PGJ2-stimulated β-cell apoptosis is associated with prolonged UPR activation
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) ligands have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties that include the inhibition of transcription factor activation and the expression of inflammatory genes. Using pancreatic β-cells, we have shown that PPARγ ligands such as 15-deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2) attenuate interferon-γ-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 activation and interleukin (IL)-1β-induced nuclear factor-κB activation by a pathway that correlates with endoplasmic reticulum stress and the induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR is a conserved cellular response activated by a number of cell stressors and is believed to alleviate the stress and promote cell survival. However, prolonged activation of the UPR results in cellular death by apoptosis. In this report, we have examined the effects of PGJ2 on UPR activation and the consequences of this activation on cell survival. Consistent with induction of a cell death pathway, treatment of rat islets and RINm5F cells for 24 h with PGJ2 results in caspase-3 activation and caspase-dependent β-cell death. The actions of these ligands do not appear to be selective for β-cells, because PGJ2 stimulates macrophage apoptosis in a similar fashion. Associated with cell death is the enhanced phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), and in cells expressing a mutant of eIF2α that cannot be phosphorylated, the stimulatory actions of PGJ2 on caspase-3 activation are augmented. These findings suggest that, whereas PGJ2-induced UPR activation is associated with an inhibition of cytokine signaling, prolonged UPR activation results in cell death, and that eIF2α phosphorylation may function in a protective manner to attenuate cell death.