Our recent studies indicate that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress causes INS-1 cell apoptosis by a Ca(2+)-independent
phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)beta)-mediated mechanism that promotes
ceramide generation via
sphingomyelin hydrolysis and subsequent activation of the intrinsic pathway. To elucidate the association between
iPLA(2)beta and ER stress, we compared beta-cell lines generated from wild type (WT) and Akita mice. The Akita mouse is a spontaneous model of ER stress that develops
hyperglycemia/diabetes due to ER stress-induced beta-cell apoptosis. Consistent with a predisposition to developing ER stress, basal phosphorylated PERK and activated
caspase-3 are higher in the Akita cells than WT cells. Interestingly, basal
iPLA(2)beta, mature SREBP-1 (mSREBP-1), phosphorylated Akt, and neutral
sphingomyelinase (NSMase) are higher, relative abundances of
sphingomyelins are lower, and mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi) is compromised in Akita cells, in comparison with WT cells. Exposure to
thapsigargin accelerates DeltaPsi loss and apoptosis of Akita cells and is associated with increases in
iPLA(2)beta, mSREBP-1, and NSMase in both WT and Akita cells. Transfection of Akita cells with
iPLA(2)beta
small interfering RNA, however, suppresses NSMase message, DeltaPsi loss, and apoptosis. The
iPLA(2)beta gene contains a
sterol-regulatory
element, and transfection with a dominant negative SREBP-1 reduces basal mSREBP-1 and
iPLA(2)beta in the Akita cells and suppresses increases in mSREBP-1 and
iPLA(2)beta due to
thapsigargin. These findings suggest that ER stress leads to generation of mSREBP-1, which can bind to the
sterol-regulatory
element in the
iPLA(2)beta gene to promote its transcription. Consistent with this, SREBP-1,
iPLA(2)beta, and NSMase messages in Akita mouse islets are higher than in WT islets.