Caspase-3-Dependent β-Cell Apoptosis in the Initiation of Autoimmune Diabetes Mellitus

ABSTRACT β-Cell apoptosis is a key event contributing to the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. In addition to apoptosis being the main mechanism by which β cells are destroyed, β-cell apoptosis has been implicated in the initiation of type 1 diabetes mellitus through antigen cross-presentation mechanisms that lead to β-cell-specific T-cell activation. Caspase-3 is the major effector caspase involved in apoptotic pathways. Despite evidence supporting the importance of β-cell apoptosis in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, the specific role of caspase-3 in this process is unknown. Here, we show that Caspase-3 knockout (Casp3 − /−) mice were protected from developing diabetes in a multiple-low-dose streptozotocin autoimmune diabetes model. Lymphocyte infiltration of the pancreatic islets was completely absent in Casp3 − /− mice. To determine the role of caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in disease initiation, a defined antigen-T-cell receptor transgenic system, RIP-GP/P14 double-transgenic mice with Casp3 null mutation, was examined. β-cell antigen-specific T-cell activation and proliferation were observed only in the pancreatic draining lymph node of RIP-GP/P14/Casp3 + /− mice, but not in mice lacking caspase-3. Together, our findings demonstrate that caspase-3-mediated β-cell apoptosis is a requisite step for T-cell priming, a key initiating event in type 1 diabetes.