Nitric oxide contributes to cytokine-induced apoptosis in pancreatic beta cells via potentiation of JNK activity and inhibition of Akt

Aims/hypothesis: Pro-inflammatory cytokines cause beta cell secretory dysfunction and apoptosis - a process implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Cytokines induce the expression of inducible nitric oxide ( NO) synthase ( iNOS) leading to NO production. NO contributes to cytokine-induced apoptosis, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether NO modulates signalling via mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and Akt. Materials and methods: MAPK activities in INS-1 cells and isolated islets were determined by immunoblotting and in vitro kinase assay. Apoptosis was determined by ELISA measurement of histone - DNA complexes present in cytoplasm. Results: Apoptosis in INS-1 cells induced by IL-1 gamma plus IFN gamma was dependent on NO production as demonstrated by the use of the NOS blocker N-G-methyl-L-arginine. Accordingly, an NO donor (S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D, L-penicillamine, SNAP) dose-dependently caused apoptosis in INS-1 cells. SNAP activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK, but suppressed the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase MAPK. In rat islets, NOS inhibition decreased JNK and p38 activities induced by a 6-h exposure to IL-1 beta. Likewise, IL-1 beta-induced JNK and p38 activities were lower in iNOS((-/-)) mouse islets than in wild-type islets. In human islets, SNAP potentiated IL-1 beta-induced JNK activation. The constitutive level of active, Ser473-phosphorylated Akt in INS-1 cells was suppressed by SNAP. IGF-I activated Akt and protected against SNAP-induced apoptosis. The anti-apoptotic effect of IGF-I was not associated with reduced JNK activation. Conclusions/interpretation: We suggest that NO contributes to cytokine-induced apoptosis via potentiation of JNK activity and suppression of Akt.