Molecular basis for vulnerability to mitochondrial and oxidative stress in an insulinoma cell line

ABSTRACT: Background. Many age-associated disorders (including diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases) have been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, which leads to impaired cellular bioenegetics (decreased ATP production) and increased oxidative stress. However, it is not known what genetic and molecular pathways underlie differential vulnerability to mitochondrial dysfunction observed among different cell types. Methodology/Principal Findings. Starting with CRI-G1 insulinoma cells as a model of a neuronal/endocrine cell type, we isolated a novel (CRI-G1-RS) cell line that was more susceptible to cell death induced by mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors or direct oxidants than the parental CRI-G1 cell line (for clarity renamed CRI-G1-RR). In contrast, RS cells were equally vulnerable to mitochondrial uncoupling and less vulnerable to protein kinase inhibition than RR cells, suggesting that differences in vulnerability to mitochondrial toxins among the two cell types did not stem from differences in ATP production/utilization or in downstream apoptotic machinery. Genome-wide gene expression analysis and follow-up biochemical studies revealed that, in this experimental system, increased vulnerability to mitochondrial and oxidative stress was associated with (1) inhibition of ARE/Nrf2/Keap1 antioxidant pathway; (2) decreased expression of antioxidant and phase I/II conjugation enzymes, most of which are Nrf2 transcriptional targets; (3) increased expression of molecular chaperones, many of which are also considered Nrf2 transcriptional targets; and (4) increased expression of β cell-specific genes and transcription factors that specify/maintain β cell fate. Conclusions/Significance. The molecular profile presented here will enable identification of individual genes and/or gene clusters that shape vulnerability to mitochondrial dysfunction and thus represent potential therapeutic targets for diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, the newly identified CRI-G1-RS cell line represents a new experimental model for investigating how endogenous antioxidants affect glucose sensing and insulin release by pancreatic β cells. Six biological replicates for each of two cell types (12 samples total)

ORGANISM(S): Rattus norvegicus

SUBMITTER: Natasha Chandiramani 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-19948 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress