Alpha cells, the main source of IL-1? in human pancreas.

ABSTRACT: Interleukin-1? (IL-1?) is known to trigger beta cell dysfunction in vitro and could potentially play a role during the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. However, several clinical trials attempting to block IL-1? function have had minimal success. We therefore re-investigated local expression of IL-1? in human diabetic and non-diabetic pancreata. We obtained pancreatic tissue sections from the Network for Pancreatic Organ Donors with Diabetes (nPOD) including non-diabetic (n = 9), non-diabetic auto-antibody positive (AAb+, n = 5), type 1 diabetes (n = 6), and type 2 diabetes (n = 6) donors. Islets were systematically investigated for the presence of IL-1? mRNA by in situ hybridization and IL-1? protein by indirect immunofluorescence. We found that intra-islet IL-1? was produced at comparable level in both non-diabetic and diabetic donors. Interestingly, the main source for IL-1? was alpha cells but not beta cells. Our findings call into question the role of IL-1? in the diabetic pancreas as it has been proposed in previous literature. Additionally, our results regarding the localization of IL-1? should lead to further investigation into the role of IL-1? in the physiology of pancreatic alpha cells.

SUBMITTER: Anquetil F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5507672 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature