Interferon-gamma inhibits insulin release and induces cell death in the pancreatic beta-cell line INS-1 independently of nitric oxide production.

Interferon-gamma is among the cytokines which have been implicated as effector molecules of beta-cell destruction in autoimmune diabetes. Its mechanism of action is, however, largely unknown. In the present study rat pancreatic beta-cells, INS-1, were incubated with rat interferon-gamma (rIRN-gamma) for 24 h. rIFN-gamma at 1-1000 U/ml caused a dose-dependent inhibition of insulin release and cell metabolism with maximal inhibition being observed at 100 U/ml (insulin release: 51.2%, cell metabolism: 43.3% of control, respectively). In addition, 100 U/ml rIFN-gamma induced a 4- and 8.3-fold increase in apoptotic cell death after 24 and 48 h of incubation, respectively. These effects were not mediated by nitric oxide (NO), since IFN-gamma failed to induce nitric oxide synthase and NO production. Similarly, beta-cell dysfunction and death were not prevented by coincubation of the INS-1 cells with the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors benzamide, 3-aminobenzamide, and 4-aminobenzamide, the oxygen free radical scavenger Trolox, and the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, indicating that NO, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and oxygen free radicals are not involved in IFN-gamma induced beta-cell dysfunction and death.