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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Isolated Pancreatic Islet Treatment and Apoptosis Measurement
Published on: May 2, 2025
Riboflavin inhibits IL-6 expression and p38 activation in islet cells
Lorenzo Cobianchi1, Alessia Fornoni, Antonello Pileggi
1Cell Transplant Center, Diabetes Research Institute, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Abstract:
Riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin that reduces the production of proinflammatory mediators and oxygen radicals. Because islet beta-cells are very sensitive to oxidative stress and to cytokines, we investigated the possible cytoprotective effects of riboflavin on insulinoma NIT-1 cells and on isolated rodent islets. NIT-1 cells and islets cultured in the presence or absence of 10 microM riboflavin were studied at baseline and after exposure to cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, INF-gamma). Riboflavin treatment did not affect islet cell viability as assessed by flow cytometry for caspases activation. However, riboflavin prevented the cytokine-induced increase in IL-6 mRNA expression and p38 phosphorylation analyzed by real-time PCR and immunoassay, respectively. In summary, nontoxic doses of riboflavin prevent cytokines-induced p38 phosphorylation and IL-6 upregulation in islet cells. This observation, together with the safety profile of riboflavin in the clinical setting, makes it an appealing agent for islet cytoprotection in islet transplantation protocols.
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