Several recent studies hare indicated that the Fas-Fas ligand system may be
critical for pancreatic beta-cell destruction in type 1 diabetes. Although
the fundamental roles of caspases in the mammalian apoptotic machinery hav
e been elucidated, it is not known which caspase or caspases play a major r
ole in Fas-mediated apoptosis of beta-cells. In this study we transfected h
uman Fas cDNA into a mouse beta-cell line (beta TC1) and established a beta
-cell clone expressing human Fas. This clone, designated hFas/beta TC1, und
erwent apoptosis when exposed to anti-Fas, showing hallmarks of apoptosis (
chromatin condensation nucleolar disintegration, internucleosomal DNA fragm
entation, and annexin V staining), indicating that the mouse beta-cell line
has the intact machinery of Fas-mediated apoptosis. The cross-linking of F
as by anti-Fas resulted in the elevation of caspase-3-like, but, not caspas
e-1-like, protease activity 2-12 h after the addition of the anti-Fas. A ca
spase-3 inhibitor, Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethyl ketone, attenuated the Fa
s-mediated beta-cell apoptosis, while a caspase-1 inhibitor, acetyl-Tyr-Val
-Ala-Asp-chloromethylketone failed to suppress the apoptosis. Thus the Fas-
induced death signal apparently bypassed caspase-1 in the cells. Furthermor
e, an antisense caspase-3 construct blocked caspase-3 activation and substa
ntially suppressed Fas-triggered apoptosis of hFas/beta TC1 cells. These ob
servations suggest the essential role of caspase-3 in Fas-mediated apoptosi
s of the beta-cell line.