Figure 1.

Islet β-NIK-OE Induces Non-obese Diabetes

(A) Pancreatic islets were isolated from C57BL6 mice and treated with LIGHT at different concentrations (0, 1, and 5 μg/mL) for 2 h. NF-κB2 and Actin protein levels were measured by immunoblotting. (B and C) Pancreatic islets were isolated from male β-NIK-OE mice and control littermates at 8 weeks of age. NIK mRNA levels were measured by qRT-PCR and normalized to 36B4 levels (B) (β-NIK-OE: n = 4; control: n = 4). NF-κB2, IκBα, and Actin protein levels were measured by immunoblotting (C). (D) Feeding blood glucose levels were measured every week from 3 to 18 weeks of age (β-NIK-OE: n = 6–9; control: n = 6–11). (E) Body weights of male β-NIK-OE mice and control littermates (β-NIK-OE: n = 6–9; control: n = 6–11). (F and G) Glucose tolerance test (GTT) (F) and insulin tolerance test (ITT) (G) were measured in male β-NIK-OE and control mice at 18 weeks of age (β-NIK-OE: n = 6; control: n = 7). (H–K) Serum insulin (H), C-peptide (I), β-hydroxybutyrate (J), and glucagon (K) levels were measured in male β-NIK-OE and control mice at 18 weeks of age (β-NIK-OE: n = 11; control: n = 10–12). (L and M) Pancreas insulin (L) and glucagon (M) contents were measured in male β-NIK-OE and control mice at 18 weeks of age (β-NIK-OE: n = 11; control: n = 12). (N) Representative islets from male β-NIK-OE mice and control littermates at 18 weeks of age were immunostained with insulin and glucagon. The scale bar represents 100 μm. (O) Relative insulin-positive areas of male β-NIK-OE mice and control littermates at 18 weeks of age (β-NIK-OE: n = 5; control: n = 5). (P) Ratio of islet glucagon-positive area/islet areas in male β-NIK-OE mice and control littermates at 18 weeks of age (β-NIK-OE: n = 5; control: n = 5). ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01. Data represent the mean ± SEM.