17??-Estradiol protects isolated human pancreatic islets against proinflammatory cytokine-induced cell death: molecular mechanisms and islet functionality1

Abstract

Estradiol promoted IHPI survival and improved functionality after PIC exposure in vitro and in vivo after transplantation. The molecular mechanisms involved included a decrease in NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, decrease in mitochondrial cytochrome release, and caspase 9 activation. The use of estradiol might be beneficial in clinical islet transplantation.