The synthetic liver X receptor agonist GW3965 reduces tissue factor production and inflammatory responses in human islets in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
Optimising islet culture conditions may be one strategy for reducing islet loss prior to, and immediately after, islet transplantation. Liver X receptor (LXR) agonism has previously been shown to increase insulin release from pancreatic islets and reduce inflammation in leucocytes. Our aim was to investigate whether the synthetic LXR agonist GW3965 could modulate the inflammatory status of human pancreatic islets.


METHODS
Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and tissue factor in isolated human islets were determined by TaqMan low density array and/or real-time quantitative RT-PCR (mRNA levels) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (protein levels). Islet viability was measured using intracellular ATP content, ADP/ATP ratio, mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity (XTT assay) and insulin secretion in a dynamic glucose-challenge model. Apoptosis was determined by EIA measurement of histone-DNA complexes present in cytoplasm and by assaying caspase-3/-7 activity.


RESULTS
Treatment of LPS-stimulated human islets with the synthetic LXR agonist GW3965 (1 micromol/l) for 24 h reduced mRNA and protein levels of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-8, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and tissue factor). Moreover, GW3965 had no adverse effect on insulin secretion, islet viability or apoptosis. No excess of lipid accumulation could be detected with the dosage and exposure time used.


CONCLUSIONS
LXR activation suppresses inflammation in human islets in vitro without adverse effects on islet viability. Short-term moderate activation of LXR prior to islet transplantation may represent a possible strategy for improving post-transplant islet survival.
Institute for Surgical Research, Oslo University Hospital, Sognsvannsveien 20, Oslo, Norway. hanne.scholz@medisin.uio.no
H
H
Scholz
T
T
Lund
M K
MK
Dahle
J L
JL
Collins
O
O
Korsgren
J E
JE
Wang
A
A
Foss
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014019:Tissue Donors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001565:Benzoates; D001596:Benzylamines; D015415:Biomarkers; C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C473027:GW 3965; D007328:Insulin; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000071518:Liver X Receptors; D057093:Orphan Nuclear Receptors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013925:Thromboplastin; D002784:Cholesterol; D008775:Methylprednisolone