Endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by a pancreatic beta-cell line: inhibitory effects of hydrocortisone and nicotinamide.

The purpose of this study was to examine regulation of interleukin-1(IL-1)-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production by a mouse beta-cell line (beta TC1). Three-hour incubation of beta TC1 cells with 5 U/ml of IL-1 beta results in the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and intracellular accumulation of TNF-alpha. It has been shown that glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporin and FK-506 inhibit TNF-alpha generation by T-lymphocytes and monocytes. Hydrocortisone of 1 and 10 mumol/l suppressed TNF-alpha mRNA levels and the TNF-alpha content of beta TC1 cells exposed to IL-1 beta, whereas neither cyclosporin nor FK-506 altered the TNF-alpha content. Nicotinamide of 5-10 mmol/l also reduced TNF-alpha mRNA and TNF-alpha protein levels in beta TC1 cells. Addition of exogenous TNF-alpha did not inhibit IL-1-induced transcription of TNF-alpha gene. These observations support the potential therapeutic role of glucocorticoids and nicotinamide in protecting beta-cells against cytokine-mediated damage, although glucocorticoid agonists have hyperglycemic metabolic effects.