Induce Beta-cell Apoptosis Research Articles

Ginsenoside Rg3 Suppresses Palmitate-Induced Apoptosis in MIN6N8 Pancreatic β-Cells

Chronic exposure to elevated levels of free fatty acids (FFA) causes β-cell dysfunction and may induce β-cell apoptosis in type 2 diabetes. The execution of β-cell apoptosis occurs through activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), one of the active ingredients of ginseng saponins, has not been known about the effects on β-cell apoptosis mediated with FFA. The aims of this study were to investigate the in vitro protective effects of Rg3 on MIN6N8 mouse insulinoma β-cells against FFA-induced apoptosis, as well as the modulating effects on p44/42 MAPK activation. Our results showed that Rg3 inhibited the palmitate-induced apoptosis through modulating p44/42 MAPK activation. We conclude that Rg3 has the potential role in suppressing the progression of type 2 diabetes by inhibiting FFA-mediated loss of β-cells.

Resistin induces rat insulinoma cell RINm5F apoptosis

Beta-cell apoptosis induced by adipokines may result in beta-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. Resistin, an adipokine-linked obesity with type 2 diabetes, impairs glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in beta-cells. Presently, the effects of resistin on rat insulinoma cells RINm5F were examined. Treatment of RINm5F with resistin induced cell damage. Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) protected resistin-mediated cytotoxicity in RINm5F. Incubation with resistin up-regulated caspase-3 activity and induced the formation of a DNA ladder. TIMP-1 attenuated these effects. The molecular mechanism of TIMP-1 inhibition of resistin-mediated cytotoxicity appeared to involve Akt phosphorylation and activation of IkB-alpha phosphorylation. Resistin treatment suppressed Akt phosphorylation and activated IkB-alpha phosphorylation, which could be attenuated by TIMP-1. We conclude that resistin can induce beta-cell apoptosis and that resistin-related beta-cell apoptosis can be prevented by TIMP-1.

Relationship between β‐cell mass and diabetes onset

Regulation of blood glucose concentrations requires an adequate number of beta-cells that respond appropriately to blood glucose levels. beta-Cell mass cannot yet be measured in humans in vivo, necessitating autopsy studies, although both pre- and postmorbid changes may confound this approach. Autopsy studies report deficits in beta-cell mass ranging from 0 to 65% in type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and approximately 70-100% in type 1 diabetes (T1DM), and, when evaluated, increased beta-cell apoptosis in both T1DM and T2DM. A deficit of beta-cell mass of approximately 50% in animal studies leads to impaired insulin secretion (when evaluated directly in the portal vein) and induction of insulin resistance. We postulate three phases for diabetes progression. Phase 1: selective beta-cell cytotoxicity (autoimmune in T1DM, unknown in T2DM) leading to impaired beta-cell function and gradual loss of beta-cell mass through apoptosis. Phase 2: decompensation of glucose control when the pattern of portal vein insulin secretion is sufficiently impaired to cause hepatic insulin resistance. Phase 3: adverse consequences of glucose toxicity accelerate beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. The relative contribution of beta-cell loss versus beta-cell dysfunction to diabetes onset remains an area of controversy. However, because cytotoxicity sufficient to induce beta-cell apoptosis predictably disturbs beta-cell function, it is naive to attempt to distinguish the relative contributions of these linked processes to diabetes onset.

Dynamin-related protein 1 mediates high glucose induced pancreatic beta cell apoptosis

The pancreatic beta cell dysfunction is critical cycle in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Hyperglycemia is one of factors that induce pancreatic beta cell dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms have not been well elucidated. In this study, we reported that a mitochondrial fission modulator, Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp-1), plays an important role in high glucose induced beta cell apoptosis. Drp-1 expressed in islet beta cells was increased drastically under hyperglycemia conditions. Induction of Drp-1 expression significantly promoted high glucose induced apoptosis in Drp-1WT (Drp-1 wild type) inducible beta cell line, but not in Drp-1K38A (a dominant negative mutant of Drp1) inducible beta cell line. We further demonstrated that mitochondrial fission, cytochrome C release, mitochondrial membrane potential decreased, caspase-3 activation and generation of reactive oxygen species were enhanced by induction of Drp-1WT, but prevented by Drp-1K38A in pancreatic beta cells under high glucose condition. These results indicated that Drp-1 mediates high glucose induced pancreatic beta cell apoptosis.

Requirements of calcium fluxes and ERK kinase activation for glucose- and interleukin-1β-induced β-cell apoptosis

Increasing evidence indicates that beta-cell apoptosis and impaired secretory function were partly mediated by interleukin (IL)-1beta and/or high-glucose-induced beta-cell production of IL-1beta. However, the specific signal transduction pathways and molecular events involved in beta-cell dysfunction remain largely unresolved. In this study, we investigated whether Ca(2+) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation plays a role for IL-1beta action in rat islets. Exposure of rat islets for 4 days to 33.3 mM glucose and 140 ng/ml IL-1beta- induced beta-cell apoptosis and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. By Western blotting with phosphospecific antibodies, glucose and IL-1beta were shown to activate ERK. Ca(2+) channel blocker nimodipine or ERK inhibitor PD98059 prevented glucose- and IL-1beta-induced ERK activation, beta-cell apoptosis, and impaired function. Furthermore, treatment with Ca(2+) ionophore ionomycin, or exposure to thapsigargin, an inhibitor of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase, all caused an amplification of IL-1beta-induced ERK activation in rat islet. On the other hand, a chelator of intracellular free Ca(2+) [bis-(o-aminophenoxy)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl] (BAPTA/AM) and an inhibitor of calmodulin (W7) diminished IL-1beta-induced phosphorylation of ERK. Finally, islet release of IL-1beta in response to high glucose could be abrogated by nimodipine, mibefradil, or PD98059. Together, these data suggest that glucose- and IL-1beta-induced beta-cell secretory dysfunction and apoptosis are Ca(2+) influx and ERK dependent in rat islets.

Glucose and leptin induce apoptosis in human β‐ cells and impair glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion through activation of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases

c-Jun N-terminal kinases (SAPK/JNKs) are activated by inflammatory cytokines, and JNK signaling is involved in insulin resistance and beta-cell secretory function and survival. Chronic high glucose concentrations and leptin induce interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) secretion from pancreatic islets, an event that is possibly causal in promoting beta-cell dysfunction and death. The present study provides evidence that chronically elevated concentrations of leptin and glucose induce beta-cell apoptosis through activation of the JNK pathway in human islets and in insulinoma (INS 832/13) cells. JNK inhibition by the dominant inhibitor JNK-binding domain of IB1/JIP-1 (JNKi) reduced JNK activity and apoptosis induced by leptin and glucose. Exposure of human islets to leptin and high glucose concentrations leads to a decrease of glucose-induced insulin secretion, which was partly restored by JNKi. We detected an interplay between the JNK cascade and the caspase 1/IL-1beta-converting enzyme in human islets. The caspase 1 gene, which contains a potential activating protein-1 binding site, was up-regulated in pancreatic sections and in isolated islets from type 2 diabetic patients. Similarly, cultured human islets exposed to high glucose- and leptin-induced caspase 1 and JNK inhibition prevented this up-regulation. Therefore, JNK inhibition may protect beta-cells from the deleterious effects of high glucose and leptin in diabetes.

The role of G protein-coupled receptor 40 in lipoapoptosis in mouse -cell line NIT-1

Free fatty acids (FFAs) exert divergent effects on beta-cells. Acute exposure to FFAs stimulates insulin secretion, whereas chronic exposure impairs beta-cell function and induces apoptosis. The G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40) is preferentially expressed in beta-cells and is activated by a wide range of FFAs. In this study, we used small interfering RNA technology and apoptosis assay in mouse beta-cell NIT-1 to address the role of GPR40 in beta-cell lipoapoptosis and function. Results showed that palmitate induced beta-cell apoptosis, which was not mediated through GPR40, whereas oleate protected NIT-1 cells from palmitate-induced lipoapoptosis, which was mediated at least in part through GPR40. Moreover, by detecting the activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and MAP kinase (MAPK) pathways, we found that oleate promoted the activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-MAPK pathway mainly via GPR40, increased the expression of early growth response gene-1, leading to the anti-lipoapoptotic effect on NIT-1 cells. It was suggested that GPR40 might be implicated in the control of beta-cell mass plasticity and GPR40 probably provide a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes.

The immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A and the dual leucine zipper bearing kinase induce beta-cell apoptosis

Objectives: Besides peripheral insulin resistance the decrease in beta-cell mass has been shown to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetes type 2. Cyclosporin A is a powerful immunosuppressive drug but its therapeutic use is limited by a number of untoward effects, among them hyperglycemia. Blocking of calcineurin phosphatase activity leading to an inhibition of stimulated insulin gene transcription is likely to contribute to the diabetogenic action of cyclosporin A. Previous results indicated that the dual leucine zipper bearing kinase is a calcineurin-sensitive kinase. In the present study the effect of cyclosporin A and of DLK on beta-cell survival was investigated.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 protects beta cells from cytokine-induced apoptosis and necrosis: role of protein kinase B

The gut hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) decreases beta cell apoptosis in a protein kinase B (PKB)-dependent fashion, and increases islet cell mass and function in vivo. In contrast, cytokines induce beta cell apoptosis, leading to decreased islet mass and type 1 diabetes. In the present study we used rat INS-1E beta cells and primary rat islet cells to examine the potential role of PKB as a mediator of the effect of GLP-1 on cytokine-induced apoptosis. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, and apoptosis and necrosis by Hoechst 33342-propidium iodide staining. Immunoblot analysis was used to detect changes in protein expression, including active (phosphorylated) and total PKB, phosphorylated and total glycogen synthase kinase-3beta, activated caspase-3 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Reactive oxygen species were determined by 1,7-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) analysis, and mutant forms of PKB were introduced into cells using adenoviral vectors. Incubation of INS-1E cells with cytokines (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma; 10-50 ng/ml) for 18 h significantly decreased cell viability (by 44%, p<0.001), cell proliferation (by 80%, p<0.001), and activation of PKB (by 67%, p<0.001). Pre-treatment with exendin-4 (10(-7) mol/l), a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist, partially protected the cells against cytokine-induced toxicity (p<0.01) in association with a reduction in cytokine-induced inhibition of PKB phosphorylation (p<0.05). Exendin-4 pre-treatment did not change cell proliferation. Cytokine treatment increased apoptosis (by 156%, p<0.05) and necrosis (from undetectable to 2.6% of cells). These increases were both reduced by pre-treatment with exendin-4 (p<0.05-0.01). Furthermore, cytokine-induced apoptosis and necrosis were significantly increased in cells infected with kinase-dead PKB (p<0.05), and the protective effect of exendin-4 on both parameters was fully abolished in these cells. Similar changes were observed in primary islet cells. In parallel with these changes, exendin-4 decreased the cytokine-induced activation of caspase-3 (by 46%, p<0.05), and decreased levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (by 71%, p<0.05) and reactive oxygen species (by 27%, p<0.05). The results of our study indicate that GLP-1 plays a protective role against cytokine-induced apoptosis and necrosis in beta cells through a PKB-dependent signalling pathway.

Sulfonylurea induced beta-cell apoptosis in cultured human islets.

Loss of beta-cell mass and function raises a concern regarding the application of sulfonylureas for the treatment of type 2 diabetes because previous studies have shown that agents that cause closure of inwardly rectifying K(+) sulfonylurea receptor subtype of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, such as tolbutamide and glibenclamide, induce apoptosis in beta-cell lines and rodent islets. Therefore, we investigated the effect of the new insulin secretagogues, repaglinide and nateglinide, and the sulfonylurea, glibenclamide, on beta-cell apoptosis in human islets. Human islets from six organ donors were cultured onto extracellular matrix-coated plates and exposed to glibenclamide, repaglinide, or nateglinide. The doses of the three compounds were chosen according to detected maximal effects, i.e. efficacy. Exposure of human islets for 4 h to 0.1 and 10 microm glibenclamide induced a 2.09- and 2.46-fold increase in beta-cell apoptosis, respectively, whereas repaglinide (0.01 and 1 microm) did not change the number of apoptotic beta-cells. At low concentration (10 microm), nateglinide did not induce beta-cell apoptosis. However, at high concentration of 1000 microm, it induced a 1.49-fold increase in the number of apoptotic beta-cells. Prolonged exposure for 4 d of the islets to the secretagogues induced beta-cell apoptosis. The increase was of 3.71- and 4.4-fold at 0.1 and 10 microm glibenclamide, 2.37- and 3.8-fold at 0.01 and 1 microm repaglinide, and of 3.2- and 4.6-fold at 10 and 1000 microm nateglinide, respectively. Glibenclamide at 0.1-10 nm (doses that were less efficient on insulin secretion) did not induce beta-cell apoptosis after 4 h incubation as well as 0.1 nm after 4 d incubation. However, 1 and 10 nm glibenclamide for 4 d induced a 2.24- and 2.53-fold increase in beta-cell apoptosis, respectively. Taken together, closure of the inwardly rectifying K(+) sulfonylurea receptor subtype of ATP-sensitive potassium channels induces beta-cell apoptosis in human islets and may precipitate the decrease in beta-cell mass observed in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Monounsaturated fatty acids prevent the deleterious effects of palmitate and high glucose on human pancreatic beta-cell turnover and function.

Glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity contribute to the impaired beta-cell function observed in type 2 diabetes. Here we examine the effect of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids at different glucose concentrations on human beta-cell turnover and secretory function. Exposure of cultured human islets to saturated fatty acid and/or to an elevated glucose concentration for 4 days increased beta-cell DNA fragmentation and decreased beta-cell proliferation. In contrast, the monounsaturated palmitoleic acid or oleic acid did not affect DNA fragmentation and induced beta-cell proliferation. Moreover, each monounsaturated fatty acid prevented the deleterious effects of both palmitic acid and high glucose concentration. The cell-permeable ceramide analogue C(2)-ceramide mimicked both the palmitic acid-induced beta-cell apoptosis and decrease in proliferation. Furthermore, the ceramide synthetase inhibitor fumonisin B1 blocked the deleterious effects of palmitic acid on beta-cell turnover. In addition, palmitic acid decreased Bcl-2 expression and induced release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol, which was prevented by fumonisin B1 and by oleic acid. Finally, each monounsaturated fatty acid improved beta-cell secretory function that was reduced by palmitic acid and by high glucose. Thus, in human islets, the saturated palmitic acid and elevated glucose concentration induce beta-cell apoptosis, decrease beta-cell proliferation, and impair beta-cell function, which can be prevented by monounsaturated fatty acids. The deleterious effect of palmitic acid is mediated via formation of ceramide and activation of the apoptotic mitochondrial pathway, whereas Bcl-2 may contribute to the protective effect of monounsaturated fatty acids.

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Receptor Signaling Modulates β Cell Apoptosis

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) stimulates insulin secretion and augments beta cell mass via activation of beta cell proliferation and islet neogenesis. We examined whether GLP-1 receptor signaling modifies the cellular susceptibility to apoptosis. Mice administered streptozotocin (STZ), an agent known to induce beta cell apoptosis, exhibit sustained improvement in glycemic control and increased levels of plasma insulin with concomitant administration of the GLP-1 agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4). Blood glucose remained significantly lower for weeks after cessation of exendin-4. STZ induced beta cell apoptosis, which was significantly reduced by co-administration of Ex-4. Conversely, mice with a targeted disruption of the GLP-1 receptor gene exhibited increased beta cell apoptosis after STZ administration. Exendin-4 directly reduced cytokine-induced apoptosis in purified rat beta cells exposed to interleukin 1beta, tumor necrosis fator alpha, and interferon gamma in vitro. Furthermore, Ex-4-treated BHK-GLP-1R cells exhibited significantly increased cell viability, reduced caspase activity, and decreased cleavage of beta-catenin after treatment with cycloheximide in vitro. These findings demonstrate that GLP-1 receptor signaling directly modifies the susceptibility to apoptotic injury, and provides a new potential mechanism linking GLP-1 receptor activation to preservation or enhancement of beta cell mass in vivo.

Double-stranded RNA cooperates with interferon-gamma and IL-1 beta to induce both chemokine expression and nuclear factor-kappa B-dependent apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells: potential mechanisms for viral-induced insulitis and beta-cell death in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Viral infections may trigger the autoimmune assault leading to type 1 diabetes mellitus. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is produced by many viruses during their replicative cycle. The dsRNA, tested as synthetic poly(IC) (PIC), in synergism with the proinflammatory cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and/or IL-1 beta, results in nitric oxide production, Fas expression, beta-cell dysfunction, and death. Activation of the transcription nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is required for PIC-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in beta-cells, and we hypothesized that this transcription factor may also participate in PIC-induced Fas expression and beta-cell apoptosis. This hypothesis, and the possibility that PIC induces expression of additional chemokines and cytokines (previously reported as NF-kappa B dependent) in pancreatic beta-cells, was investigated in the present study. We observed that the PIC-responsive region in the Fas promoter is located between nucleotides -223 and -54. Site-directed mutations at the NF-kappa B and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-binding sites prevented PIC-induced Fas promoter activity. Increased Fas promoter activity was paralleled by enhanced susceptibility of PIC + cytokine-treated beta-cells to apoptosis induced by Fas ligand. beta-Cell infection with the NF-kappa B inhibitor AdI kappa B((SA)2) prevented both necrosis and apoptosis induced by PIC + IL-1 beta or PIC + IFN-gamma. Messenger RNAs for several chemokines and one cytokine were induced by PIC, alone or in combination with IFN-gamma, in pancreatic beta-cells. These included IP-10, interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10, IL-15, macrophage chemoattractant protein-1, fractalkine, and macrophage inflammatory protein-3 alpha. There was not, however, induction of IL-1 beta expression. We propose that dsRNA, generated during a viral infection, may contribute for beta-cell demise by both inducing expression of chemokines and IL-15, putative contributors for the build-up of insulitis, and by synergizing with locally produced cytokines to induce beta-cell apoptosis. Activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B plays a central role in at least part of the deleterious effects of dsRNA in pancreatic beta-cells.

Glucose induces beta-cell apoptosis via upregulation of the Fas receptor in human islets.

In autoimmune type 1 diabetes, Fas-to-Fas-ligand (FasL) interaction may represent one of the essential pro-apoptotic pathways leading to a loss of pancreatic beta-cells. In the advanced stages of type 2 diabetes, a decline in beta-cell mass is also observed, but its mechanism is not known. Human islets normally express FasL but not the Fas receptor. We observed upregulation of Fas in beta-cells of type 2 diabetic patients relative to nondiabetic control subjects. In vitro exposure of islets from nondiabetic organ donors to high glucose levels induced Fas expression, caspase-8 and -3 activation, and beta-cell apoptosis. The effect of glucose was blocked by an antagonistic anti-Fas antibody, indicating that glucose-induced apoptosis is due to interaction between the constitutively expressed FasL and the upregulated Fas. These results support a new role for glucose in regulating Fas expression in human beta-cells. Upregulation of the Fas receptor by elevated glucose levels may contribute to beta-cell destruction by the constitutively expressed FasL independent of an autoimmune reaction, thus providing a link between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Apoptosis and beta-cell destruction in pancreatic islets of NOD mice with spontaneous and cyclophosphamide-accelerated diabetes.

Autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic islet beta cells leads to insulin-dependent diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Although both direct cytotoxic T cell- and indirect cytokine-, nitric oxide- or free radical-mediated mechanisms induce beta-cell apoptosis in vitro, beta-cell death in vivo in spontaneous autoimmune diabetes is not well-characterized. Furthermore, whether beta cells die gradually, or rapidly in the late pre-clinical stage, is a question of current interest. To investigate beta-cell death in vivo, we measured the frequency and intra-islet localisation of apoptosis, defined as DNA strand breaks by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) technique, during spontaneous and cyclophosphamide-accelerated diabetes in NOD mice. In spontaneous diabetes, the frequency of apoptosis in islets correlated with the progression of beta-cell destruction with age. Although apoptosis was detected at low frequency within the reduced insulin-positive islet area of pre-diabetic mice at 90 days of age, it was rarely co-localised to beta cells. After acceleration of beta-cell destruction with cyclophosphamide, the frequency of apoptosis reached maximum at 12 days, at which time 3.2 % of apoptotic cells were beta cells. Apoptosis was most frequent in the insulin-negative islet area comprised of mononuclear cell infiltrate and was localized to CD8+ T cells. The rarity of detectable apoptotic beta cells in spontaneous pre-diabetic mice with pronounced insulitis and reduced insulin-positive islet areas most likely reflects the rapid clearance of apoptotic beta cells. Our findings are more consistent with gradual destruction of non-renewable beta-cells in spontaneous diabetes, than with their rapid, accelerated destruction (as after cyclophosphamide) in the late pre-clinical stage.