title: Recombinant Reg3β protein protects against streptozotocin-induced β-cell damage and diabetes.
abstract: Regenerating genes (Reg) have been found during the search for factors involved in pancreatic islet regeneration. Our recent study discovered that pancreatic β-cell-specific overexpression of Reg3β protects against streptozotocin (Stz) -induced diabetes in mice. To investigate its potential roles in the treatment of diabetes, we produced a recombinant Reg3β protein and provided evidence that it is active in promoting islet β-cell survival against Stz- triggered cell death. Though ineffective in alleviating preexisting diabetes, pretreatment of recombinant Reg3β was capable of minimizing the Stz-induced hyperglycemia and weight loss, by preserving serum and pancreatic insulin levels, and islet β-cell mass. No obvious changes were observed in the rate of cell proliferation and hypertrophy in α- or acinar-cells after treatment with recombinant Reg3β. The underlying mechanism of Reg3β-mediated protection seems to involve Akt activation which upregulates Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL levels and consequently promotes cell survival.
authors: School of Life Science &Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.|State Key Laboratory of Nature Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Chen
authors: C
authors: Luo
authors: School of Life Science &Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Lu-Ting
authors: LT
authors: Yu
authors: School of Life Science &Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Meng-Qi
authors: MQ
authors: Yang
authors: School of Life Science &Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: School of Life Science &Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Zhi-Yuan
authors: ZY
authors: Zhang
authors: School of Life Science &Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Martin O
authors: MO
authors: Alfred
authors: Fraser Laboratories for Diabetes Research, Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
authors: Jun-Li
authors: JL
authors: Liu
authors: School of Life Science &Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.|State Key Laboratory of Nature Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D061354:Acinar Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050416:Glucagon-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046790:Pancreas, Exocrine / Q000187:drug effects; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D000073718:Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins; D020011:Protective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C490253:Reg3b protein, mouse