Interferon γ and glycemic status in diabetes associated with chronic pancreatitis

• Published in: Pancreatology : official journal of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) ... [et al.] 2012, Vol.12 (1), p.65-70
• Main Authors: Pavan Kumar, P, Radhika, G, Rao, G.V, Pradeep, R, Subramanyam, C, Talukdar, R, Reddy, D.N, Sasikala, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Chronic pancreatitis; Cytokines - metabolism; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus - blood; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; Glucose; Humans; IFN γ; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin Secretion; Interferon-gamma - metabolism; Islets of Langerhans - drug effects; Islets of Langerhans - metabolism; Male; Middle Aged; Pancreatitis, Chronic - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1424-3903; 1424-3911
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2011.12.005

Abstract Background/aims Although the role of cytokines in the etiopathology of chronic pancreatitis (CP) is well recognized, information on pancreatic tissue cytokines in CP with/without associated diabetes is unavailable. The aim of the present study was to identify the differences in pancreatic cytokines and observe their correlations with the glycemic status in CP. Methods Pancreata were obtained from CP patients ( n  = 44), with/without associated diabetes and non-diabetic control subjects ( n  = 20). Patients with CP were classified into two groups after ascertaining their diabetic status. Pancreatic cytokines (IL 1β, IL 6, IL 8, IL 10, IL 12P70, TNF α, IFN γ) were analyzed by flow cytometer. The influence of individual and cocktail of cytokines on glucose stimulated insulin release (GSIR) was examined by challenging the islets from control subjects. Results The pancreatic IFN γ levels in diabetic and non diabetic CP patients were significantly higher in comparison to controls. The glucose stimulated insulin release (GSIR) in response to high glucose concentration in control islets, islets from non-diabetic and diabetic CP patients was 8.2, 5.67 and 3.15 μU × 10−3 /min/islet equivalent respectively. IFN γ resulted in 82.35% decrease in GSIR from the control islet cells at a concentration of >20 pg/ml which was reversed by epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Conclusion These results suggest that IFN γ among other cytokines, play a major role in β-cell dysfunction associated with CP.