Testosterone protects against glucotoxicity-induced apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells (INS-1) and male mouse pancreatic islets

Endocrinology. 2013 Nov;154(11):4058-67. doi: 10.1210/en.2013-1351. Epub 2013 Aug 22.

Abstract

Male hypogonadism associates with type 2 diabetes, and T can protect pancreatic β-cells from glucotoxicity. However, the protective mechanism is still unclear. This study thus aims to examine the antiapoptotic mechanism of T in pancreatic β cells cultured in high-glucose medium. T (0.0005-2 μg/mL) was added to INS-1 cells cultured in basal glucose or high-glucose media. Then cellular apoptosis, oxidative stress, and cell viability were measured. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers and sensors and the antiapoptotic protein (B-cell lymphoma 2) were investigated by real-time PCR and Western blot analysis. ER stress markers were also measured in male mouse pancreatic islet cultured in similar conditions. T (0.05 and 0.5 μg/mL) did not have any effect on apoptosis and viability of INS-1 cells cultured in basal glucose medium, but it could reduce apoptosis and increase viability of INS-1 cells cultured in high-glucose medium. The protective effect of T is diminished by androgen receptor inhibitor. T (0.05 μg/mL) could significantly reduce nitrotyrosine levels, mRNA, and protein levels of the ER stress markers and sensor those that were induced when INS-1 cells were cultured in high-glucose medium. It could also significantly increase the survival proteins, sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase-2, and B-cell lymphoma 2 in INS-1 cells cultured in the same conditions. Similarly, it could reduce ER stress markers and increase sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase protein levels in male mouse pancreatic islets cultured in high-glucose medium. T can protect against male pancreatic β-cell apoptosis from glucotoxicity via the reduction of both oxidative stress and ER stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / drug effects
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / physiology
  • Glucose / administration & dosage
  • Glucose / toxicity*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Stress, Physiological / drug effects
  • Testosterone / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Receptors, Androgen
  • Testosterone
  • Glucose