Carboxypeptidase E mediates palmitate-induced β-cell ER stress and apoptosis

  • Kristin D. Jeffrey
  • , Emilyn U. Alejandro
  • , Dan S. Luciani
  • , Tatyana B. Kalynyak
  • , Xiaoke Hu
  • , Hong Li
  • , Yalin Lin
  • , R. Reid Townsend
  • , Kenneth S. Polonsky
  • , James D. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

128 Scopus citations

Abstract

Obesity is a principal risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and elevated fatty acids reduce β-cell function and survival. An unbiased proteomic screen was used to identify targets of palmitate in β-cell death. The most significantly altered protein in both human islets and MIN6 β-cells treated with palmitate was carboxypeptidase E (CPE). Palmitate reduced CPE protein levels within 2 h, preceding endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cell death, by a mechanism involving CPE translocation to Golgi and lysosomal degradation. Palmitate metabolism and Ca2+ flux were also required for CPE proteolysis and β-cell death. Chronic palmitate exposure increased the ratio of proinsulin to insulin. CPE null islets had increased apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Reducing CPE by ≈30% using shRNA also increased ER stress and apoptosis. Conversely, overexpression of CPE partially rescued β-cells from palmitate-induced ER stress and apoptosis. Thus, carboxypeptidase E degradation contributes to palmitate-induced β-cell ER stress and apoptosis. CPE is a major link between hyperlipidemia and β-cell death pathways in diabetes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8452-8457
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume105
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 17 2008

Keywords

  • 2D difference gel electrophoresis proteomics
  • Free fatty acids
  • Hyperproinsulinemia
  • Mechanisms of β-cell lipotoxicity
  • Type 2 diabetes

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