L. Wogensen et al., PANCREATIC BETA-CELL FUNCTION AND INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA IN PLASMA DURINGTHE ACUTE-PHASE RESPONSE IN PATIENTS WITH MAJOR BURN INJURIES, European journal of clinical investigation, 23(5), 1993, pp. 311-319
Animal experiments demonstrate that interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is be
ta-cell cytotoxic in vitro and inhibits insulin secretion in vivo. How
ever, it is unknown if IL-1beta affects beta-cell function in man. Sin
ce IL-1beta and other cytokines are main mediators of the acute phase
response, the objectives of the present study were to examine beta-cel
l function in patients with major burn injuries, and to test if change
s in beta-cell function correlated to systemic levels of IL-1beta and
tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). We established and validated
an IL-1beta assay measuring free and protein bound IL-1beta; protein b
ound IL-1beta was detached from the IL-1beta specific binding protein
by acidification, rendering it accessible for the employed antibody. T
he IL-1beta specific binding protein (43-60 kDa) was found in serum an
d plasma from all tested patients and normal subjects. Survivors of bu
rn injuries had a stimulated beta-cell function, whereas non-survivors
had an impaired beta-cell function as indicated by an increased plasm
a concentration of proinsulin, and an increased proinsulin/insulin rat
io. In addition, non-survivors had significantly increased plasma leve
ls of IL-1beta. However, we could not demonstrate any correlation betw
een C-peptide, proinsulin, insulin or proinsulin/insulin ratio and pla
sma concentration of IL-1beta. In conclusion, beta-cell function abnor
malities are evident in patients with major burn injuries, and a high
plasma level of IL-1beta correlates with a fatal outcome. However, the
present study did not provide evidence for the hypothesis that beta-c
ell function is influenced by circulating IL-1beta or TNFalpha during
the acute phase response.