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Kleber L A Souza Hannover Medical School, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Hannover Medical School, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, 30625 Hannover, Germany

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Ewa Gurgul-Convey Hannover Medical School, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, 30625 Hannover, Germany

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Matthias Elsner Hannover Medical School, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, 30625 Hannover, Germany

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Sigurd Lenzen Hannover Medical School, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Institute of Clinical Biochemistry, 30625 Hannover, Germany

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Pro-inflammatory cytokines cause β-cell dysfunction and death. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between different pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and their effects on apoptotic β-cell death pathways. Insulin-producing RINm5F cells were exposed to different combinations of cytokines. Gene expression analyses of manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were performed by real-time RT-PCR. Cell viability was measured by the MTT assay, NFκB activation using a SEAP reporter gene assay, protein expression by western blotting and caspase-3 activity using the DEVD cleavage method. IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) and a combination of all three pro-inflammatory cytokines increased while IFNγ alone did not affect NFκB activity and iNOS gene and protein expression. Interestingly, the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-13 and IL-10 decreased IL-1β-stimulated NFκB activation and iNOS expression. IL-1β, TNFα and the pro-inflammatory cytokine combination also increased MnSOD gene and protein expression. But IL-4, IL-13 and IL-10 did not affect MnSOD expression and did not modulate IL-1β-stimulated MnSOD expression. Caspase-3 activity was increased by IL-1β and the pro-inflammatory cytokine combination, and to a lesser extent by TNFα. In contrast, IFNγ had no effect on caspase-3 activity. IL-4, IL-13 and IL-10 decreased caspase-3 activity and increased viability of insulin-producing cells treated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. The anti-inflammatory cytokines counteracted the cytotoxic effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines in insulin-producing cells. This was achieved through the reduction of nitrosative stress. Thus, a balance between the anti-inflammatory and the pro-inflammatory cytokines is of crucial importance for the prevention of pancreatic β-cell destruction.

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