IL6 modulates β -cell metabolism and function

05 Sept 2012


Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that influences metabolism in health and disease. IL6 plasma levels are elevated acutely following muscle contraction and chronically in obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is accepted that pro-inflammatory cytokine levels are correlated with disease progression and severity of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes due to promotion of β-cell dysfunction.

While IL6 can promote insulin secretion via GLP1 release and subsequent β-cell action, da Silva Krause et al. investigated the possibility that this cytokine may directly regulate pancreatic β-cell/islet metabolism and insulin secretion at physiological concentrations. They hypothesised that pancreatic β-cell exposure to various physiological concentrations of IL6 (0–100 pg/ml) and one pathological concentration (1000 pg/ml) would provoke changes in metabolism that would favour both cell defence and insulin secretion. They conducted this study on a rat clonal β-cell line and mouse islets.

Their data demonstrate that IL6 can stimulate β-cell-dependent insulin secretion via direct cell-based mechanisms. AMPK, CaMKK (an upstream kinase activator of AMPK), and the synthesis of nitric oxide appear to alter cell metabolism to benefit insulin secretion. In summary, IL6 exerts positive effects on β-cell signalling, metabolism, antioxidant status, and insulin secretion. da Silva Krause et al. (2012) Journal of Endocrinology 214 301-311.

Read the full article at: DOI: 10.1530/JOE-12-0223


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