Antidiabetic effects of interleukin 1.
Interleukin 1 (IL-1), a cytokine released mainly by activated macrophages-monocytes, affects glucose homeostasis and may mediate some of the metabolic derangements observed during certain inflammatory and infectious processes. In this report, it is shown that IL-1 acts as a hypoglycemic agent not only in normal animals but also in mice at early stages of alloxan-induced diabetes and in genetically diabetic, insulin-resistant C57BL/Ks db/db mice and C57BL/6J ob/ob mice. In these animal models, a single injection of a low dose of human recombinant IL-1 normalized glucose blood levels for several hours. This effect was not mediated by possible insulin secretagogue actions of the cytokine. Furthermore, IL-1 markedly reduced the levels of triglycerides in blood of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice at later stages of the disease. Although the final mechanism of action is at present unknown, the results showed that IL-1 is a hormone with powerful antidiabetic properties. Defective production of this cytokine associated with diabetes could contribute to aggravate the course of the disease during infectious and inflammatory processes.
del Rey
A
A
Department of Research, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland.
Besedovsky
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000097:blood; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008820:Mice, Obese; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012016:Reference Values; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol