Long-chain saturated fatty acids are cytotoxic to pancreatic beta;-cells while shorter-chain saturated and long-chain unsaturated molecules are better tolerated. Mono-unsaturated fatty acids are not, however, inert since they inhibit the pro-apoptotic effects of saturated molecules. In the present work we show that the mono-unsaturates palmitoleate (C16:1) or oleate (C18:1) also cause marked inhibition of apoptosis induced by exposure of clonal BRIN-BD11 beta;-cells to serum withdrawal or a combination of interleukin-1beta; plus interferon-gamma;. This response was dose-dependent and not accompanied by changes in NO formation. Taken together, the results suggest that mono-unsaturated fatty acids regulate a distal step common to several apoptotic pathways in pancreatic beta;-cells.
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