Wang, ZhanxiangThurmond, Debbie C.2025-05-092025-05-092012-09-08Wang Z, Thurmond DC. PAK1 limits the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bad in pancreatic islet β-cells. FEBS Open Bio. 2012;2:273-277. Published 2012 Sep 8. doi:10.1016/j.fob.2012.09.001https://hdl.handle.net/1805/47912Human type 2 diabetes is associated with β-cell apoptosis, and human islets from diabetic donors are ∼80% deficient in PAK1 protein. Toward addressing linkage of PAK1 to β-cell survival, PAK1-siRNA targeted MIN6 pancreatic β-cells were found to exhibit increased caspase-3 cleavage, cytosolic cytochrome-C and the pro-apoptotic protein Bad. PAK1(+/-) heterozygous mouse islets recapitulated the upregulation of Bad protein expression, as did hyperglycemic treatment of human or mouse islets; Bad levels were exacerbated most in PAK1(+/-) islets subjected to hyperglycemic stress. These data implicate PAK1 in β-cell survival via quenching of Bad protein expression, and suggest PAK1 as potential molecular target to preserve β-cell mass.en-USAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 InternationalPAK1BadPancreatic β-cellMouse isletHuman isletApoptosisArticle