Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 30, 2026

A High-content In Vitro Pancreatic Islet β-cell Replication Discovery Platform
Published on: July 16, 2016
Interleukin-6 as a potential positive modulator of human beta-cell function: an exploratory analysis-the Verona Newly
Marco Dauriz1, Maddalena Trombetta1, Linda Boselli1
1Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University and Hospital Trust of Verona - Ospedale Civile Maggiore, Piazzale Stefani, 1, 37126, Verona, Italy.
Aims:
Recent studies in mouse models of T2D showed that interleukin-6 (IL-6), released from skeletal muscle, is associated with increased glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Few data currently exist exploring the relationship between IL-6 and beta-cell function in humans. We investigated whether IL-6 is positively associated with beta-cell function in newly diagnosed T2D. We extended the same analyses to IL-10, because it regulated similarly to IL-6 in skeletal muscle, and TNF-α and C-reactive protein (CRP), as general biomarkers of inflammation.
Methods:
In 330 VNDS participants, we assessed (1) basal plasma concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and CRP; (2) beta-cell function, estimated by OGTT minimal modeling and expressed as derivative (DC) and proportional control (PC); (3) insulin sensitivity, by euglycemic insulin clamp.
Results:
IL-6 was positively associated with PC in both univariate analysis (p = 0.04) and after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, HbA1c, and M-clamp (p = 0.01). HbA1c was the major independent contributor to the overall variance of PC (16 %), followed by BMI and IL-6 (~2 % each). Similar results were obtained for IL-10 (p = 0.048, univariate; p = 0.04, fully adjusted). TNF-α and CRP were not significantly associated with any component of beta-cell function.
Conclusions:
Our data are the first evidence in human subjects that an endocrine loop involving IL-6 may act as positive modulator of glucose-dependent insulin secretion. Further functional studies are needed to corroborate IL-6 system as a potential druggable target in diabetes.
Clinical Trial Registration Number:
NCT01526720 ( http://www.clinicaltrial.gov ).
More Related Videos
12:32High-resolution Respirometry to Measure Mitochondrial Function of Intact Beta Cells in the Presence of Natural Compounds
Published on: January 23, 2018
09:31Sustained Administration of β-cell Mitogens to Intact Mouse Islets Ex Vivo Using Biodegradable Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Microspheres
Published on: November 5, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are...
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Feedback Loops
Insulin Secretory Vesicles
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway