title: IL-23 leads to diabetes induction after subdiabetogenic treatment with multiple low doses of streptozotocin.
abstract: IL-23, a proximal regulator of IL-17, may be a major driving force in the induction of autoimmune inflammation. We have used a model of subdiabetogenic treatment with multiple low doses of streptozotocin (MLD-STZ; 4 x 40 mg/kg body weight) in male C57BL/6 mice to study the effect of IL-23 on immune-mediated beta cell damage and the development of diabetes, as evaluated by blood glucose, quantitative histology, immunohistochemistry and expression of relevant cytokines in the islets. Ten daily injections of 400 ng IL-23, starting on the first day of MLD-STZ administration led to significant and sustained hyperglycemia along with weight loss compared with controls (no IL-23), and a significant increase in the number of infiltrating cells, a lower insulin content, enhanced apoptosis, expression of IFN-gamma and IL-17 (not seen in the controls) and a significant increase in the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-18 in the pancreatic islets. IL-23 treatment started 5 days prior to MLD-STZ administration had no effect on diabetogenesis or cytokines expression in the pancreatic islets. We provide the first evidence in an animal model that IL-23 is involved in the development of type-1 diabetes, by inducing IL-17 and possibly IFN-gamma production in the target tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Eric P K
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Mensah-Brown
authors.forename: Allen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shahin
authors.forename: Mariam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Shamisi
authors.forename: Xiaoging
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Miodrag L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lukic
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017209:Apoptosis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D007378:Interleukins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D016207:Cytokines; C508841:Il23a protein, mouse; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013311:Streptozocin