Transgenic overexpression of human Bcl-2 in islet beta cells inhibits apoptosis but does not prevent autoimmune destruction

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus results when > 90% of the insulin-produ cing beta cells in the pancreatic islets are killed as a result of autoimmu ne attack by T cells. During the progression to diabetes, islet beta cells die as a result of different insults from the immune system, Agents such as perforin and granzymes, CD95 ligand and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or cy tokines and free-radicals have all been shown to cause beta cell apoptosis. The anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, might protect against some of these sti muli. We have therefore generated transgenic mice expressing human Bcl-2 in their islet beta cells. Although Bcl-2 was able to prevent apoptosis induc ed by cytotoxic agents against beta cells in vitro, Bcl-2 alone could not p revent or ameliorate cytotoxic or autoimmune beta cell damage in vivo.