Discussion Of Diabetes Pathogenesis And Treatment

AIM : To investigate the role of Fas-FasL pathway in the pathogenes is of STZ induced type I diabetes mellitus. METHODS : Low dose injections of STZ were used to induce type I diabetes mellitus in the CMV- hFasL transgenic mice. Blood glucose concentration was measured with Glucotrand Plus blood glucose test strips. Expression of hFasL was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The severity of insuli tis was determined by histological examination. Expressions of IL-1 β and TNF-α mRNA in the pancreas were detected by semi-quantitative R T-PCR analysis. Fas expression in apoptotic RIN-5F cells was also con firmed by RT-PCR in vitro. RESULTS : hFasL was expressed in the islets of CMV-hFasL transgenic mice. The transgenic mice were sensitive t o diabetic induction than the control WT mice. IL-1β and TNF-α expressions in the pancreas of CMV-hFasL transgenic mice were f ar more than that in WT mice. We also found STZ and IL-1β could both in duce higher expression of Fas in RIN-5F. The combining of Fas-FasL c ould lead to the apoptosis of β cells in the CMV-hFasL transgenic mi ce. CONCLUSION : Fas-FasL interaction plays a significant role in the pathogenic mechanism of type I diabetes mellitus.