Cyclosporin A protects pancreatic islet cells from nitric oxide-dependent macrophage cytotoxicity.
It has been shown earlier in an in-vitro model of inflammatory islet cell death that activated macrophages lyse islet cells via the release of nitric oxide. Here we report that cyclosporin A suppresses macrophage cytotoxicity. Control experiments showed that the immunosuppressive drug does not improve the defences of islet cells against nitric oxide but inhibits the release of nitric oxide from LPS-stimulated macrophages. This property of cyclosporin A may contribute to the preservation of beta cell function seen in cyclosporin A-treated patients with recent onset type I diabetes.
Burkart
V
V
Diabetes-Forschungsinstitut, Universität Düsseldorf, Germany.
Imai
Y
Y
Kallmann
B
B
Kolb
H
H
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D016572:Cyclosporine