Cytokine-mediated induction of anti-apoptotic genes that are linked to nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signalling in human islets and in a mouse beta cell line

The destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to type 1 diabetes in humans is thought to occur mainly through apoptosis and necrosis induced by activated macrophages and T cells, and in which secreted cytokines play a significant role. The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappa B) plays an important role in mediating the apoptotic action of cytokines in beta cells. We therefore sought to determine the changes in expression of genes modulated by NF-kappa B in human islets exposed to a combination of IL1 beta, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. Microarray and gene set enrichment analysis were performed to investigate the global response of gene expression and pathways modulated in cultured human islets exposed to cytokines. Validation of a panel of NF-kappa B-regulated genes was performed by quantitative RT-PCR. The mechanism of induction of BIRC3 by cytokines was examined by transient transfection of BIRC3 promoter constructs linked to a luciferase gene in MIN6 cells, a mouse beta cell line. Enrichment of several metabolic and signalling pathways was observed in cytokine-treated human islets. In addition to the upregulation of known pro-apoptotic genes, a number of anti-apoptotic genes including BIRC3, BCL2A1, TNFAIP3, CFLAR and TRAF1 were induced by cytokines through NF-kappa B. Significant synergy between the cytokines was observed in NF-kappa B-mediated induction of the promoter of BIRC3 in MIN6 cells. These findings suggest that, via NF-kappa B activation, cytokines induce a concurrent anti-apoptotic pathway that may be critical for preserving islet integrity and viability during the progression of insulitis in type 1 diabetes.