Tat-biliverdin reductase A protects INS-1 cells from human islet amyloid polypeptide-induced cytotoxicity by alleviating oxidative stress and ER stress

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP), a major constituent of islet amyloid deposits, induces pancreatic -cell apoptosis and eventually contributes to -cell deficit in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, Tat-mediated transduction of biliverdin reductase A (BLVRA) was investigated in INS-1 cells to examine whether exogenous supplementation of BLVRA prevented hIAPP-induced apoptosis and dysfunction in insulin secretion in -cells. Tat-BLVRA fusion protein was efficiently delivered into INS-1 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Exposure of cells to hIAPP induced apoptotic cell death, which was dose-dependently inhibited by pre-treatment with Tat-BLVRA for 1h. Transduced Tat-BLVRA reduced hIAPP-evoked generation of reactive oxygen species, a crucial mediator of -cell destruction. Immunoblot analysis showed that Tat-BLVRA suppressed hIAPP-induced increase in the levels of proteins involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis signaling. Transduced Tat-BLVRA also recovered hIAPP-induced dysfunction in basal and glucose-stimulated insulin secretions. These results suggested that transduced Tat-BLVRA enhanced the tolerance of -cells against IAPP-induced cytotoxicity by alleviating oxidative stress and ER stress. Therefore, Tat-mediated transduction of BLVRA may provide a potential tool to ameliorate -cell deficit in pancreas with T2DM.