Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are characterized by an excessive loss of insulin producing β-cells. β-cells are particularly susceptible to increased oxidative stress induced apoptosis due to low expression of major antioxidants. Peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2) belongs to a group of antioxidants with antiapoptotic roles. Preliminary data indicate PRDX2 is expressed in the β-cells. Endogenous PRDX2 in the β-cell line MIN6 is found to decrease under oxidative stress conditions. I hypothesize that PRDX2 has a role in protecting β-cells against oxidative stress induced apoptosis. Overexpression or knockdown strategies were used to examine the role of PRDX2 in insulin-secreting MIN6 cells treated with various stimuli (cytokines, palmitate, streptozotocin) to induce apoptosis. Results showed that PRDX2 overexpression decreased oxidative stress induced apoptosis markers and cell death indicators, whereas knockdown of PRDX2 exaggerated oxidative stress induced toxicity. These findings suggest that PRDX2 plays a protective role in pancreatic β-cells under oxidative stress conditions.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are characterized by an excessive loss of insulin producing β-cells. β-cells are particularly susceptible to increased oxidative stress induced apoptosis due to low expression of major antioxidants. Peroxiredoxin-2 (PRDX2) belongs to a group of antioxidants with antiapoptotic roles. Preliminary data indicate PRDX2 is expressed in the β-cells. Endogenous PRDX2 in the β-cell line MIN6 is found to decrease under oxidative stress conditions. I hypothesize that PRDX2 has a role in protecting β-cells against oxidative stress induced apoptosis. Overexpression or knockdown strategies were used to examine the role of PRDX2 in insulin-secreting MIN6 cells treated with various stimuli (cytokines, palmitate, streptozotocin) to induce apoptosis. Results showed that PRDX2 overexpression decreased oxidative stress induced apoptosis markers and cell death indicators, whereas knockdown of PRDX2 exaggerated oxidative stress induced toxicity. These findings suggest that PRDX2 plays a protective role in pancreatic β-cells under oxidative stress conditions.