Cyclosporin A protects pancreatic islet cells from nitric oxide-dependent macrophage cytotoxicity

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Abstract
It has been shown earlier in an in-vitro model of inflammatory islet cell death that activated macrophages lyse islet cells via the release of nitric oxide. Here we report that cyclosporin A suppresses macrophage cytotoxicity. Control experiments showed that the immunosuppressive drug does not improve the defences of islet cells against nitric oxide but inhibits the release of nitric oxide from LPS-stimulated macrophages. This property of cyclosporin A may contribute to the preservation of β cell function seen in cyclosporin A-treated patients with recent onset type I diabetes.