The Fas pathway is involved in pancreatic beta cell secretory function.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2007
Keywords
Antigens-CD95, Blood-Glucose, CASP8-and-FADD-Like-Apoptosis-Regulating-Protein, Fas-Ligand-Protein, Gene-Expression-Regulation, Homeodomain-Proteins, Insulin, Insulin-Secreting-Cells, Male, Mice-Inbred-C57BL, Mitochondria, NF-kappa-B, RNA-Messenger, Trans-Activators
First Page
2861
Last Page
2866
JAX Source
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 Feb; 104(8):2861-6.
Abstract
Pancreatic beta cell mass and function increase in conditions of enhanced insulin demand such as obesity. Failure to adapt leads to diabetes. The molecular mechanisms controlling this adaptive process are unclear. Fas is a death receptor involved in beta cell apoptosis or proliferation, depending on the activity of the caspase-8 inhibitor FLIP. Here we show that the Fas pathway also regulates beta cell secretory function. We observed impaired glucose tolerance in Fas-deficient mice due to a delayed and decreased insulin secretory pattern. Expression of PDX-1, a beta cell-specific transcription factor regulating insulin gene expression and mitochondrial metabolism, was decreased in Fas-deficient beta cells. As a consequence, insulin and ATP production were severely reduced and only partly compensated for by increased beta cell mass. Up-regulation of FLIP enhanced NF-kappaB activity via NF-kappaB-inducing kinase and RelB. This led to increased PDX-1 and insulin production independent of changes in cell turnover. The results support a previously undescribed role for the Fas pathway in regulating insulin production and release.
Recommended Citation
Schumann DM,
Maedler K,
Franklin I,
Konrad D,
Storling J,
Boni SM,
Gjinovci A,
Kurrer MO,
Bosco D,
Greter M,
Becher B,
Chervonsky AV,
Donath MY.
The Fas pathway is involved in pancreatic beta cell secretory function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2007 Feb; 104(8):2861-6.