Glucagon-like peptide-1 analog-mediated protection against cholesterol-induced apoptosis via mammalian target of rapamycin activation in pancreatic βTC-6 cells -1mTORβTC-6.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been shown to protect pancreatic β-cells against glucolipotoxicity via activation of the Akt pathway. The present study investigated the protective effects of the GLP-1 analog liraglutide against cholesterol-induced lipotoxicity and the mechanisms involved.

Methods: The mouse βTC-6 pancreatic β-cell line was preincubated for 30 min with 10 nmol/L liraglutide alone or in combination with the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor rapamycin (1 μmol/L) before being exposed to 5 mmol/L cholesterol for 6 h. 4',6'-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and Western blot analyses were used to assess the effects of liraglutide on cholesterol-induced apoptosis and the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR.

Results: Cholesterol significantly promoted cell apoptosis and attenuated the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR, effects that were significantly reversed by liraglutide. Furthermore, rapamycin pretreatment alone significantly increased cholesterol-induced apoptosis compared with cholesterol-treated cells without any other pretreatment.

Conclusions: The data indicate that mTOR signaling is an essential mediator in the protection of pancreatic β-cells against cholesterol-induced apoptosis by a GLP-1 analog.