Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P10415 (Bcl-2)
 33,771 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In an effort to better understand the phenomenon of lipotoxicity in human beta-cells, we evaluated the effects of 48-h preculture with 1.0 or 2.0 mmol/l free fatty acid (FFA) (2:1 oleate to palmitate) on the function and survival of isolated human islets and investigated some of the possible mechanisms. Compared with control islets, triglyceride content was significantly increased and insulin content and glucose-stimulated insulin release were significantly reduced in islets precultured with increased FFA concentrations. These changes were accompanied by a significant reduction of glucose utilization and oxidation. By cell death detection techniques, it was observed that exposure to FFAs induced a significant increase of the amount of dead cells. Electron microscopy showed the involvement of beta-cells, with morphological appearance compatible with the presence of apoptotic phenomena. FFA-induced islet cell death was blocked by inhibition of upstream caspases and partially prevented by inhibiton of ceramide synthesis or serine protease activity, whereas inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis had no effect. RT-PCR studies revealed no major change of iNOS and Bax mRNA expression and a marked decrease of Bcl-2 mRNA expression in the islets cultured with FFA. Thus, prolonged exposure to FFAs has cytostatic and pro-apoptotic effects on human pancreatic beta-cells. The cytostatic action is likely to be due to the FFA-induced reduction of intraislet glucose metabolism, and the proapoptotic effects are mostly caspase mediated, partially dependent on ceramide pathway, and possibly Bcl-2 regulated.
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PMID:Prolonged exposure to free fatty acids has cytostatic and pro-apoptotic effects on human pancreatic islets: evidence that beta-cell death is caspase mediated, partially dependent on ceramide pathway, and Bcl-2 regulated. 1197 40

We investigated whether HSV gene transfer of HSP72 in vivo and in vitro: (1) protected cornu ammonis 1 region of the hippocampus neurons from global cerebral ischemia; and (2) affected Bcl-2 expression. HSV vectors expressing HSP72 and beta-galactosidase (reporter) or beta-galactosidase only (control vector) were injected into cornu ammonis 1 region of the hippocampus 15 hours before induction of global cerebral ischemia (n = 10) and sham-operated rats (n = 8). HSP72 vector-treated rats displayed significantly more surviving transfected neurons (X-gal-positive, 31 +/- 8) compared with control vector-treated rats (10 +/- 4) after global cerebral ischemia. Sham-operated rats displayed similar numbers of X-gal-positive neurons (HSP72 vector 18 +/- 8 vs control vector 20 +/- 7). The percentage of beta-galactosidase and Bcl-2 coexpressing neurons in HSP72-treated rats after global cerebral ischemia (84 +/- 4%) was greater than that in control vector-treated rats (58 +/- 9%). The percentage of beta-galactosidase and Bcl-2 coexpressing neurons in sham-operated rats was similar in HSP72 (93 +/- 7%) and in control vector-treated rats (88 +/- 12%). HSP72 vector transfection led to 12 times as much Bcl-2 expression as the control vector in uninjured hippocampal neuronal cultures. In injured (oxygen-glucose deprivation) hippocampal neuron cultures, HSP72 vector transfection led to 2.8 times as much Bcl-2 expression as control vector. We show that HSP72 overexpression protects cornu ammonis 1 region of the hippocampus neurons from global cerebral ischemia, and that this protection may be mediated in part by increased Bcl-2 expression.
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PMID:Gene transfer of HSP72 protects cornu ammonis 1 region of the hippocampus neurons from global ischemia: influence of Bcl-2. 1221 Jul 85

In this report we describe the identification of a novel cell type in human and canine pancreas using tissue culture techniques. These cells, representing less than 1% of total islet cells, are of a small size (7-10 microm) and highly quiescent. They display a fairly immature morphology, which is characterized by a weakly developed protein synthesis machinery, a few mitochondria and a small number of neuroendocrine granules. These cells, which we have termed "small cells," are usually organized into small clusters, which can be identified within the islets of predominantly small size. They can also be collected as separate structures from preparations of freshly isolated islets. Immunohistochemically, small cells are positive for PDX-1, synaptophysin, insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, alpha-fetaprotein and Bcl-2 and negative for cytokeratin 19 and nestin. Insulin secretion studies demonstrated that these cells secrete insulin in a glucose-responsive fashion, although do not respond to secretagogues such as IBMX and arginine as do mature beta cells. Although this study does not provide evidence of the proliferative and differentiation potential of small cells, their immature morphology, along with a small size and quiescence, let us hypothesize that these cells may serve as progenitors contributing to the islet growth.
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PMID:Identification and characterization of small cells in the adult pancreas: potential progenitor cells? 1224 83

Reactive oxygen species are recognized as important mediators of biological responses. Hyperglycemia promotes the intracellular generation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide. In several cell lines, oxidant stress has been linked to the activation of death programs. Here, we report for the first time that high ambient glucose concentration induces apoptosis in murine and human mesangial cells by an oxidant-dependent mechanism. The signaling cascade activated by glucose-induced oxidant stress included the heterodimeric redox-sensitive transcription factor NF-kappaB, which exhibited an upregulation in p65/c-Rel binding activity and suppressed binding activity of the p50 dimer. Recruitment of NF-kappaB and mesangial cell apoptosis were both inhibited by antioxidants, implicating oxidant-induced activation of NF-kappaB in the transmission of the death signal. The genetic program for glucose-induced mesangial cell apoptosis was characterized by an upregulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In addition, phosphorylation of the proapoptotic protein Bad was attenuated in mesangial cells maintained at high-glucose concentration, favoring progression of the apoptotic process. These perturbations in the expression and phosphorylation of the Bcl-2 family were coupled with the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and caspase activation. Our findings indicate that in mesangial cells exposed to high ambient glucose concentration, oxidant stress is a proximate event in the activation of the death program, which culminates in mitochondrial dysfunction and caspase-3 activation, as the terminal event.
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PMID:High glucose promotes mesangial cell apoptosis by oxidant-dependent mechanism. 1241 73

Glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity contribute to the impaired beta-cell function observed in type 2 diabetes. Here we examine the effect of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids at different glucose concentrations on human beta-cell turnover and secretory function. Exposure of cultured human islets to saturated fatty acid and/or to an elevated glucose concentration for 4 days increased beta-cell DNA fragmentation and decreased beta-cell proliferation. In contrast, the monounsaturated palmitoleic acid or oleic acid did not affect DNA fragmentation and induced beta-cell proliferation. Moreover, each monounsaturated fatty acid prevented the deleterious effects of both palmitic acid and high glucose concentration. The cell-permeable ceramide analogue C(2)-ceramide mimicked both the palmitic acid-induced beta-cell apoptosis and decrease in proliferation. Furthermore, the ceramide synthetase inhibitor fumonisin B1 blocked the deleterious effects of palmitic acid on beta-cell turnover. In addition, palmitic acid decreased Bcl-2 expression and induced release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol, which was prevented by fumonisin B1 and by oleic acid. Finally, each monounsaturated fatty acid improved beta-cell secretory function that was reduced by palmitic acid and by high glucose. Thus, in human islets, the saturated palmitic acid and elevated glucose concentration induce beta-cell apoptosis, decrease beta-cell proliferation, and impair beta-cell function, which can be prevented by monounsaturated fatty acids. The deleterious effect of palmitic acid is mediated via formation of ceramide and activation of the apoptotic mitochondrial pathway, whereas Bcl-2 may contribute to the protective effect of monounsaturated fatty acids.
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PMID:Monounsaturated fatty acids prevent the deleterious effects of palmitate and high glucose on human pancreatic beta-cell turnover and function. 1260 14

Mice with 50% Pdx1, a homeobox gene critical for pancreatic development, had worsening glucose tolerance with age and reduced insulin release in response to glucose, KCl, and arginine from the perfused pancreas. Surprisingly, insulin secretion in perifusion or static incubation experiments in response to glucose and other secretagogues was similar in islets isolated from Pdx1(+/-) mice compared with Pdx1(+/+) littermate controls. Glucose sensing and islet Ca(2+) responses were also normal. Depolarization-evoked exocytosis and Ca(2+) currents in single Pdx1(+/-) cells were not different from controls, arguing against a ubiquitous beta cell stimulus-secretion coupling defect. However, isolated Pdx1(+/-) islets and dispersed beta cells were significantly more susceptible to apoptosis at basal glucose concentrations than Pdx1(+/+) islets. Bcl(XL) and Bcl-2 expression were reduced in Pdx1(+/-) islets. In vivo, increased apoptosis was associated with abnormal islet architecture, positive TUNEL, active caspase-3, and lymphocyte infiltration. Although similar in young mice, both beta cell mass and islet number failed to increase with age and were approximately 50% less than controls by one year. These results suggest that an increase in apoptosis, with abnormal regulation of islet number and beta cell mass, represents a key mechanism whereby partial PDX1 deficiency leads to an organ-level defect in insulin secretion and diabetes.
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PMID:Increased islet apoptosis in Pdx1+/- mice. 1269 34

Cell death linked to oxidative DNA damage has been implicated in acute pancreatitis. The severe DNA damage, which is beyond the capacity of the DNA repair proteins, triggers apoptosis. It has been hypothesized that oxidative stress may induce a decrease in the Ku70 and Ku80 levels and apoptosis in pancreatic acinar cells. In this study, it was found that oxidative stress caused by glucose oxidase (GO) acting on beta-d-glucose, glucose/glucose oxidase (G/GO), induced slight changes in cytoplasmic Ku70 and Ku80 but drastically induced a decrease in nuclear Ku70 and Ku80 both time- and concentration-dependently in AR42J cells. G/GO induced apoptosis determined by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, an increase in expression of p53 and Bax, and a decrease in Bcl-2 expression. G/GO-induced apoptosis was in parallel with the loss of nuclear Ku proteins in AR42J cells. Caspase-3 inhibitor prevented G/GO-induced nuclear Ku loss and cell death. G/GO did not induce apoptosis in the cells transfected with either the Ku70 or Ku80 expression gene but increased apoptosis in those transfected with the Ku dominant negative mutant. Pulse and pulse-chase results show that G/GO induced Ku70 and Ku80 syntheses, even though Ku70 and Ku80 were degraded both in cytoplasm and nucleus. G/GO-induced decrease in Ku binding to importin alpha and importin beta reflects possible modification of nuclear import of Ku proteins. The importin beta level was not changed by G/GO. These results demonstrate that nuclear decrease in Ku70 and Ku80 may result from the decrease in Ku binding to nuclear transporter importins and the degradation of Ku proteins. The nuclear loss of Ku proteins may underlie the mechanism of apoptosis in pancreatic acinar cells after oxidative stress.
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PMID:Oxidative stress induces nuclear loss of DNA repair proteins Ku70 and Ku80 and apoptosis in pancreatic acinar AR42J cells. 1286 23

The activated insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) protects cells from a wide range of apoptotic stimuli. Hyperglycemia promotes the intracellular generation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, both of which have been linked to the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis program. Here, we report for the first time that ligand activation of the IGF-1R protects normal human mesangial cells and SV40 murine mesangial cells from the glycol-oxidant-induced apoptosis program. The IGF-1R antiapoptosis program was dependent on the recruitment of both Akt/PKB and the ERK subfamily of mitogen-activated protein kinases. IGF-1 treatment also protected the redox potential of mesangial cells maintained at high ambient glucose concentration, by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates and preserving mitochondrial transmembrane potential. IGF-1R survival signals targeted the Bcl-2 family of proteins to protect against glucose-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress. IGF-1-treated cells exhibited a decrease in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio; increased phosphorylation/inactivation of Bad at Ser112 and Ser136; inhibition of cytochrome c release; perturbations directionally opposed to the initiation of the apoptosis program. In addition, we demonstrate IGF-1R-activated ERK signaling modules phosphorylate Ser112 of the mitochondrial Bad protein, establishing a direct link between surface IGF-1R and the survival program in mitochondria. Our findings indicate that in mesangial cells maintained at high ambient glucose concentration, IGF-1 activates a survival program that maintains the integrity of mitochondria and prevents the expression of the genetic program for apoptosis.
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PMID:IGF-1 inhibits the mitochondrial apoptosis program in mesangial cells exposed to high glucose. 1287 69

We examined the effect of hypoxic ischemia and hypoxia vs. normoxia on postnatal murine brain substrate transporter concentrations and function. We detected a transient increase in the neuronal brain glucose transporter isoform (GLUT-3) in response to hypoxic ischemia after 4 h of reoxygenation. This increase was associated with no change in GLUT-1 (blood-brain barrier/glial isoform), monocarboxylate transporter isoforms 1 and 2, synapsin I (neuronal marker), or Bax (proapoptotic protein) but with a modest increase in Bcl-2 (antiapoptotic mitochondrial protein) protein concentrations. At 24 h of reoxygenation, the increase in GLUT-3 disappeared but was associated with a decline in Bcl-2 protein concentrations and the Bcl2:Bax ratio, an increase in caspase-3 enzyme activity (apoptotic effector enzyme), and extensive DNA fragmentation, which persisted later in time (48 h) only in the hippocampus. Hypoxia alone in the absence of ischemia was associated with a transient but modest increase in GLUT-3 and synapsin I protein concentrations, which did not cause significant apoptosis and/or necrosis. Assessment of glucose transporter function by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake using two distinct techniques, namely positron emission tomography (PET) and the modified Sokoloff method, revealed a discrepancy due to glucose uptake by extracranial Harderian glands that masked the accurate detection of intracranial brain glucose uptake by PET scanning. The modified Sokoloff method assessing 2-DG uptake revealed that the transient increase in GLUT-3 was critical in protecting against a decline in brain glucose uptake. We conclude that hypoxic-ischemic brain injury is associated with transient compensatory changes targeted at protecting glucose delivery to fuel cellular energy metabolism, which then may delay the processes of apoptosis and cell necrosis.
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PMID:Postnatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury alters mechanisms mediating neuronal glucose transport. 1452 22

Akt/PKB is a serine/threonine kinase, which controls vital cellular functions such as cell survival/apoptosis, cell cycle progression and glucose metabolism. Akt/PKB acts down-stream from growth factors and hormones and is a key mediator of their pro-survival, proliferative and metabolic effects. Akt/PKB carries out these diverse tasks through phosphorylation of a number of cellular substrates. The substrates of Akt/PKB, which promote the inhibition of apoptosis after being phosphorylated by Akt, include the Forkhead transcription factors and the Bcl-2 family member Bad. The cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors are substrates of Akt which when phosphorylated relinquish their inhibitory influence on cell cycle progression. Akt mediates many of the stimulatory effects of insulin on glucose metabolism through deactivation of glycogen synthase kinase, activation of phosphofructokinase, and modulation of glucose transporter activity. Consequently, Akt can be implicated in the pathological processes, which are associated with defects in regulation of apoptosis/survival and energy metabolism.
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PMID:Involvement of the Akt/PKB signaling pathway with disease processes. 1461 75


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