Interleukin-1 beta induces nitric oxide production and inhibits the activity of aconitase without decreasing glucose oxidation rates in isolated mouse pancreatic islets.

The aim of this investigation was to further characterize the process of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) induced nitric oxide production in isolated pancreatic islets. It was found that both IL-1 beta and nitroprusside increased islet nitrite production. This effect was paralleled by inhibition of islet aconitase activity and glucose oxidation rates. Neither trifluoroperazinen or aminopterin could prevent the IL-1 beta induced increase in nitrite production, aconitase inhibition and decrease in glucose oxidation rates. In a second series of experiments, isolated mouse pancreatic islets were exposed to IL-1 beta for 24 h and subsequently used for nitrite production, aconitase activity and glucose oxidation determinations. The islets responded to IL-1 beta with an increased nitrite production and a decreased activity of aconitase, whereas the islet glucose oxidation rates were not decreased. It is concluded that IL-1 beta in both rat and mouse islets induces nitric oxide formation and that this induction leads to the inhibition of the Krebs cycle enzyme aconitase. In rat islets this probably leads to an inhibited insulin secretion, whereas IL-1 beta in mouse islets suppresses insulin secretion by a non-mitochondrial mechanism.