Objective: To observe the effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) on gene expression profiles of NIT-1 pancreatic beta cells cell line using microarray technique.
Methods: NIT-1 cells were exposed to cyclosporin A treatment (10 micromol/L) for 24 h and the differential gene expressions were assessed using microarray technique.
Results: After 24h of CsA treatment, 38 of the 4096 genes tested were up-regulated, including 13 genes with known functions involving stress response, cell growth and protein synthesis. Meanwhile 46 genes were down-regulated, including 25 genes with known functions involving cell growth and maturation, oxidative phosphorylation and protein synthesis. Changes of gene expression of Zfr,Tpi and Pax6 were confirmed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.
Conclusions: CsA treatment for 24 h induces changes in the gene expression profiles of NIT-1 pancreatic beta cells. Down-regulation of the genes related to cell growth and maturation, oxidative phosphorylation and protein synthesis may partly explain the mechanisms that CsA inhibits the release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells.