The stress-related protein p8 protects beta cells from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced cell death in vitro

Aims: Within the exocrine pancreas, p8 expression is induced by pancreatitis and protects exocrine tissue from inflammatory damage via inhibition of NFkB. In previous work, we investigated the role of p8 within the endocrine pancreas and characterised p8 as a glucose-dependent mediator of beta cell proliferation. Here we investigate the hypothesis that p8 protects beta cells from cell damage by the diabetogenic drug STZ. Methods: We investigated native and transiently transfected INS-1E and beta-TC3 beta cells. For transfections, we used a CMV-driven p8 expression plasmid or an empty plasmid control (mock). STZ-…