title: Human and rodent pancreatic beta-cells express IL-4 receptors and IL-4 protects against beta-cell apoptosis by activation of the PI3K and JAK/STAT pathways.
abstract: Secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines is associated with loss of pancreatic beta-cell viability and cell death. IL-4 (interleukin-4) has been reported to mediate a protective effect against the loss of pancreatic beta-cells, and IL-4 receptors have been found in rat pancreatic beta-cells at both the RNA and the protein level. The aim of the present study was to investigate IL-4 receptor expression in human islet cells and to examine the signalling pathways by which IL-4 exerts its effects using the rat beta-cell lines, BRIN-BD11 and INS-1E. By means of immunohistochemistry, it was demonstrated that IL-4 receptors are present on human islet cells. Using a flow cytometric method for evaluating cell death, it was confirmed that incubating beta-cells with IL-4 attenuated cell death induced by IL-1beta and interferon-gamma by approx. 65%. This effect was abrogated by the presence of the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitor, wortmannin, suggesting that activation of the PI3K pathway is involved. In support of this, Western blotting revealed that incubation of cells with IL-4 resulted in increased phosphorylation of Akt (also called protein kinase B), a downstream target of PI3K. Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6) also occurred in response to IL-4 and a selective JAK3 (Janus kinase 3) inhibitor reduced the cytoprotective response. Both effects were prevented by overexpression of the tyrosine phosphatase, PTP-BL (protein tyrosine phosphatase-BL). We conclude that IL-4 receptors are functionally competent in pancreatic beta-cells and that they signal via PI3K and JAK/STAT pathways. These findings may have implications for future therapeutic strategies for the management of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, John Bull Building, Peninsula Medical School, Plymouth, Devon PL6 8BU, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: Hannah J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Welters
authors.forename: Edward R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: Noel G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053616:Janus Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077191:Wortmannin
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D015847:Interleukin-4; D053616:Janus Kinase 3; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D000081082:Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D000077191:Wortmannin