title: Dissociation between Fas expression and induction of apoptosis in human islets of Langerhans.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that inappropriate induction of apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells may precede the development of type 1 diabetes in animal models and in man. One mechanism by which this has been proposed to occur involves up-regulation of the death receptor Fas on beta-cells, resulting in apoptosis of the Fas-bearing beta-cells upon ligation of the receptor. We have examined this hypothesis in isolated human islets of Langerhans and show that--in contrast to data obtained with rodent beta-cells--expression of Fas per se is not sufficient to allow induction of apoptosis upon addition of agonistic anti-Fas serum.
authors.affiliation: Cellular Pharmacology Group, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Staffs, UK.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Loweth
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: McBain
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Scarpello
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D019014:fas Receptor