title: Cell death and impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in the beta-cell line INS-1E.
abstract: The aim of this research was to characterize 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) toxicity on the insulin-secreting beta-cell line INS-1E. A sharp decline of cell survival (below 20%) was observed after 1 h exposure to TCDD concentrations between 12.5 and 25 nM. Ultrastructurally, beta-cell death was characterized by extensive degranulation, appearance of autophagic vacuoles, and peripheral nuclear condensation. Cytotoxic concentrations of TCDD rapidly induced a dose-dependent increase in intracellular calcium concentration. Blocking calcium entry by EGTA significantly decreased TCDD cytotoxicity. TCDD was also able to rapidly induce mitochondrial depolarization. Interestingly, 1 h exposition of INS-1E cells to very low TCDD concentrations (0.05-1 nM) dramatically impaired glucose-stimulated but not KCl-stimulated insulin secretion. In conclusion, our results clearly show that TCDD exerts a direct beta-cell cytotoxic effect at concentrations of 15-25 nM, but also markedly impairs glucose-stimulated insulin secretion at concentrations 20 times lower than these. On the basis of this latter observation we suggest that pancreatic beta-cells could be considered a specific and sensitive target for dioxin toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Patologia Sperimentale, Biotecnologie Mediche, Infettivologia ed Epidemiologia,Sezione di Patologia Generale, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piaggi
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novelli
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raggi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orciuolo
authors.forename: Pellegrino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Masiello
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casini
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Tata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007328:Insulin; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D005947:Glucose; D002118:Calcium