title: The specific p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibitor FR167653 keeps insulitis benign in nonobese diabetic mice.
abstract: The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is important in Th1 immunity, macrophage activation, and apoptosis. Since they may be associated with beta-cell destruction during the development of type 1 diabetes, we investigated the role of the p38 MAPK pathway in female nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Phosphorylated p38 MAPK was observed immunohistochemically in CD4+ cells that had infiltrated into the islets and part of beta-cells, increasing in proportion to the severity of insulitis. Continuous oral administration of 0.08% FR167653, a specific p38 MAPK pathway inhibitor, significantly reduced the ex vivo production of interferon-gamma by splenic Th1 cells without affecting interleukin-4 production by Th2 cells. FR167653 administration from 4-30 weeks of age prevented NOD mice from developing diabetes without affecting the severity of insulitis. Treatment with FR167653 after insulitis had developed (i.e. from 10-30 weeks of age) also prevented diabetes, further suggesting that treatment with the p38 MAPK pathway inhibitor keeps insulitis benign in NOD mice, partly by inhibiting Th1 immunity. These findings suggest that p38 MAPK is a key mediator that switches insulitis from benign to destructive in the development of type 1 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, 13-1 Takara-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-8641, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurita
authors.forename: Toshinari
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takamura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
chemical_list: C104334:FR 167653; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases