title: Nifedipine protects INS-1 β-cell from high glucose-induced ER stress and apoptosis.
abstract: Sustained high concentration of glucose has been verified toxic to β-cells. Glucose augments Ca(2+)-stimulated insulin release in pancreatic β-cells, but chronic high concentration of glucose could induce a sustained level of Ca(2+) in β-cells, which leads to cell apoptosis. However, the mechanism of high glucose-induced β-cell apoptosis remains unclear. In this study, we use a calcium channel blocker, nifedipine, to investigate whether the inhibition of intracellular Ca(2+) concentration could protect β-cells from chronic high glucose-induced apoptosis. It was found that in a concentration of 33.3 mM, chronic stimulation of glucose could induce INS-1 β-cells apoptosis at least through the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway and 10 μM nifedipine inhibited Ca(2+) release to protect β-cells from high glucose-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. These results indicated that inhibition of Ca(2+) over-accumulation might provide benefit to attenuate islet β-cell decompensation in a high glucose environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Zhongda Hospital, Institute of Diabetes, Southeast University, No.87 Dingjiaqiao Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China; E-Mails:  yaowang803@126.com  (Y.W.);  yuanlizhongda@126.com  (Y.L.);  hongchenzhongda@yeah.net  (H.C.).
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zilin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D007328:Insulin; D009543:Nifedipine; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium