IGF1R stimulates autophagy, enhances viability, and promotes insulin secretion in pancreatic β cells in gestational diabetes mellitus by upregulating ATG7

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent metabolic disturbance in pregnancy. This article investigated the correlations between serum IGF1R and ATG7 with insulin resistance (IR) in GDM patients. Firstly, 100 GDM patients and 100 healthy pregnant women were selected as study subjects. The levels of serum IGF1, IGF1R, and ATG7 and their correlations with the insulin resistance index homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured and analyzed by ELISA and Pearson. Additionally, in mouse pancreatic β cells, IGF1R, ATG7, Beclin-1, and LC3-II/LC3-I levels, cell viability/apoptosis, and insulin level were assessed by western blot, CCK-8, flow cytometry, and ELISA. The GDM group exhibited obviously raised serum IGF1 level and diminished serum IGF1R/ATG7 levels. The IGF1 level was positively correlated with HOMA-IR, while IGF1R/ATG7 levels were negatively correlated with HOMA-IR in GDM patients. Collectively, IGF1R stimulated cell viability, suppressed apoptosis, amplified insulin secretion, and increased ATG7 expression to induce cell autophagy, which could be partially averted by ATG7 silencing.