title: Responses of IL-18- and IL-18 receptor-deficient pancreatic islets with convergence of positive and negative signals for the IL-18 receptor.
abstract: Pancreatic islets contain cells that produce IL-18 and cells that express IL-18 receptors. In experimentally induced diabetes, islet failure correlates with IL-18 levels and diabetes is delayed with blockade of endogenous IL-18. We studied islet-derived IL-18 and responses to IL-18 in a mouse model of islet allograft transplantation. In vitro, IL-18-stimulated islets produced nitric oxide, which closely matched islet apoptosis. By neutralizing IL-18 activity with IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), we observed that islets produce bioactive IL-18. In vivo, transgenic mice overproducing IL-18BP (IL-18BP-Tg) exhibited delayed hyperglycemia induced by beta cell toxic streptozotocin. Similarly, cultured IL-18BP-Tg islets were protected from streptozotocin-induced apoptosis. In the transplant model, islets grafted from WT to IL-18BP-Tg mice achieved prolonged normoglycemia (P = 0.031). Improved graft function was also observed by using IL-18-deficient islets transplanted into WT recipients, demonstrating that endogenous, islet-derived IL-18 mediates IL-18-driven graft damage. Unexpectedly, islets from mice deficient in IL-18 receptor alpha chain (IL-18R) exhibited rapid graft failure (P = 0.024; IL-18- versus IL-18R-deficient grafts in WT recipients). In related studies, IL-18R-deficient splenocytes and macrophages produced 2- to 3-fold greater amounts of IL-18, TNFalpha, macrophage inflammatory protein 1, macrophage inflammatory protein 2, and IFNgamma upon stimulation with Con A, Toll-like receptor 2 agonist, or anti-CD3 antibodies. These data reveal a role for islet-derived IL-18 activity during inflammation-mediated islet injury. Importantly, discrepancies between IL-18- and IL-18R-deficient cells suggest that IL-18Ralpha chain is used by an inflammation-suppressing signal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, USA.
authors.forename: Eli C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dinarello
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D053724:Receptors, Interleukin-18 / Q000172:deficiency*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; D053724:Receptors, Interleukin-18; C118370:interleukin-18 binding protein