Interleukin 1 affects glucose homeostasis.
Alterations in glucose metabolism are known to occur during certain types of inflammation and infectious diseases. Interleukin 1 (IL 1), an immune-derived cytokine released during these processes, is proposed to function as a mediator of such alterations, since administration of low subpyrogenic doses of human rIL 1 to mice and rats produced hypoglycemia. In mice this effect was paralleled by increased insulin, glucagon, and corticosterone blood levels. When IL 1 was repeatedly injected, mice remained hypoglycemic for at least 14 h after the last injection. Furthermore, these animals responded normally to a challenge with glucose, thus suggesting that the proper function of the pancreas was preserved. A moderate hypoglycemia, paralleled by increased glucagon and corticosterone blood levels, was also observed in IL 1-injected rats, but no increase in insulin levels was detected. IL 1 administration to adrenalectomized rats resulted in a more marked hypoglycemia and in a profound hypoinsulinemia. The results suggest that IL 1 causes hypoglycemia by increasing insulin blood levels and probably also by mechanisms independent of the insulin secretagogue action of this cytokine.
del Rey
A
A
Medizinische Abteilung, Schweizerisches Forschungsinstitut, Davos-Platz, Switzerland.
Besedovsky
H
H
D000315:Adrenalectomy; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D007375:Interleukin-1; D005934:Glucagon; D005947:Glucose; D003345:Corticosterone