Interleukin 1 dose-dependently affects the biosynthesis of (pro)insulin in isolated rat islets of Langerhans

Short-term exposure of rat pancreatic islets to human interleukin-1 beta increases cellular uptake of calcium

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) may be one of the effector molecules involved in the destruction of the pancreatic islet B cells resulting in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Isolated islets exposed to IL-1 show an acutely increased substrate metabolism and insulin release, which is followed by a metabolic and functional suppression. Since an increased cellular uptake of calcium in the islets may be associated with both nutrient-induced insulin release and cell damage, the effects of recombinant IL-1 beta (rIL-beta) on net cellular calcium uptake by isolated rat pancreatic islets were investigated. In short-term experiments the islets were exposed to 25 U/ml rIL-1 beta for 120 min in the presence of 1.7 mM or 16.7 mM glucose, or 16.7 mM glucose plus 5 mM verapamil. In these experiments rIL-1 beta induced an increase both in net cellular uptake of calcium and in insulin release only in the presence of 16.7 mM glucose. The stimulatory effect of rIL-1 beta at 16.7 mM glucose was blocked by verapamil. By long-term experiments, under tissue culture conditions in the presence of 11.1 mM glucose, islet net calcium uptake, insulin release and glucose oxidation were measured at different time points over a 24-h period. During the first 2 h of incubation 25 U/ml rIL-1 beta effected a significant increase of net calcium uptake, insulin release and glucose oxidation. However, after 4-5 h of incubation with the cytokine no such stimulatory effects were seen. After longer incubations with rIL-1 beta all the islet functions studied were suppressed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A role for polyamines in glucose-stimulated insulin-gene expression

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible role for polyamines in the glucose regulation of the metabolism of insulin mRNA of pancreatic islet cells. For this purpose islets were prepared from adult mice and cultured for 2 days in culture medium RPMI 1640 containing 3.3 mM- or 16.7 mM-glucose with or without the addition of the inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and ethylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (EGBG). Culture at the high glucose concentration increased the islet contents of both insulin mRNA and polyamines. The synthesis of total RNA, total islet polyamines and polyamines associated with islet nuclei was also increased. When the combination of DFMO and EGBG was added in the presence of 16.7 mM-glucose, low contents of insulin mRNA, spermine and spermidine were observed. Total islet polyamine synthesis was also depressed by DFMO + EGBG, unlike islet biosynthesis of polyamines associated with nuclei, which was not equally decreased by the polyamine-synthesis inhibitors. Total RNA synthesis and turnover was not affected by DFMO + EGBG. Finally, actinomycin D attenuated the glucose-induced enhancement of insulin mRNA, and cycloheximide counteracted the insulin-mRNA attenuation induced by inhibition of polyamine synthesis. It is concluded that the glucose-induced increase in insulin mRNA is paralleled by increased contents and rates of polyamine biosynthesis and that an attenuation of the increase in polyamines prevents the increase in insulin mRNA. In addition, the results are compatible with the view that polyamines exert their effects on insulin mRNA mainly by increasing the stability of this messenger.

Insulin requirements and residual beta-cell function 12 months after concluding immunotherapy in type I diabetic patients treated with combined azathioprine and thymostimulin administration for one year

An increase in clinical and functional remissions with immunosuppression, as well as abnormal T-cell function, in Type I diabetic patients has been reported in the early stages of diabetes. A controlled trial with azathioprine and thymostimulin in separate and combined administration was performed in 45 recently diagnosed Type I diabetic patients. Phenotyping of the T-lymphocyte subsets, levels of CD25 positive cells and interleukin-2 production by patients' lymphocytes, as well as remission rate and stimulated C-peptide levels, were serially assessed. Remission was defined as mean weekly glycemic profiles less than or equal to 7 mmole/l, serial HbA1 values in the normal range and no insulin requirements for at least 2 consecutive months. At 3,6,9 and 12 months of immunotherapy, remission occurred respectively in 0%, 8.3%, 16.6% and 0% of the conventionally treated diabetic controls and in 42.8%, 50%, 42.8% and 36.2% of the subjects submitted to combined azathioprine and thymostimulin administration. Patients receiving azathioprine or thymostimulin alone did not achieve better remission rates than controls. C-peptide levels were significantly higher (above 0.6 pmol/ml) in patients with remission than in those not in remission (P less than 0.02) throughout the trial. Excessive interleukin-2 production in recently diagnosed diabetics returned to normal levels in patients in remission. In the group receiving combined therapy, 38.5%, 25% and 23% were still in clinical remission at 6, 9 and 12 months after drug withdrawal. Twelve months after stopping treatment, patients who had remitted exhibited significantly lower insulin requirements and greater endogenous insulin secretion than those who had not remitted; the former also maintained near normal glycemic control. No side effects were detected except mild and transient leucopenia in a reduced number of patients receiving azathioprine. Remission was related to the time of beginning immunotherapy after the onset of diabetes (17.1 +/- 7 vs 42.5 +/- 15 days; P less than 0.01) and to age (17.7 +/- 5.6 vs 13 +/- 7 years; P less than 0.05). Interleukin-2 production seems to be negatively associated with clinical remission in the early stages of diabetes. Results suggest a complementary effect of the drugs used in this study that may enhance long-term remission in recently diagnosed Type I diabetic patients.

Interleukin 1 inhibits insulin secretion from isolated rat pancreatic islets by a process that requires gene transcription and mRNA translation

Recombinant human IL 1 beta inhibits glucose-induced insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets and from purified beta-cells obtained by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) of dispersed islet cells. Brief (1 h) exposure of isolated islets to IL 1 produces sustained inhibition of insulin secretion for at least 17 h after the IL 1 has been removed from the culture medium. An inhibitory effect of IL 1 on insulin secretion is not observed when islets are coincubated with an inhibitor of DNA transcription (actinomycin D). This finding indicates that the inhibitory effect of IL 1 on insulin secretion requires transcription of one or more genes during the first hour of exposure of islets to IL 1. The inhibitory effect of IL 1 on insulin secretion also requires mRNA translation, because three structurally distinct inhibitors of protein synthesis (cycloheximide, anisomycin, and puromycin) prevent IL 1-induced inhibition of insulin secretion when added to islets after the 1-h exposure to IL 1. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of islet proteins metabolically labeled with [35S]methionine demonstrates that IL 1 augments the expression of a 65-kD (pl approximately 6.5) protein by greater than 2.5-fold. These findings indicate that biochemical events occurring within 1 h of exposure of islets to IL 1 lead to an inhibition of insulin secretion that persists for at least 17 h after the removal of IL 1. One of the early biochemical effects of IL 1 on islets is gene transcription (0-1 h), which is followed by mRNA translation (after 1 h). Our results suggest that the inhibitory effect of IL 1 on insulin secretion is mediated by protein(s) whose synthesis is induced by IL 1.

Interleukin-1 beta inhibits glucokinase activity in clonal HIT-T15 beta-cells

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. In the present study we have investigated the effects of IL-1 beta on glucose metabolism in clonal HIT-T15 beta cells. In the short-term (1 h), 25 U/ml IL-1 beta significantly increased the rates of insulin release and glucose utilisation, but not glucose oxidation. In contrast, after 48 h, IL-1 beta inhibited insulin release and glucose utilisation and oxidation. By assaying enzymes (hexokinase, glucokinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphatase) and nucleotides (ATP, ADP) associated with the regulation of glycolysis and glucose oxidation, we conclude that the inhibitory effects of IL-1 beta may be due to impaired glucokinase activity.

Reversal of beta-cell suppression in vitro in pancreatic islets isolated from nonobese diabetic mice during the phase preceding insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is characterized by a progressive autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta-cells. One of the best-suited animal models for IDDM is the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse. In this investigation pancreatic islets were isolated from female NOD mice aged 5-7, 8-11, and 12-13 wk and examined immediately (day 0) or after 7 d of culture (day 7). The mice showed a progressive disturbance in glucose tolerance with age, and a correspondingly increased frequency of pancreatic insulitis. Islets isolated from the oldest mice often contained inflammatory cells on day 0, which resulted in an elevated islet DNA content. During culture these islets became depleted of infiltrating cells and the DNA content of the islets decreased on day 7. Islets of the eldest mice failed to respond with insulin secretion to high glucose, whereas a response was observed in the other groups. After culture all groups of islets showed a markedly improved insulin secretion. Islets from the 12-13-wk-old mice displayed a lower glucose oxidation rate at 16.7 mM glucose on day 0 compared with day 7. Islet (pro)insulin and total protein biosynthesis was essentially unaffected. In conclusion, islets obtained from 12-13-wk-old NOD mice exhibit an impaired glucose metabolism, which may explain the suppressed insulin secretion observed immediately after isolation. This inhibition of beta-cell function can be reversed in vitro. Thus, there may be a stage during development of IDDM when beta-cell destruction can be counteracted and beta-cell function restored, provided the immune aggression is arrested.

Human interleukin-1 beta induced stimulation of insulin release from rat pancreatic islets is accompanied by an increase in mitochondrial oxidative events

Acute exposure of pancreatic islets to interleukin-1 beta results in an increase in insulin release, while an extension of the exposure time induces a functional suppression and eventually, destruction of the B-cells. We have recently suggested that the interleukin-1 beta induced inhibition of islet function is mediated through an impairment in oxidative metabolism. The aim of the current study was to investigate if the acute, stimulatory effects of interleukin-1 beta on islet function could also be related to changes in the substrate metabolism. For this purpose, rat islets were exposed for 90-120 min to 30 pmol/l human recombinant interleukin-1 beta (biological activity of 2.5 U/ml) and their function and metabolism characterized during this period. The cytokine did not increase insulin release in the presence of 1.7 or 5.5 mmol/l glucose but in both the presence of 16.7 mmol/l glucose or 10 mmol/l leucine + 2 mmol/l glutamine there was a 50% increase in insulin release. Interleukin-1 beta exposure increased the oxidation of D-[U-14C]glucose at 5.5 mmol/l glucose by 25% and at 16.7 mmol/l glucose by 60%. Carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism were further examined in the presence of D-[5-3H]glucose, D-[6-14C]glucose, [1-14C]pyruvate, L-[U-14C]glutamine, L-[U-14C]leucine and L-[1-14C]leucine. There was no difference between control islets and interleukin-1 beta exposed islets in terms of D-[5-3H]glucose utilization or [1-14C]pyruvate decarboxylation, but the oxidation of D-[6-14C]glucose was increased by 64% in the interleukin-1 beta exposed islets.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In vivo administration of interleukin-1 inhibits glucose-stimulated insulin release

Recombinant interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) was administered intraperitoneally for 3 days to normal C57BL/6ByJ (B6) mice. The islets from IL-1-treated and control animals were isolated and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion studied in the perifusion system. The total islet insulin content and the ultrastructure of the islets isolated from the animals treated with IL-1 did not differ from those seen in control animals. However, glucose-stimulated insulin release was significantly impaired after 3 days of in vivo administration of IL-1, either 3 micrograms/animal/day or 0.3 micrograms/animal/day. The administration of IL-1 inhibited an acute phase of glucose-induced insulin release, whereas neither basal insulin secretion nor insulin release from 10-30 min of perifusion with glucose was impaired. There was an only partial (27%) and non-significant restoration of the insulin secretory response to glucose stimulation 4 days after discontinuation of IL-1 treatment. We conclude that IL-1 administered in vivo is capable of adversely affecting pancreatic islet response to glucose stimulation. After 3 days of administration, these changes are confined to the process of insulin release, with the islet cell morphology and total insulin content being unaffected.

Interleukin-1 and the response to injury

Traumatic injury is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Americans less than 45 years old. People surviving the initial insult undergo metabolic, hemodynamic and immunologic changes which contribute to both early and late complications. Though necessary for normal immunologic response and for wound healing, pathologic alterations of IL-1 synthesis, degradation, and binding to receptors on both a local and systemic level could lead to these changes. Manipulation of IL-1-mediated effects might be of therapeutic utility in the management of trauma in the future.

Preclinical and manifest diabetes mellitus in young patients with Friedreich's ataxia: no evidence of immune process behind the islet cell destruction

Friedreich's ataxia is known to be associated with diabetes mellitus in up to 20% of the patients. However, type, development and course of diabetes mellitus are not well characterised. We report on 3 patients (2 female and 1 male, age 13-20 years) with the combination of Friedreich's ataxia and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus was characterised as follows: (1) it was strictly insulin-dependent and ketosis-prone, (2) the average insulin requirement was 1 U/kg body weight, (3) the HLA haplotype was not typical of Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, (4) there were no positive immune parameters typical of Type 1 diabetes at the clinical onset of diabetes mellitus and (5) there was no remission. To evaluate a preclinical phase as in common autoimmune Type 1 diabetes, i.v. glucose tolerance tests (0.5 g glucose/kg body weight) were performed in 8 patients with Friedreich's ataxia without diabetes mellitus. Seven patients had normal early phase insulin response. In contrast, the glucose disappearance rate was slow in 4 and normal in 3 patients. One of the 8 patients showed a prediabetic metabolic state: the early-phase insulin response was abolished and the glucose disappearance rate was abnormal. The results suggest that diabetes in Friedreich's ataxia is caused by a loss of islet cells similar to common Type 1 diabetes but without HLA-association and without serologic evidence for autoimmune destruction of the islet cells.

A natural interleukin 1 (IL-1) inhibitor counteracts the inhibitory effect of IL-1 on insulin production in cultured rat pancreatic islets

Several lines of evidence suggest that autoimmune processes are involved in the pathogenesis of Type I diabetes mellitus. Monocyte-macrophages are among the first mononuclear cells to invade the islets of Langerhans in various murine diabetic syndromes, and blockade of monocyte-macrophage functions by injection of silica particles in these animals prevents the development of the disease. Monokines such as interleukin 1 (IL-1) are known to mediate tissue lesions by inducing collagenase and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. In addition, IL-1 has been demonstrated to inhibit proinsulin biosynthesis and secretion in pancreatic islet cells. Using 3-d cultured rat islets we have found that (a) the lowering of insulin release induced by human recombinant IL-1 (rIL-1) is dose-dependent with a decrease to 21% of control value at the higher rIL-1 tested concentration (500 pg/ml), and about two times more pronounced than the decrease in cellular insulin content, which reached 44% of control value at the highest rIL-1 concentration; (b) rIL-1 stimulates islets to secrete PGE2 but the addition of indomethacin, which blocks PGE2 production, does not affect the decrease in insulin release and content caused by IL-1, suggesting a limited role of endogenous PGE2 as a mediator in this system; and (c) a specific, noncytotoxic IL-1 inhibitor, shown in other cell systems to block the binding of IL-1 to its receptor, prevents the rIL-1 lowering of insulin content and minimizes the decrease of insulin release.

Cloning and expression of an interleukin-1 beta precursor and its conversion to interleukin-1 beta

A gene coding for a N-terminal precursor of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The isolated Met-Glu-Ala-Glu-IL-1 beta precursor was enzymatically converted to IL-1 beta by means of dipeptidylaminopeptidase (DAP I). This method ensured a correct N-terminal residue and the often observed expression of Met-IL-1 beta was thus avoided. The pure and physically homogeneous product exhibited the characteristic properties of natural IL-1 beta. The in vitro biological activity was measured in the lymphocyte-activating factor assay and was compared to that of natural IL-1 beta isolated from stimulated monocyte culture using exactly the same purification procedure. The specific biological activity of both products was 2 x 10(-8) U/mg indicating that the recombinant product exhibits full biological activity.

Immunological aspects of diabetes mellitus: prospects for pharmacological modification

It is now well known that insulin-dependent diabetes is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease. The prolonged prediabetic phase of progressive beta-cell dysfunction is associated with immunological abnormalities. A prediabetic period is suggested by the appearance of islet cell antibodies, anti-insulin antibodies, and anti-insulin receptor antibodies. The existence of activated T lymphocytes and abnormal T cell subsets are also other markers. There is still no concensus about the use of the immunosuppression superimposed upon conventional insulin therapy in early diagnosed IDDM and the follow-up of the relatives of IDDM patients who share the genetic predisposition and serological markers for the risk of future onset of IDDM. Treatment in the prodromal period cannot be justified because a link between the disease and early markers such as ICA has not been established with certainty (Diabetes Research Program NIH, 1983). Many immunopharmacological manipulations were reported to be effective in animal models. However, most of them are not readily applied to human subjects. Moreover, IDDM patients are now believed to be heterogeneous, with a complex genetic background. HLA-DR, and more recently DQ, are closely related to the genetic predisposition to IDDM but those genes are not themselves diabetogenic. The contribution of autoimmunity does not appear to be uniform, and in some cases, the contribution of virus is considered more important. There is a lack of a marker for the future onset of IDDM. ICA and ICSA were found after mumps infection, but the existence of those autoantibodies and even the co-existence of HLA-DR3 do not always indicate the future trend to insulin dependency. More precise markers will be disclosed through the biochemical analysis of the target antigens on pancreatic beta-cell for islet antibodies and effector T cells. Much safer and more effective immunopharmacological treatment will be developed through animal experimentation using rat and mouse models. The recent development and interest in this field will further facilitate the attainment of the goal for the complete prevention of IDDM.

Type I diabetes mellitus: a predictable autoimmune disease with interindividual variation in the rate of beta cell destruction

A large body of data generated during the past two decades has led to the ability to predict the development of Type I diabetes in the majority of relatives of diabetics. In particular we have recently proposed a dual parameter linear model to aid in predicting the onset of diabetes [years to diabetes = 1.5 + .03(IVGTT insulin secretion) - 0.008 (concn of insulin autoantibodies)]. The concentration of insulin autoantibodies in prediabetics appears to remarkably correlate with the age at which diabetes develops and the rate at which islet cell antibody-positive individuals progress to diabetes. Children developing diabetes before Age 5 often express more than 1000 nU/ml of such antibodies with the upper limit of normal of 39 nU/ml. Each prediabetic appears to be set at a characteristic level of insulin autoantibodies which does not consistently vary prior to the development of diabetes. During the prodromal phase preceding diabetes first phase insulin secretion is progressively lost, and the combination of insulin release which appears to reflect beta cell damage and the level of insulin antibodies accounts for more than 75% of the variation in time to diabetes over a 6-year interval. A subset of NOD mice also expresses insulin autoantibodies, and in addition essentially all NOD mice, but not F1 crosses of NOD by BALB/c, have antibodies to a target antigen of a RIN islet line protein (termed "polar antibodies"). In addition patients but not NOD mice have cytoplasmic islet cell antibodies which appear to react with a glycolipid islet target antigen. In the NOD mice the inheritance of disease is multigenic with a gene on chromosome 9, linked to the T cell marker theta, determining the bulk of islet cell destruction. In crosses of NOD mice with a series of normal strains, inheritance overt diabetes is correlated with inheritance of the NOD's unique I-A beta gene, though the bulk of islet destruction and insulitis can occur independent of MHC inheritance. Until the additional genes outside of the MHC, associated with the development of Type I diabetes, are identified for man, the NOD mouse, and the BB rat, one can only speculate concerning pathogenic mechanisms. To date islet cell destruction appears to be independent of polymorphic genes acting at the level of the islet target, and crucially dependent upon bone marrow precursor cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)