Cox-2 Expressed with Insulin in Pancreatic Beta-Cells, and in the Infiltrated Leukocytes in Inflamed Islets of Diabetic Mice

In the event of the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) the circulating autoantibodies against the beta-cell of the pancreas are attacked by macrophages and autoreactive lymphocytes under the influence of different cytokines. Eventually, beta-cells are destroyed through apoptosis, or natural killer cells, or a scavenger process. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is constitutively expressed in beta-cells, the possible role in insulin secretion and insulitis has been suggested. However, COX-2 with lymphocytes and other infiltrated leukocytes on diabetogenesis remains largely elusive. We injected diabetic lymphocytes of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice to NOD/SCID mice for adoptive transfer. The diabetogenesis of adoptive transferred NOD/SCID mice was tested with supplements of COX-2 inhibitor or the substrate, arachidonic acid, in the diets under placebo control. The tissues of intestine and pancreas of BALB/c, NOD and NOD/SCID mice were immunohistochemically analyzed. COX-2 and insulin were revealed in the vesicles of beta-c...