Modulation of Bcl-2-related protein expression in pancreatic beta cells by pro-inflammatory cytokines and its dependence on the antioxidative defense status

These results indicate that activation of the intrinsic/mitochondrial apoptosis pathway is essential for cytokine-induced beta cell death and the mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species, in particular mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide, differentially regulates the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.