Erschienen in:
01.12.2004 | Article
Gene expression profiles during beta cell maturation and after IL-1β exposure reveal important roles of Pdx-1 and Nkx6.1 for IL-1β sensitivity
verfasst von:
K. Nielsen, M. Kruhøffer, T. Ørntoft, T. Sparre, H. Wang, C. Wollheim, M. C. Jørgensen, J. Nerup, A. E. Karlsen
Erschienen in:
Diabetologia
|
Ausgabe 12/2004
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Abstract
Aim/hypothesis
Maturation of the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans is dependent upon sequential activation of different transcription factors such as Pdx-1 and Nkx6.1. This maturation is associated with an acquired sensitivity to cytokines and may eventually lead to type 1 diabetes. The aims of this study were to characterise changes in mRNA expression during beta cell maturation as well as after interleukin-1β (IL-1β) exposure.
Methods
Transcriptome analyses were performed on two phenotypes characterised as a glucagon-producing pre-beta-cell phenotype (NHI-glu), which matures to an IL-1β-sensitive insulin-producing beta cell phenotype (NHI-ins). Beta cell lines over-expressing Pdx-1 or Nkx6.1, respectively, were used for functional characterisation of acquired IL-1β sensitivity.
Results
During beta cell maturation 98 fully annotated mRNAs changed expression levels. Of these, 50 were also changed after 24 h of IL-1β exposure. In addition, 522 and 197 fully annotated mRNAs, not affected by maturation, also changed expression levels following IL-1β exposure of the beta cell and the pre-beta-cell phenotype, respectively. Beta cell maturation was associated with an increased expression of Nkx6.1, whereas both Pdx-1 and Nkx6.1 expression were decreased following IL-1β exposure. Over-expression of Nkx6.1 or Pdx-1 in cell lines resulted in a significantly increased sensitivity to IL-1β.
Conclusions/interpretation
These results suggest that the final beta cell maturation accompanied by increased IL-1β sensitivity is, in part, dependent upon the expression of genes regulated by Pdx-1 and Nkx6.1. Future classification of the genes regulated by these transcription factors and changed during beta cell maturation should elucidate their role in the acquired sensitivity to IL-1β and may be helpful in identifying new targets for intervention/prevention strategies.