Lycium barbarum polysaccharides alleviate pancreatic & beta;-cells apoptosis through the inhibition of IFN & gamma; pathway

Pancreatic & beta;-cells death mediated by apoptosis plays a key role in the development of diabetes. Pro-inflammatory cytokines activate the apoptotic program in pancreatic & beta;-cells. Therefore, inhibiting inflammatory cytokines induced apoptosis could preserve pancreatic & beta;-cells. The fruit of Lycium is widely used as an antioxidant food and its pharmacological action is partially mediated by Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP). However, whether LBP can inhibit inflammatory cytokines-induced & beta;-cells apoptosis has not been reported. In this study, we showed that LBP could alleviate the apoptosis of pancreatic & beta;-cells through the inhibition of interferon-& gamma; (IFN-& gamma;) pathway. In healthy mice, LBP administration could improve glucose tolerance. In streptozotocin-induced & beta;-cells injury mice, preventive and continuous administration of LBP could alleviate hyperglycemia and protect pancreatic insulin content. Our study identified a novel function of LBP in prevention and protection of pancreatic & beta;-cells apoptosis, which was partially through the inhibition of IFN-& gamma; pathway.