Angiotensin II promotes the expression of TXNIP through angiotensin II type 1 receptor in islet β cells / 生理学报

This study investigated the effect of angiotensin II (Ang II) on apoptosis and thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) expression in INS-1 islet cells and the underlying mechanism. INS-1 cells cultured in vitro were treated with different concentration of Ang II for different time, and the viability was measured using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). After treatment with 1 × 10 mol/L Ang II for 24 h, flow cytometry and Western blot were used to measure the cell apoptosis, and Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of TXNIP, carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R). Real-time PCR was used to detect TXNIP and ChREBP mRNA expression. IF/ICC was used to observe the TXNIP, ChREBP and AT1R expression. The results showed that Ang II reduced cell viability and induced the expression of TXNIP in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05, n = 6) compared with the control group. Ang II induced apoptosis and up-regulated the expression of ChREBP and AT1R (P < 0.05, n = 6). AT1R inhibitor, telmisartan (TM), blocked Ang II-induced TXNIP and ChREBP overexpression (P < 0.05, n = 6) and inhibited Ang II-induced apoptosis. Taken together, Ang II increased ChREBP activation through AT1R, which subsequently increased TXNIP expression and promoted cell apoptosis. These findings suggest a therapeutic potential of targeting TXNIP in preventing Ang II-induced INS-1 cell apoptosis in diabetes.

Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of thioredoxin interaction protein inhibits INS-1 islet β cell proliferation / 生理学报

Diabetes can cause a significant increase in the expression of thioredoxin (Trx)-interacting protein (TXNIP), which binds to Trx and inhibits its activity. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of TXNIP on proliferation of rat INS-1 islet β cells and the underlying mechanism. TXNIP overexpressing adenovirus vectors (Ad-TXNIP-GFP and Ad-TXNIPc247s-GFP) were constructed and used to infect INS-1 cells. Ad-TXNIPc247s-GFP vector carries a mutant C247S TXNIP gene, and its expression product (TXNIPc247s) cannot attach and inhibit Trx activity. The expression of TXNIP was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. EdU and Ki67 methods were used to detect cell proliferation. Protein phosphorylation levels of ERK and AKT were detected by Western blot. The results showed that both TXNIP and TXNIPc247s protein overexpressions inhibited the proliferation of INS-1 cells, and the former's inhibitory effect was greater. Moreover, both of the two kinds of overexpressions inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and AKT. These results suggest that TXNIP overexpression may inhibit the proliferation of INS-1 cells through Trx-dependent and non-Trx-dependent pathways, and the mechanism involves the inhibition of ERK and AKT phosphorylation.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibodies induces INS-1 islet β-cell apoptosis by upregulation of autophagy / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To explore whether the angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibodies(AT1-AA)induces islet β-cell apoptosis and whether autophagy is involved in the process.METHODS:The INS-1 cells treated with AT1-AA at 10-6mol/L for 24 h,and then the apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry,Western blot and Hoechst 33258 staining.In addition,the expression of autophagy-related proteins such as LC3 and beclin 1 were determined by Western blot.The effects of AT1-AA on the apoptosis,autophagy and viability of INS-1 cells with or without 3-methyladenine(3-MA;a com-mon autophagy inhibitor)or telmisartan(an angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor blocker)pretreatment, were detected by flow cytometry,Western blot and CCK-8 assay.RESULTS: Treatment with AT1-AA at 10 -6mol/L for 24 h significantly re-duced the cell viability(P<0.05).Compared with the negative IgG control group,the apoptotic cells increased after incu-bation with AT1-AA for 12 h,24 h and 36 h,respectively(P<0.05).Moreover,the protein levels of LC3 and beclin 1 also increased gradually with the prolongation of treatment time,and the elevation of apoptosis and autophagy were blocked by telmisartan.After pretreatment with 3-MA, the apoptotic rate of the cells was obviously decreased compared with the cells treated with AT1-AA alone.CONCLUSION: AT1-AA induces the apoptosis of INS-1 islet βcells by upregulating autophagy via the angiotensin Ⅱtype 1 receptor pathway.