Diminished pancreatic beta-cell mass in securin-null mice is caused by beta-cell apoptosis and senescence

Endocrinology. 2009 Jun;150(6):2603-10. doi: 10.1210/en.2008-0972. Epub 2009 Feb 12.

Abstract

Pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG) encodes a securin protein critical in regulating chromosome separation. PTTG-null (PTTG(-/-)) mice exhibit pancreatic beta-cell hypoplasia and insulinopenic diabetes. We tested whether PTTG deletion causes beta-cell senescence, resulting in diminished beta-cell mass. We examined beta-cell mass, proliferation, apoptosis, neogenesis, cell size, and senescence in PTTG(-/-) and WT mice from embryo to young adulthood before diabetes is evident. The roles of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and DNA damage in the pathogenesis of diabetes in PTTG(-/-) mice were also addressed. Relative beta-cell mass in PTTG(-/-) mice began to decrease at 2-3 wk, whereas beta-cell proliferation rate was initially normal but decreased in PTTG(-/-) mice beginning at 2 months. Apoptosis was also much more evident in PTTG(-/-) mice. At 1 month, beta-cell neogenesis was robust in wild-type mice but was absent in PTTG(-/-) mice. In addition, the size of beta-cells became larger and macronuclei were prominent in PTTG(-/-) animals. Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase was also active in PTTG(-/-) beta-cells at 1 month. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 was progressively up-regulated in PTTG(-/-) islets, and p21 deletion partially rescued PTTG(-/-) mice from development of diabetes. mRNA array showed that DNA damage-associated genes were activated in PTTG(-/-) islets. We conclude that beta-cell apoptosis and senescence contribute to the diminished beta-cell mass in PTTG(-/-) mice, likely secondary to DNA damage. Our results also suggest that ductal progenitor beta-cells are exhausted by excessive neogenesis induced by apoptosis in PTTG(-/-) mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cellular Senescence / physiology*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / metabolism
  • DNA Damage / physiology
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / pathology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Securin
  • beta-Galactosidase / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Securin
  • beta-Galactosidase