Exp Mol Med.  2015 Apr;47(4):e160. 10.1038/emm.2015.16.

Polyphenols isolated from Broussonetia kazinoki prevent cytokine-induced beta-cell damage and the development of type 1 diabetes

• Bae UJ
• Jang HY
• Lim JM
• Hua L
• Ryu JH
• Park BH

• KMID: 2070279
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1038/emm.2015.16

Abstract

The axis of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)-inducible NO synthase (iNOS)-nitric oxide plays a key role in cytokine- and streptozotocin-mediated pancreatic beta-cell damage. In this study, we investigated the effects of kazinol C and isokazinol D isolated from Broussonetia kazinoki on the beta-cell viability and function. RINm5F cells and primary islets were used for in vitro and ex vivo cytokine toxicity experiments, respectively. For type 1 diabetes induction, mice were injected with multiple low-dose streptozotocin (MLDS). Cytokine-induced toxicity was completely abolished in both RINm5F cells and islets that were pretreated with either kazinol C or isokazinol D. Both kazinols inhibited the NF-kappaB signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting cytokine-mediated iNOS induction, nitric oxide production, apoptotic cell death and defects in insulin secretion. Moreover, the occurrence of diabetes in MLDS-treated mice was efficiently attenuated in kazinol-pretreated mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling-positive apoptotic cells and nuclear p65-positive cells were significantly decreased in kazinol-pretreated mice. Our results suggest that kazinol C and isokazinol D block the NF-kappaB pathway, thus reducing the extent of beta-cell damage. Therefore, kazinol C and isokazinol D may have therapeutic value in delaying pancreatic beta-cell damage in type 1 diabetes.