title: Induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase by interferon-gamma in human islets.
abstract: Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) catalyzes the initial, rate-limiting step of tryptophan (Trp) catabolism along the kynurenine (KYN) pathway, and its induction in cells of the immune system in response to cytokines has been implicated in the regulation of antigen presentation and responses to cell-mediated immune attack. Microarray and quantitative PCR analyses of isolated human islets incubated with interferon (IFN)-gamma for 24 h revealed increased expression of IDO mRNA (>139-fold) and Trp-tRNA synthase (WARS) (>17-fold) along with 975 other transcripts more than threefold, notably the downstream effectors janus kinase (JAK)2, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1, IFN-gamma regulatory factor-1, and several chemokines (CXCL9/MIG, CXCL10/IP10, CXCL11/1-TAC, CCL2, and CCL5/RANTES) and their receptors. IDO protein expression was upregulated in IFN-gamma-treated islets and accompanied by increased intracellular IDO enzyme activity and the release of KYN into the media. The response to IFN-gamma was countered by interleukin-4 and 1alpha-methyl Trp. Immunohistochemical localization showed IDO to be induced in cells of both endocrine, including pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1-positive beta-cells, and nonendocrine origin. We postulate that in the short term, IDO activation may protect islets from cytotoxic damage, although chronic exposure to various Trp metabolites could equally lead to beta-cell attrition.
authors.affiliation: Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, 1775 Ursula St., Mail Stop B-140, Aurora, CO 80045-6511, USA.
authors.forename: Suparna A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Seija I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Hackl
authors.forename: Ong
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moua
authors.forename: Ronald G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiseman
authors.forename: Howard W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hutton
mesh_terms: D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D012313:RNA; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D014364:Tryptophan