Abstract
PURPOSE: Diabetes and obesity are associated with inflammasome-mediated low-grade, chronic inflammation that may induce pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. We examined the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery on NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-related genes from pancreatic islets of Zucker diabetic fatty rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Islets were collected from Zucker diabetic fatty sham control and RYGB, 30 days after surgery. We assessed expression of genes that regulate glucose metabolism and the NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein), IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. RESULTS: Gene expression for NLRP3 (p < 0.02), IL-1β (p < 0.04), and IL-6 (p < 0.01) was reduced by RYGB and positively correlated with change in body weight. IL-1β positively correlated with glucose AUC response. CONCLUSION: Suppression of the NLRP3 inflammasome in pancreatic islets may contribute to improved glycemic control after RYGB.