Apoptosis of beta cells in diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. Apoptosis in beta cells has been observed in response to diverse stimuli, such as glucose, cytokines, free fatty acids, leptin, and sulfonylureas, leading to the activation of polyol, hexosamine, and diacylglycerol/protein kinase-C (DAG/PKC) pathways that mediate oxidative and nitrosative stress causing the release of different cytokines. Cytokines induce the expression of Fas and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) by activating the transcription factor, nuclear factor-κb, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT-1) in the β cells in the extrinsic pathway of apoptosis.

Interleukin 6(-174G/C) variant and its circulating levels in coronary artery disease patients and their first degree relatives.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) a pleiotropic cytokine is a central mediator of inflammation in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Our aim is to evaluate the serum levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) and to analyze the IL-6 polymorphism in CAD patients and to identify the first-degree relatives (FDRs) at risk of the disease in comparison with healthy controls. Estimation of IL-6 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and CRP by latex reagent kit method, and genotyping of IL6 gene variants -174 (G>C) was carried out by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 600 subjects.