Downregulation of apoptosis in the target tissue prevents low-dose streptozotocin-induced autoimmune diabetes

3,7-dimethyl-1-(5-oxohexyl) xanthine, pentoxifylline (PTX) is shown to affect cytokine-induced apoptosis in several experimental models and clinical conditions. It had been also shown to prevent insulitis and hyperglycemia in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, and mice and rats susceptible to diabetes induction with multiple low-doses of streptozotocin (MLD-STZ). We therefore analysed the development of diabetes and apoptosis of pancreatic β islet cells in CBA/mice after diabetes induction with MLD-STZ. We have evaluated the effect of PTX on the level of apoptosis in the islet at different time intervals after diabetes induction. Complementary histological and immunohistochemical studies and analyses of the expression of cytokines and nitric oxide have also been done. It was concluded that PTX significantly attenuated apoptosis of the β-cells in the islet and suppressed the induction of diabetes. Our data are compatible with the notion that interferon-γ (IFN-γ)/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/nitric oxide (NO)-induced apoptosis of β-cells in experimental diabetes is attenuated by PTX.