OBJECTIVETo analyze the significance of Fas-FasL in NOD insulitis and to explore the mechanism of the autoimmune diabetes.

METHODSThirty-two female NOD mice, 3-32 weeks of age, were selected. The blood glucose concentrations were recorded. The pathological data were obtained from the HE staining of the pancreatic sections and the immunohistochemical staining, in which insulin, Fas, FasL, CD8 were detected.

RESULTSDiabetes was found from the age of 14 weeks. In normal islets, insulin + cells accounted for (59.37 +/- 1.21)%, and some islet cells were observed expressing Fas. At the age of 6 weeks, insulitis lesions could be found. The average score of insulitis tended to rise with the increasing age (P < 0.0005). Meanwhile, insulin + cells decreased (P < 0.0005), and correlated negatively with scoring (P < 0.05). Fas+ islet cells increased (P < 0.0005), correlated positively with scoring (P < 0.01). In insulitis lesions, islet cells expressed FasL that increased gradually (P < 0.0005) and correlated positively with scoring (P < 0.01). The infiltrating cells were all Fas negative. But these mononucleated cells showed the expression of FasL and CD8, both increasing gradually (P < 0.0005). Furthermore, there was certain correlation between the expression of some antigens: in islet cells, between Fas and insulin (negative, P < 0.01), insulin and FasL (negative, P < 0.01), and Fas and FasL (positive, P < 0.01). In the infiltrating cells, the expression of CD8 was correlated with FasL (positively, P < 0.01); it was also found that there was a negative correlation between Fas+ islet cells and CD8+ mononucleated cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTo sum up, there may be some important and complicated effects by Fas-FasL on the damage of beta cells and the regulation of autoreactive T cells in NOD insulitis, which will facilitate further studies in human type 1 diabetes.

Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; etiology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; etiology ; immunology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Female ; Inflammation ; immunology ; metabolism ; Insulin ; blood ; Islets of Langerhans ; immunology ; metabolism ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; fas Receptor ; physiology

We describe an unusual case of systemic lupus erythematosus with pulmonary manifestations presenting as hypoglycemia due to anti-insulin receptor antibodies. A 38-year-old female suffered an episode of unconsciousness and was admitted to hospital where her blood glucose was found to be 18 mg/dL. During the hypoglycemic episode, her serum insulin level was inappropriately high (2,207.1 pmol/L; normal range, 18 to 173) and C-peptide level was elevated (1.7 nmol/L; normal range, 0.37 to 1.47). Further blood tests revealed the presence of antinuclear antibodies, anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, and anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB, anti-ribonucleoprotein, and anti-insulin receptor antibodies. A computed tomography scan of the abdomen, aimed at tumor localization, such as an insulinoma, instead revealed ground-glass opacities in both lower lungs, and no abnormal finding in the abdomen. For a definitive diagnosis of the lung lesion, video-associated thoracoscopic surgery was performed and histopathological findings showed a pattern of fibrotic non-specific interstitial pneumonia.
Adult ; Autoantibodies/*blood ; *Autoimmunity ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blood Glucose/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia/blood/*complications/immunology ; Insulin/blood ; *Insulin Resistance ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/diagnosis/*etiology/immunology/surgery ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/*complications/diagnosis/immunology ; Receptor, Insulin/*immunology ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and its receptor-I antibody on the growth of human adrenocortical carcinoma SW-13 cell line in vitro.

METHODThe growth curves of SW-13 cell treated with IGF and its receptor-I antibody were obtained by means of MTT assay. The effects of the two agents, added either alone or in combination at different concentrations, on the cell growth were evaluated.

RESULTSIGF significantly promoted proliferation of SW-13 cells, and its effect was positively correlated with its concentrations (P<0.05). IGF receptor-I antibody inhibited the effect of insulin-like growth factor with direct inhibitory effect on proliferation of SW-13 cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIGF can promote the growth of human adrenocortical carcinoma SW-13 cells via its receptor-I. IGF receptor-I antibody can inhibit the effect of the growth factor, suggesting a possible role of this receptor in the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma.

Adrenocortical Carcinoma ; pathology ; Antibodies ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Receptor, IGF Type 1 ; immunology

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is caused by the autoimmune destruction of beta cells within the islets. In recent years, innate immunity has been proposed to play a key role in this process. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), an inflammatory trigger in a number of autoimmune diseases, activates proinflammatory responses following its release from necrotic cells. Our aim was to determine the significance of HMGB1 in the natural history of diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. We observed that the rate of HMGB1 expression in the cytoplasm of islets was much greater in diabetic mice compared with non-diabetic mice. The majority of cells positively stained for toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were beta cells; few alpha cells were stained for TLR4. Thus, we examined the effects of anti-TLR4 antibodies on HMGB1 cell surface binding, which confirmed that HMGB1 interacts with TLR4 in isolated islets. Expression changes in HMGB1 and TLR4 were detected throughout the course of diabetes. Our findings indicate that TLR4 is the main receptor on beta cells and that HMGB1 may signal via TLR4 to selectively damage beta cells rather than alpha cells during the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1/immunology/*metabolism/pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Glucagon-Secreting Cells/immunology/metabolism/pathology ; HMGB1 Protein/*genetics/metabolism ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/immunology/metabolism/*pathology ; Macrophages/immunology/pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Necrosis ; Protein Binding ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/immunology

Type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) has long been recognized for its role in tumorigenesis and growth, but only recently have the tools for targeting the IGF pathway become available. More than 10 IGF/IGF-1R inhibitors have entered clinical trials, and these belong to three main classes: (1) monoclonal antibodies against IGF-1R, (2) monoclonal antibodies against IGF-1R ligands (IGF-1 and IGF-2), and (3) IGF-1R tyrosine kinase inhibitors. These IGF-1R-targeting agents share common effects on IGF-1R signaling but differ in mechanisms of action, spectrum of target inhibition, and pharmacological features. Clinical activity of IGF-1R inhibitors has been demonstrated with sustained responses in a small number of patients with select tumor types, such as Ewing sarcoma and thymoma. However, many large clinical trials involving patients with adult tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer, failed to show clinical benefit in the overall patient population. Possible reasons for failure include the complexity of the IGF-1R/insulin receptor system and parallel growth and survival pathways, as well as a lack of patient selection markers. While IGF-1R remains a valid target for selected tumor types, identification of predictive markers and rational combinations will be critical to success in future development.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Combinations ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, IGF Type 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; immunology ; Sarcoma, Ewing ; therapy ; Signal Transduction

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system has been implicated in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. However, reports on the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) based on radioimmunoassays are conflicting, and its prognostic implications in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are still controversial. METHODS: Seventy-one paraffin-embedded tissue sections from stage I NSCLC patients were stained using a mouse monoclonal antibody against human IGF-1R. RESULTS: The intensity and frequency of IGF-1R expression on the membrane and cytoplasm of cancer cells was evaluated and scored using a semiquantitative system. IGF-1R expression was detected in nine of 71 (12.7%) cases. No significant relationship was found between clinical/histopathological parameters and IGF-1R expression. None of the patients whose tumor expressed IGF-1R had experienced distant metastasis or cancer-related death, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that IGF-1R expression may not be a major prognostic factor for stage I NSCLC.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*immunology/mortality/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/*biosynthesis ; Male ; Mice ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Receptor, IGF Type 1/*biosynthesis

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have suggested that noise exposure may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and experimental studies have demonstrated that noise exposure can induce insulin resistance in rodents. The aim of the present study was to explore noise-induced processes underlying impaired insulin sensitivity in mice. METHODS: Male ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups: a control group without noise exposure and three noise groups exposed to white noise at a 95-dB sound pressure level for 4 h/day for 1, 10, or 20 days (N1D, N10D, and N20D, respectively). Systemic insulin sensitivity was evaluated at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month post-noise exposure (1DPN, 1WPN, and 1MPN) via insulin tolerance tests (ITTs). Several insulin-related processes, including the phosphorylation of Akt, IRS1, and JNK in the animals' skeletal muscles, were examined using standard immunoblots. Biomarkers of inflammation (circulating levels of TNF-α and IL-6) and oxidative stress (SOD and CAT activities and MDA levels in skeletal muscles) were measured via chemical analyses. RESULTS: The data obtained in this study showed the following: (1) The impairment of systemic insulin sensitivity was transient in the N1D group but prolonged in the N10D and N20D groups. (2) Noise exposure led to enhanced JNK phosphorylation and IRS1 serine phosphorylation as well as reduced Akt phosphorylation in skeletal muscles in response to exogenous insulin stimulation. (3) Plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-6, CAT activity, and MDA concentrations in skeletal muscles were elevated after 20 days of noise exposure. CONCLUSIONS Impaired insulin sensitivity in noise-exposed mice might be mediated by an enhancement of the JNK/IRS1 pathway. Inflammation and oxidative stress might contribute to insulin resistance after chronic noise exposure.
Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Inflammation ; physiopathology ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; genetics ; immunology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Noise ; adverse effects ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Time Factors