L-arginine protects beta cells from cytokine damage

The amino acid, L-arginine, is the precursor of nitric oxide, a key signalling molecule. Levels of L-arginine have been reported to be decreased in type 2 diabetic patients, coinciding with a progressive dysfunction of pancreatic β-cells. Krause and colleagues manipulated the concentration of L-arginine, with or without proinflammatory cytokines, and looked at the resulting changes in insulin secretion, metabolism, redox status and integrity of clonal β-cells. They found that L-arginine is an important stimulator of glucose consumption and intermediary metabolism, able to stimulate β-cell insulin secretion and enhancing antioxidant and protective responses, thus resulting in increased functional integrity of β-cells in the presence of cytokines.

The authors suggest that the positive effects of L-arginine are exerted via a combination of previously described membrane depolarization and L-arginine’s metabolism to nitric oxide and subsequently to glutathione, alongside an enhancement of glucose metabolism. L-arginine is thus a good prospect for the development of novel strategies for the protection of β-cells in diabetes. Krause et al. (2011) Journal of Endocrinology 211 87–97.

Read the full article at: DOI:10.1530/JOE-11-0236.