Modulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase in RINm5F cells

The rat insulinoma beta-cell line RINm5F, which shares some homology with pancreatic islets, was used to study nitric oxide synthase induction. Nitric oxide is involved during beta-cell destruction and possibly in propagation of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) turned out to be the ultimate inducer, whereas tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) and unexpectedly the phorbol ester TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate; 10 nM) synergistically promoted nitrite accumulation. Besides employing TPA directly, the synergistic effect of TNF could be traced back to protein kinase C activation since protein kinase C inhibitors (IC50 value for staurosporine: 4 nM) potently suppressed nitrite production in the case of IL-1/TNF administration. Further experiments using anti-TNF antibodies aimed to an autocrine loop following IL-1 addition to RINm5F cells, possibly involved in nitrite generation. Moreover, the nitric oxide synthase inductive IL-1 signal was antagonized by lipophilic cAMP analogues. Our results for nitrite accumulation in RINm5F cells point to activating protein kinase C and inhibitory protein kinase A signalling pathways.