Cholesterol induces inflammation and reduces glucose utilization

Cholesterol stimulates inflammation and affects the normal function of islet tissues. However, the precise mechanism underlying the effects of cholesterol on islet cells requires clarification. In this study, we explored the role of cholesterol in glucose utilization in pancreatic cells. Beta-TC-6 cells and mice were treated with cholesterol. We used glucose detection kits to identify the glucose content in the cell culture supernatant and mouse serum and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect insulin levels in the serum. Glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 2 (G6PC2), 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78), 94 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP94), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1 (casp1), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression levels were detected using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Hematoxylin–eosin staining was used to detect the histological alterations in pancreatic tissues. Cholesterol decreased beta-TC-6 cell glucose utilization; enhanced pancreatic tissue pathological alterations; increased glucose and insulin levels in mouse serum; increased G6PC2, GRP78, GRP94, and NLRP3 expression levels; and elevated casp1 and pro-IL-1β cleavage. Cholesterol can attenuate glucose utilization efficiency in beta-TC-6 cells and mice, which may be related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation.