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Interleukin-6 Enhances Glucagon Secretion: Amplification via the Pancreas and Brain

Inappropriate glucagon secretion contributes to hyperglycemia in inflammatory disease. Previous work implicates the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), in glucagon secretion. IL-6 knock-out mice have a blunted glucagon response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that is restored by intravenous replacement of IL-6. Given that IL-6 has previously been demonstrated to have a transcriptional (i.e. slow) effect on glucagon secretion from islets, I hypothesized that the rapid increase in glucagon following LPS occurred by a faster mechanism such as by action within the brain. Using chronically catheterized, conscious mice, it was found that central IL-6 stimulates glucagon secretion uniquely in the presence of an accompanying stressor (hypoglycemia or LPS). Contrary to the original hypothesis, however, IL-6 was found to amplify glucagon secretion in two ways: IL-6 not only stimulates glucagon secretion via the brain but also by direct action on islets. Interestingly, IL-6 augments glucagon secretion from both sites only in the presence of an accompanying stressor (such as epinephrine). Given that both adrenergic tone and plasma IL-6 are elevated in multiple inflammatory diseases, the interactions of the IL-6 and catecholaminergic signaling pathways in regulating GCG secretion may contribute to our present understanding of these diseases.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-12312014-082201
Date07 January 2015
CreatorsBarnes, Tammy Michelle
ContributorsDavid H. Wasserman, Ph.D., David A. Jacobson, Ph.D., Danny G. Winder, Ph.D., John M. Stafford, M.D., Ph.D., David Robertson, M.D.
PublisherVANDERBILT
Source SetsVanderbilt University Theses
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
Sourcehttp://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-12312014-082201/
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