INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA INHIBITS THE INTESTINAL TRANSPORT OF [C-14] 3-O-METHYLGLUCOSE IN THE RAT

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is known to be a hypoglycemic cytokine, but its m echanism of action is still unknown. Since the blood glucose levels de pend on the amount of glucose entering and leaving the circulation, th is work was conducted to test the hypothesis that the hypoglycemia obs erved with IL-1 beta might result, at least partially, from a reduced intestinal glucose absorption. Male Sprague Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with IL-1 beta, and a jejunal segment was per fused with [C-14] 3-O-methylglucose for 5, 15, 25 and 40 min. Our resu lts showed that IL-1 beta significantly inhibited the mucosal uptake o f this hexose and reduced its intestinal retention. The time course an d the dose response effect for this cytokine were also determined. Stu dies on the effect of IL-1 beta on the activity of the intestinal Na+- K+ ATPase demonstrated a significant inhibition of the pump. The effec t of IL-1 beta on the hexose transport across the brush border membran e may thus be attributed to its inhibitory effect on the Na+-K+ ATPase .