title: [Effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase on pancreas islet apoptosis in rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect and mechanism of cytokine and inducible nitric oxide synthase on apoptosis and function of rat pancreas islets cultured in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Islets from Wistar rats were cultured in vitro and divided randomly into four groups: blank control group, cytokine group of islets cultured with TNF-alpha+IL-1beta, aminoguanidine (AG) group of islets cultured with aminoguanidine, and AG + cytokine group of islets cultured with TNF-alpha+IL-1beta and aminoguanidine. The nutrient fluid nitric oxide level and islets cNOS/iNOS activity were detected by test kit and the expressions of iNOS mRNA and apoptosis related gene (Bax, Bcl-2) were evaluated by RT-PCR. The viability of the islets was examined by AO/EB staining and the function of the islets was detected by insulin secretion index assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After co-cultured with cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, the expression and activity of iNOS in islet tissues enhanced (38.93+/-4.72) U/mL and the concentration of NO in medium increased remarkably(313.0+/-35.4) mol/L.The survival rate of cells and the insulin secretion index decreased with the up-regulation of proapoptosis gene and down-regulation of anti-apoptosis gene. But the activity of cNOS remained unchanged. Aminoguanidine reduced the cell apoptosis and increased the survival rate and insulin secretion index, and the activity of iNOS was inhibited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  iNOS plays an important role in the apoptosis of islets cultured by cytokines TNF-alpha and IL1-beta. Aminoguanidine prevents the islets from the damage of iNOS, alleviates the impairment of cytokines to islets, lessens the cell apoptosis and ameliorates the survival and function of islets.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation, First Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China. syxialiping505@sohu.com
authors.forename: Bai-feng
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong-feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jia-lin
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002470:Cell Survival; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D015870:Gene Expression; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II