Pro-inflammatory cytokines increase glucose, alanine and triacylglycerol utilization but inhibit insulin secretion in a clonal pancreatic β-cell line

We have investigated the effects of prolonged exposure (24 h) to pro-inflammatory cytokines on β-cell metabolism and insulin secretion using clonal BRIN-BD11 β cells. Addition of IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor-α and IFN-γ (at concentrations that did not induce apoptosis) inhibited chronic (24 h) and acute stimulated levels of insulin release (by 59 and 93% respectively), increased cellular glucose and alanine consumption, and also elevated lactate and glutamate release. However, ATP levels and cellular triacylglycerol were decreased while glutathione was increased. We conclude that sub-lethal concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines appear to shift β-cell metabolism away from a key role in energy generation and stimulus-secretion coupling and towards a catabolic state which may be related to cell defence.