Effect of N-acyl-dopamines on beta cell differentiation and wound healing in diabetic mice

N-acyl-dopamines are endolipids with neuroprotective, antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Previously, we showed the ability of these compounds to induce HIF-1α stabilization. Hypoxia and HIF-1α play an important role in the most relevant stages of diabetic pathogenesis. This work analyzes the possible role of these molecules on beta cell differentiation, insulin production and diabetic foot ulcer. Hypoxia response pathway has been characterized in beta-cell differentiation in rat pancreatic acinar cell line and human islet-derived precursor cells. Protein and mRNA expression of key proteins in this process have been analyzed, as well as those involved in beta cells reprogramming. The effect of N-acyl-dopamines on hypoxia response pathway, beta cells reprogramming and insulin production have been studied in both cell types, as well as its role in angiogenesis models in vitro and wound closure in type 2 diabetic mice. Our results show how the hypoxia response pathway is altered during beta cells differentiation, accompanied by an induction of the transcription factor HIF-1α. We demonstrate how some N-acyl-dopamines induce beta cell differentiation and insulin production in two different cell models. In parallel, these endolipids promote angiogenesis in vitro and wound closure in type 2 diabetic mice. These results provide a biological mechanism through which some endolipids could induce beta cell differentiation. We demonstrate how N-acyl-dopamines can modulate insulin production and, in parallel, reverse HIF-1α inhibition in a wound healing model in diabetic mice. Therefore, the potential use of the pharmacological modulation of N-acyl-dopamines may have implications for diabetes prevention and treatment strategies. •N-acyl-dopamines present the ability to induce beta cell differentiation in AR42J and hIPCs cells.•N-acyl-dopamines induce HIF-1α and HIF-2α during beta cell differentiation.•N-palmitoyl-dopamine (PALDA) and N-stearoyl-dopamine (STEARDA) induce in vitro insulin production.•N-acyl-dopamines favor wound healing in type 2 diabetic mice.