Dissociation between Fas expression and induction of apoptosis in human islets of Langerhans.
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.
Loweth
A C
AC
Cellular Pharmacology Group, School of Life Sciences, Keele University, Staffs, UK.
Watts
K
K
McBain
S C
SC
Williams
G T
GT
Scarpello
J H
JH
Morgan
N G
NG
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*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D019014:fas Receptor