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The MAPK Kinase Kinase-1 Is Essential for Stress-Induced Pancreatic Islet Cell Death

Department of Medical Cell Biology (D.M., N.W.), Uppsala University, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden; and Department of Biochemistry (J.W.M.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford California 94305-5307

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Nils Welsh, Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Biomedicum, P.O. Box 571, S-751 23 Uppsala, Sweden. E-mail: nils.welsh{at}mcb.uu.se.

The aim of the present investigation was to characterize the role of the MAPK kinase kinase-1 (MEKK-1) in stress-induced cell death of insulin producing cells. We observed that transient overexpression of the wild type MEKK-1 protein in the insulin-producing cell lines RIN-5AH and βTC-6 increased c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation and augmented cell death induced by diethylenetriamine/nitroso-1-propylhydrazino)-1-propanamine (DETA/NO), streptozotocin (STZ), and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Furthermore, DETA/NO or STZ induced a rapid threonine phosphorylation of MEKK-1. Silencing of MEKK-1 gene expression in βTC-6 and human dispersed islet cells, using in vitro-generated diced small interfering RNA, resulted in protection from DETA/NO, STZ, H₂O₂, and tunicamycin induced cell death. Moreover, in DETA/NO-treated cells diced small interfering RNA-mediated down-regulation of MEKK-1 resulted in decreased activation of JNK but not p38 and ERK. Inhibition of JNK by treatment with SP600125 partially protected against DETA/NO- or STZ-induced cell death. In summary, our results support an essential role for MEKK-1 in JNK activation and stress-induced β-cell death. Increased understanding of the signaling pathways that augment or diminish β-cell MEKK-1 activity may aid in the generation of novel therapeutic strategies in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.