coordinate the different organs implicated in glucose homeostasis. Among the inter-organ communication factors, muscle-secreted myokines can modulate the function and survival of pancreatic beta-cells. Using primary human myotubes from soleus, vastus lateralis and triceps brachii muscles, we report here that the impact of myokines on beta-cells depends on fiber types and their metabolic status. We show that Type I and type II primary myotubes present specific mRNA and myokine signatures as well as a different sensitivity to TNF-alpha induced insulin resistance. Finally, we show that angiogenin and osteoprotegerin are triceps specific myokines with beta-cell protective actions against proinflammatory cytokines. These results suggest that type I and type II muscles could impact insulin secretion and beta-cell mass differentially in type 2 diabetes through specific myokines secretion.