Growth factor protection against cytokine-induced apoptosis in neonatal rat islets of Langerhans: role of Fas

Abstract

Treatment of neonatal rat islets of Langerhans with combined cytokines (interleukin-1β 10 −10 M, tumour necrosis factor-α 10 −10 M, interferon-γ 5 U/ml) led to extensive cell death, which was potentiated by Fas activation with the anti-Fas cytolytic antibody JO2. Pre-treatment with insulin (25 ng/ml) or insulin-like growth factor-1 (10 −8 M) gave only partial protection against cell killing, but prevented the Fas-mediated component. In the absence of cytokine treatment, Fas-mediated killing was not observed.