title: Specific expression of Bax-omega in pancreatic beta-cells is down-regulated by cytokines before the onset of apoptosis.
abstract: Cytokines have been implicated in the process of pancreatic beta-cell destruction that leads to type 1 diabetes. This study investigates the beta-cell expression of pro- and antiapoptotic proteins from the Bcl-2 family and their variation during cytokine-mediated apoptosis. Exposure of rat beta-cells to the combination of IL-1beta plus interferon-gamma causes a time-dependent increase in apoptotic cells starting after 3 d (<10% on d 3 and 28 +/- 2% on d 7). This effect was preceded by a marked down-regulation of two antiapoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and Bax-omega (respectively reduced by 60% and 80% after 3 d), whereas no changes occurred in the expression of Bcl-x(L) and the proapoptotic protein Bax-alpha. No apoptosis or down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bax-omega proteins was observed with individual cytokines or in the presence of N-methyl-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. The lowered Bcl-2 protein content was associated with a decrease in Bcl-2 mRNA, which was initiated after 24 h of exposure. In MIN6 cells, the cytokine-induced suppression of Bcl-2- and Bax-omega, and apoptosis, occurred within 24 h. Primary rat beta-cells exhibited a higher expression of Bax-omega than MIN6 cells or than other rat cell types. These data suggest that suppression of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bax-omega mediates cytokine-induced apoptosis of beta-cells. The beta-cell-specific expression of Bax-omega makes this protein a possible effector in the protection of this cell type against apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Research Center, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium. mvdcaste@vub.ac.be
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van de Casteele
authors.forename: Benjamin Ate
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kefas
authors.forename: Zhidong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heimberg
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Pipeleers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: C494828:Bax protein, rat; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007375:Interleukin-1; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma