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  • Title: Unveiling a common mechanism of apoptosis in β-cells and neurons in Friedreich's ataxia.
    Author: Igoillo-Esteve M, Gurgul-Convey E, Hu A, Romagueira Bichara Dos Santos L, Abdulkarim B, Chintawar S, Marselli L, Marchetti P, Jonas JC, Eizirik DL, Pandolfo M, Cnop M.
    Journal: Hum Mol Genet; 2015 Apr 15; 24(8):2274-86. PubMed ID: 25552656.
    Abstract:
    Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cardiomyopathy and diabetes. Effective therapies for FRDA are an urgent unmet need; there are currently no options to prevent or treat this orphan disease. FRDA is caused by reduced expression of the mitochondrial protein frataxin. We have previously demonstrated that pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and death cause diabetes in FRDA. This is secondary to mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not known. Here we show that β-cell demise in frataxin deficiency is the consequence of oxidative stress-mediated activation of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. The pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bad, DP5 and Bim are the key mediators of frataxin deficiency-induced β-cell death. Importantly, the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis is also activated in FRDA patients' induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. Interestingly, cAMP induction normalizes mitochondrial oxidative status and fully prevents activation of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis in frataxin-deficient β-cells and neurons. This preclinical study suggests that incretin analogs hold potential to prevent/delay both diabetes and neurodegeneration in FRDA.
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