Fig. 2.
Expression of unfolded protein response (UPR)-related genes in autophagy-deficient islets. Pancreatic islets were isolated from Atg7Δβ-cell and Atg7F/F mice. (A) Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed using primer sets specific for diverse genes of UPR. (B) Susceptibility of autophagy-deficient islet cells to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressors. Primary pancreatic islets were treated with thapsigargin (Tg; left) or palmitic acid (PA; right), and cell death was determined by measuring released oligonucleosomes in the culture supernatant. Autophagy-deficient β-cells were more susceptible to ER stress-induced cell death, probably due to insufficient UPR gene expression. Atg, autophagy-related gene. aP<0.05; bP<0.01; cP<0.001. Adapted from Quan W, et al. Diabetologia 2012;55:392-403, with permission from Springer Science+Business Media [15].