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PubMed1993

Influence of islet amyloid polypeptide and the 8-37 fragment of islet amyloid polypeptide on insulin release from perifused rat islets.

IAPP, or amylin, is a 37-amino acid peptide that is co-secreted with insulin from the pancreatic beta-cells. We have determined the effects of IAPP and the antagonist 8-37 fragment of IAPP on the secretion of insulin from isolated rat islets studied in a perifusion system. Insulin secretion was stimulated by 8 mM glucose and 0.2 microM carbachol. IAPP at 10(-7) M reduced insulin release by 32% from 7.1 (95% Cl 5.8-8.6) to 4.8 (3.0-7.5) fmol.min-1 x islet-1 (P = 0.046, n = 7). IAPP at 1.5 x 10(-6) M reduced insulin release by 62% from 6.5 (3.4-12.3) to 2.5 (1.4-4.4) fmol.min-1 x islet-1 (P = 0.001, n = 6). IAPP at 10(-5) M decreased insulin release by 70% (P < 0.001, n = 6). When IAPP (8-37) at 10(-5) M was added to IAPP at 1.5 x 10(-6) M, there was only a 22% reduction of insulin release (P = 0.06, n = 6) compared with control chambers with no peptide added. This reduction was less (P = 0.002) than observed with IAPP (1.5 x 10(-6) M) alone. IAPP (8-37) at 4 x 10(-5) M in the absence of exogenously added IAPP increased insulin secretion by 48% (P = 0.01, n = 6), but IAPP (8-37) at 10(-5) M did not alter insulin secretion. These findings demonstrate that IAPP decreases insulin secretion from islet beta-cells, an effect that can be antagonized by the 8-37 fragment of IAPP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amyloid↗

PubMed1989

Sequence divergence in a specific region of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) explains differences in islet amyloid formation between species.

Amyloid deposits in the islets of Langerhans occur in association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in humans and cats and consist of a 37-amino-acid polypeptide known as islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). In order to find an explanation for the situation that islet amyloid (IA) does not develop in common rodent species, we have deduced the amino acid sequence of the IAPP molecule in mouse, rat and hamster. We find that a specific region of the molecule diverges to a high degree. Synthetic peptides corresponding to this region of human and hamster IAPP were compared for their ability to form amyloid fibrils in vitro. Whereas the human peptide readily formed fibrils with amyloid character, the hamster peptide completely lacked this property. We suggest this to be a likely explanation for the differences in IA formation between humans and rodents and discuss our findings in relation to the type 2 DM syndrome.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2000

Islet amyloid polypeptide in the islets of Langerhans: friend or foe?

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), or amylin, was originally discovered as the constituent peptide in amyloid occurring in human insulinomas and in pancreatic islets in human subjects with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Its normal expression in beta cells and its co-secretion with insulin in response to nutrient stimuli, suggest a metabolic function for the peptide. Specifically, IAPP has most frequently been shown to inhibit insulin secretion, implying that IAPP has a role in the regulation of islet hormone homeostasis. The physiological significance of IAPP in islets has been difficult to assess; very high IAPP concentrations are required to alter insulin secretion. Moreover, until recently, IAPP receptors have not been characterised at the molecular level, thus leaving the actual target cells for IAPP unidentified. Furthermore, in experimental diabetes in rodents, the ratio of IAPP expression to that of insulin invariably is increased. In view of the pleiotropic effects attributed to IAPP, such regulation could be both adverse and beneficial in diabetes. Metabolic characterisation of mice carrying a null mutation in the IAPP gene or which overexpress IAPP in beta cells have recently confirmed that IAPP is a physiological inhibitor of insulin secretion. Based on experiments in which IAPP-deficient mice develop a more severe form of alloxan-induced diabetes, we argue that the action of IAPP in the islets normally is beneficial for beta-cell function and survival; thus, the established up regulation of IAPP expression compared with that of insulin in experimental rodent diabetes could serve to protect islets under metabolically challenging circumstances.

Amyloid↗

PubMed2000

Aggregation of an amyloidogenic fragment of human islet amyloid polypeptide.

Native human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) has been identified as the major component of amyloid plaques found in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans of persons affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus. Early studies of hIAPP determined that a segment of the molecule, amino acids 20-29, is responsible for its aggregation into amyloid fibrils. The present study demonstrates that the aggregation of hIAPP 20-29-Trp is a nucleation-dependent process, displaying a distinct lag time before the onset of rapid aggregation. Moreover, the lag time can be eliminated by seeding the sample of unaggregated peptide with preformed fibrils. In contrast to the expectation from the conventional model of nucleation-dependent aggregation, however, the lag time of hIAPP aggregation does not depend on peptide concentration. To explain this observation, a modified version of the standard model of nucleation-dependent aggregation is presented in which the monomeric peptide concentration is buffered by an off-aggregation-pathway formation of peptide micelles.

Amyloid↗

PubMed1999

Two novel immortal pancreatic beta-cell lines expressing and secreting human islet amyloid polypeptide do not spontaneously develop islet amyloid.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by islet amyloid deposits, which are primarily composed of the amyloidogenic human form of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP, amylin). The mechanism of islet amyloido-genesis is not known, but other products (e.g., apolipoprotein E and perlecan) contained within islet amyloid may be necessary. Because rodent IAPP does not form islet amyloid, the currently available beta-cell lines are not useful for studying processes involved in amyloid formation. To develop a suitable in vitro cell system for the study of islet amyloid formation, we generated two new beta-cell lines that express the amyloidogenic human IAPP. We did this by crossbreeding human IAPP transgenic mice with RIP-Tag mice that develop islet tumors and then culturing one of these islet tumors from two separate offspring of this cross. The resultant 2350-2C0 and 2511 cell lines produce human as well as mouse IAPP-like immunoreactivity (IAPP-LI) and immunoreactive insulin (IRI). Incubation of both these cell lines with 16.7 mmol/l glucose resulted in a two- to fourfold increase in human IAPP-LI, mouse IAPP-LI, and IRI secretion compared with 1.67 mmol/l glucose and the combination of 16.7 mmol/l glucose and 10 mmol/l arginine, 0.1 mmol/l 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), and 5 micromol/l carbachol induced a >50-fold increase in the release of these peptides. The omission of calcium from the above secretagogue cocktail reduced secretion of all three peptides to only two- to sixfold higher than the 16.7 mmol/l glucose condition. Perifusion with 16.7 mmol/l glucose plus 0.1 mmol/l IBMX caused a biphasic secretion of human IAPP-LI and mouse IAPP-LI, as well as IRI, in both cell lines, with the peak of the first phase being five- to sixfold higher than the prestimulated 1.67 mmol/l glucose condition. Immunoelectron microscopic inspection of both 2350-2C0 and 2511 cells after 7 days of culture did not reveal the presence of amyloid fibrils, suggesting the need for other critical components. We conclude that we have established two novel beta-cell lines that produce and secrete human IAPP in a regulated manner. These cell lines will be a useful tool to investigate the secretion of human IAPP as well as the necessity of other components for islet amyloid formation.

Amyloid↗

PubMed2001

Islet amyloid polypeptide promotes beta-cell proliferation in neonatal rat pancreatic islets.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We aimed to clarify the role of islet amyloid polypeptide, which is expressed at early embryonic onset, in the proliferation and cell death of neonatal islet cells. METHODS: Fetal islets were prepared from pregnant rats on gestational day 21. Islets were cultured in RPMI 1640 (11.1 mmol/l glucose) + 10 % fetal calf serum (FCS) for 48 h, followed by a 24-h culture period in RPMI 1640 (5.6 mmol/l glucose) + 1 % FCS. The islets were then exposed to rat islet amyloid polypeptide (1-10 nmol/l) for 24 h. RESULTS: Islet amyloid polypeptide increased islet DNA synthesis (dpm/microg of DNA. 6 h) (control 1 % FCS: 3634 +/- 662; 1 nmol/l 6347 +/- 1535; 10 nmol/l 5157 +/- 769; p < 0.05 islet amyloid polypeptide vs control). In accordance with this, a doubling of the autoradiographic labelling index was seen in immunocytochemically stained islet beta cells after exposure to 1 and 10 nmol/l islet amyloid polypeptide. Islet amyloid polypeptide at 1 nmol/l increased the islet insulin content (202 +/- 25 % of control; p < 0.01) and the 24-h medium insulin concentration (1 nmol/l islet amyloid polypeptide: 143 +/- 19 % of control; p < 0.05) but at 10 nmol/l islet amyloid polypeptide these changes did not attain statistical difference. Islet amyloid polypeptide did not have any marked effect on the islet cell death frequency, suggesting that islet amyloid polypeptide is a more potent promoter of proliferation than of programmed cell death. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: Our data indicate islet amyloid polypeptide is a potential regulator of proliferation in neonatal pancreatic islet cells, an effect which can partly be attributed to the proliferation of beta cells.

Amyloid↗

PubMed1991

Amyloid in the pancreatic islets of the cougar (Felis concolor) is derived from islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP).

1. Islet amyloid isolated from the pancreas of a 20-year-old cougar (Felis concolor) was dissolved and purified by gel permeation and reversed phase HPLC for amino acid sequence analysis. 2. N-Terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the purified protein revealed a primary structure (positions 1-28) identical to islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) from domesticated cats. 3. IAPP from the cougar, like IAPP from the human and domesticated cat, incorporates an inherently amyloidogenic AILS sequence at positions 25-28.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Autoantibodies to islet amyloid polypeptide in diabetes.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is the constituent peptide of amyloid in pancreatic islets of Type 2 diabetic patients and in insulinomas. Amyloid formation in Type 2 diabetes is associated with islet cell destruction which may promote formation of autoantibodies to IAPP. An ELISA method has been developed to detect IAPP autoantibodies and used to assay serum from 80 non-diabetic subjects, 49 Type 1 and 228 Type 2 diabetic patients, and 10 patients with insulinomas. Microtitre plates coated with IAPP 1-37 were used to detect antibody binding followed by an alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-human IgG. ELISA binding decreased with sample dilution and with pre-incubation of the samples with IAPP. The optical density of the substrate reaction was compared with results from a standard serum from a non-diabetic subject (OD ratio). Elevated OD ratios were detected in some subjects from each patient group but the Type 2 diabetic group had significantly higher titres than the non-diabetic subjects (p less than 0.001). The OD ratio was elevated (greater than mean + 2SD non-diabetic group) in 15% of Type 2 and 18% of Type 1 diabetic patients and in 20% with insulinomas. IAPP antibody levels did not correlate with age or gender of subjects, or duration of diabetes. IAPP autoantibodies could be an additional marker for B-cell damage in diabetes.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Islet amyloid polypeptide: demonstration of mRNA in human pancreatic islets by in situ hybridization in islets with and without amyloid deposits.

Islet amyloid polypeptide which is normally coexpressed with insulin in beta cells, forms amyloid deposits especially in islets of Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic subjects. Occurrence of islet amyloid is paradoxically associated with loss of islet amyloid polypeptide immunoreactivity in beta cells. The present study was undertaken to examine whether the islet amyloid polypeptide gene is expressed in islets with decreased islet amyloid polypeptide immunoreactivity. Pancreatic tissue from 14 patients, 7 with Type 2 diabetes and 7 non-diabetic, were obtained at autopsy or surgery and studied for islet amyloid polypeptide expression by in situ hybridization and for presence of insulin and islet amyloid polypeptide by immunohistochemistry. Six of the specimens from the diabetic and three of those from the non-diabetic patients had varying degrees of islet amyloid polypeptide-derived islet amyloid. Amyloid deposits were associated with decreased numbers of beta cells with islet amyloid polypeptide immunoreactivity despite an apparent normal frequency of insulin-containing cells. This discrepancy might reflect an alteration in islet amyloid polypeptide production or processing at a transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. In contrast to the varying immunohistochemical patterns, islets of all categories showed strong labelling using an islet amyloid polypeptide probe for in situ hybridization. It is concluded that islet amyloid polypeptide production is not altered at the transcriptional level. The following possibilities remain: (1) islet amyloid polypeptide production may be altered at a post-transcriptional level or (2) that islet amyloid polypeptide production is normal but the reduced immunoreactivity of the cells reflects a reduced storage of IAPP in secretory granules.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Regulation of islet amyloid polypeptide in human pancreatic islets.

This study investigated the effect of glucose on islet amyloid polypeptide secretion, content, and mRNA synthesis of human pancreatic islets. The release of islet amyloid polypeptide from fresh isolated islets in response to glucose was parallel to that of insulin. The islet amyloid polypeptide-to-insulin molar ratios in response to 5.5 and 16.7 mM glucose were 1:16 and 1:15 respectively. Islets were cultured for 1 and 7 days at two different glucose concentrations (5.5 and 16.7 mM). The islet amyloid polypeptide response to the 1-day culture was similar to that of the fresh islets; however, after the 7-day culture the islet amyloid polypeptide and insulin secretory responses to glucose were dissociated. The insulin response of islets to a high-glucose stimulus was significantly (P < 0.001) increased, whereas the islet amyloid polypeptide response of islets to the same stimulus was blunted. The IAPP content was greater than insulin content in a molar ratio (1:50 to 1:30) after long exposure of islets to concentrations of high glucose even though the increase was significant for both peptides (P < 0.005). Northern blot analysis of each cultured condition showed an increase of both mRNA IAPP and insulin signals after exposure of islets at 16.7 mM glucose, the maximum mRNA expression being after long exposure to high-glucose concentrations. Quantification of both signals by densitometry showed a greater increase for islet amyloid polypeptide than for insulin. These findings suggest that IAPP can be accumulated in beta-cells after long exposure of human islets to high-glucose concentrations, because glucose increases IAPP synthesis but not secretion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actins↗

PubMed2004

Pancreatic beta-cell granule peptides form heteromolecular complexes which inhibit islet amyloid polypeptide fibril formation.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), or 'amylin', is co-stored with insulin in secretory granules of pancreatic islet beta-cells. In Type 2 diabetes, IAPP converts into a beta-sheet conformation and oligomerizes to form amyloid fibrils and islet deposits. Granule components, including insulin, inhibit spontaneous IAPP fibril formation in vitro. To determine the mechanism of this inhibition, molecular interactions of insulin with human IAPP (hIAPP), rat IAPP (rIAPP) and other peptides were examined using surface plasmon resonance (BIAcore), CD and transmission electron microscopy (EM). hIAPP and rIAPP complexed with insulin, and this reaction was concentration-dependent. rIAPP and insulin, but not pro-insulin, bound to hIAPP. Insulin with a truncated B-chain, to prevent dimerization, also bound hIAPP. In the presence of insulin, hIAPP did not spontaneously develop beta-sheet secondary structure or form fibrils. Insulin interacted with pre-formed IAPP fibrils in a regular repeating pattern, as demonstrated by immunoEM, suggesting that the binding sites for insulin remain exposed in hIAPP fibrils. Since rIAPP and hIAPP form complexes with insulin (and each other), this could explain the lack of amyloid fibrils in transgenic mice expressing hIAPP. It is likely that IAPP fibrillogenesis is inhibited in secretory granules (where the hIAPP concentration is in the millimolar range) by heteromolecular complex formation with insulin. Alterations in the proportions of insulin and IAPP in granules could disrupt the stability of the peptide. The increase in the proportion of unprocessed pro-insulin produced in Type 2 diabetes could be a major factor in destabilization of hIAPP and induction of fibril formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Spontaneous diabetes mellitus in transgenic mice expressing human islet amyloid polypeptide.

The islet in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is characterized by loss of beta cells and large local deposits of amyloid derived from the 37-amino acid protein, islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). We have hypothesized that IAPP amyloid forms intracellularly causing beta-cell destruction under conditions of high rates of expression. To test this we developed a homozygous transgenic mouse model with high rates of expression of human IAPP. Male transgenic mice spontaneously developed diabetes mellitus by 8 weeks of age, which was associated with selective beta-cell death and impaired insulin secretion. Small intra- and extracellular amorphous IAPP aggregates were present in islets of transgenic mice during the development of diabetes mellitus. However, IAPP derived amyloid deposits were found in only a minority of islets at approximately 20 weeks of age, notably after development of diabetes mellitus in male transgenic mice. Approximately 20% of female transgenic mice spontaneously developed diabetes mellitus at 30+ weeks of age, when beta-cell degeneration and both amorphous and amyloid deposits of IAPP were present. We conclude that overexpression of human IAPP causes beta-cell death, impaired insulin secretion, and diabetes mellitus. Large deposits of IAPP derived amyloid do not appear to be important in this cytotoxicity, but early, small amorphous intra- and extracellular aggregates of human IAPP were consistently present at the time of beta-cell death and therefore may be the most cytotoxic form of IAPP.

Aging↗

PubMed1995

Effects of arginine on the secretion of insulin and islet amyloid polypeptide in humans.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is synthesized in islet B cells and stored in the secretory granules. We examined whether IAPP and insulin are released in parallel in humans. Arginine hydrochloride (5 g) was injected intravenously at three glucose levels in 11 healthy 58-year-old female subjects. In the fasting state (plasma glucose, 4.9 +/- 0.3 mM), serum insulin levels were 62 +/- 8 pM and plasma IAPP levels were 5.9 +/- 0.8 pM (r = 0.74, p < 0.01; insulin/IAPP ratio, 13.4 +/- 3.6). The insulin response to arginine was 426 +/- 84 pM (p < 0.001), whereas the IAPP response was 4.9 +/- 1.8 pM (p < 0.01) (r = 0.93, p < 0.001). At 16.3 +/- 0.5 mM glucose, the insulin response was increased to 1,516 +/- 325 pM (p < 0.001), whereas the IAPP response was increased to 10.4 +/- 2.8 pM (p < 0.01) (r = 0.91, p < 0.001). No further increases were seen at 35.0 +/- 2.0 mM glucose. The ratios of insulin response/IAPP response, which represent the relative secretion of the two peptides, were 169 +/- 31, 158 +/- 17, and 162 +/- 17, at the three glucose levels. Thus, the ratios of the insulin/IAPP responses to arginine were the same regardless of the glucose level, and the insulin and IAPP responses to arginine were highly correlated with each other at all glucose levels. We conclude that the two peptides are cosecreted in strict parallelism after arginine stimulation in humans over a wide range of glucose levels.

Amyloid↗

PubMed1991

Hypersecretion of islet amyloid polypeptide from pancreatic islets of ventromedial hypothalamic-lesioned rats and obese Zucker rats.

To investigate the possible role of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, we examined the IAPP content and secretion in pancreatic islets isolated from ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH)-lesioned rats and genetically obese Zucker rats, using a specific RIA for IAPP. Obesity and hyperinsulinemia were observed in rats 21 days after VMH lesioning. IAPP content was increased in the islets of VMH-lesioned rats compared with findings in the sham-operated controls (100.9 +/- 6.6 vs. 72.8 +/- 3.85 fmol/islet; P less than 0.01). Isolated islets of VMH-lesioned rats secreted larger amounts of IAPP in the presence of 2.8 mM and 16.7 mM glucose (2.99 +/- 0.98 and 11.2 +/- 1.29 fmol.islet(-1).3 h-1) than was noted in sham-operated rats (ND and 6.65 +/- 0.78 fmol.islet(-1).3 h-1). In the obese Zucker rats, aged 14 weeks, IAPP concentrations in the islets were elevated compared with lean rats (133.3 +/- 10.6 vs. 84.4 +/- 8.5 fmol/islet; P less than 0.01). The isolated islets secreted larger amounts of IAPP in response to 2.8 mM and 16.7 mM glucose (2.83 +/- 0.88 and 15.81 +/- 1.35 fmol.islet(-1).3 h-1) than did those from lean control rats (0.36 +/- 0.19 and 12.49 +/- 1.20 fmol.islet(-1).3 h-1). These results strongly suggest that overproduction and hypersecretion of IAPP occur in animals with obesity and hyperinsulinemia.

Amyloid↗

PubMed2006

Direct detection of transient alpha-helical states in islet amyloid polypeptide.

The protein islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is a glucose metabolism associated hormone cosecreted with insulin by the beta-cells of the pancreas. In humans with type 2 diabetes, IAPP deposits as amyloid fibers. The assembly intermediates of this process are associated with beta-cell death. Here, we examine the rat IAPP sequence variant under physiological solution conditions. Rat IAPP is mechanistically informative for fibrillogenesis, as it samples intermediate-like states but does not progress to form amyloid. A central challenge was the development of a bacterial expression system to generate isotopically labeled IAPP without terminal tags, but which does include a eukaryotic post-translational modification. While optical spectroscopy shows IAPP to be natively unfolded, NMR chemical shifts of backbone and beta-carbon resonances reveal the sampling of alpha-helical states across a continuous stretch comprising approximately 40% of the protein. In addition, the manifestation of nonrandom coil chemical shifts is confirmed by the relative insensitivity of the amide proton chemical shifts to alterations in temperature. Intriguingly, the residues displaying helical propensity are conserved with the human sequence, suggesting a functional role for this conformational bias. The inability of rat IAPP to self assemble can be ascribed, in part, to several slowly exchanging conformations evident as multiple chemical shift assignments in the immediate vicinity of three proline residues residing outside of this helical region.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Design of peptide-based inhibitors of human islet amyloid polypeptide fibrillogenesis.

Human islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is the major component of amyloid deposits found in the pancreas of over 90% of all cases of type-2 diabetes. We have generated a series of overlapping hexapeptides to target an amyloidogenic region of IAPP (residues 20-29) and examined their effects on fibril assembly. Peptide fragments corresponding to SNNFGA (residues 20-25) and GAILSST (residues 24-29) were strong inhibitors of the beta-sheet transition and amyloid aggregation. Circular dichroism indicated that even at 1:1 molar ratios, these peptides maintained full-length IAPP (1-37) in a largely random coil conformation. Negative stain electron microscopy revealed that co-incubation of these peptides with IAPP resulted in the formation of only semi-fibrous aggregates and loss of the typical high density and morphology of IAPP fibrils. This inhibitory activity, particularly for the SNNFGA sequence, also correlated with a reduction in IAPP-induced cytotoxicity as determined by cell culture studies. In contrast, the peptide NFGAIL (residues 22-27) enhanced IAPP fibril formation. Conversion to the amyloidogenic beta-sheet was immediate and the accompanying fibrils were more dense and complex than IAPP alone. The remaining peptide fragments either had no detectable effects or were only weakly inhibitory. Specificity of peptide activity was illustrated by the fragments, SSNNFG and AILSST. These differed from the most active inhibitors by only a single amino acid residue but delayed the random-to-beta conformational change only when used at higher molar ratios. This study has identified internal IAPP peptide fragments which can regulate fibrillogenesis and may be of therapeutic use for the treatment of type-2 diabetes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1995

Effect of pH and insulin on fibrillogenesis of islet amyloid polypeptide in vitro.

UNLABELLED: Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is the constituent of amyloid deposits in pancreatic islets of type 2 diabetes in man, monkeys, and cats. This 37 amino acid peptide aggregates in vitro to form beta-pleated sheet fibrils. Rodent IAPP has a different amino acid sequence and does not form amyloid either in vitro or in vivo. Fibrillogenic properties of human IAPP (hIAPP) were determined in vitro. The effect of pH and time course of fibril formation was studied by light scattering spectroscopy. Aggregation of hIAPP1-37NH2 and hIAPPTyr20-29 (0.25 mg/mL) was maximal at neutral/basic and acidic pH, respectively. The ultrastructure of hIAPP1-37NH2 fibrils (0.2 mg/mL) was examined using negative staining for electron microscopy. Short fibrils composed of 2 or more filaments were observed at pH 3-9 after 30 min incubation. At pH 7-9, IAPP fibrils formed a gel. After 6 months at pH 3, large sheets of parallel fibrils were seen. Specific binding of 125I-hIAPP1-37NH2 to preformed IAPP fibrils detected by quantitative autoradiography and radioassay was maximal at pH 3. Binding was enhanced by insulin (3.7 nmol/L) and unaffected by glucose, calcium, glucagon, and apolipoprotein E. 125I-hIAPP1-37NH2 bound specifically to islet amyloid in pancreatic tissue sections from type 2 diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Binding to preformed IAPP fibrils is maximal at acid pH when hIAPP is largely in soluble form. IAPP is secreted together with insulin from the acidic secretory granules (pH 5.5) to the neutral pH of the extracellular space under normal conditions. These changes in pH together with increased accumulation of extracellular hIAPP in diabetes may promote amyloid formation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Chronic overproduction of islet amyloid polypeptide/amylin in transgenic mice: lysosomal localization of human islet amyloid polypeptide and lack of marked hyperglycaemia or hyperinsulinaemia.

Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus is characterised by hyperglycaemia, peripheral insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion and pancreatic islet amyloid formation. The major constituent of islet amyloid is islet amyloid polypeptide (amylin). Islet amyloid polypeptide is synthesized by islet beta cells and co-secreted with insulin. The ability of islet amyloid polypeptide to form amyloid fibrils is related to its species-specific amino acid sequence. Islet amyloid associated with diabetes is only found in man, monkeys, cats and racoons. Pharmacological doses of islet amyloid polypeptide have been shown to inhibit insulin secretion as well as insulin action on peripheral tissues (insulin resistance). To examine the role of islet amyloid polypeptide in the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes, we have generated transgenic mice with the gene encoding either human islet amyloid polypeptide (which can form amyloid) or rat islet amyloid polypeptide, under control of an insulin promoter. Transgenic islet amyloid polypeptide mRNA was detected in the pancreas in all transgenic mice. Plasma islet amyloid polypeptide levels were significantly elevated (up to 15-fold) in three out of five transgenic lines, but elevated glucose levels, hyperinsulinaemia and obesity were not observed. This suggests that insulin resistance is not induced by chronic hypersecretion of islet amyloid polypeptide. Islet amyloid polypeptide immunoreactivity was localized to beta-cell secretory granules in all mice. Islet amyloid polypeptide immunoreactivity in beta-cell lysosomes was seen only in mice with the human islet amyloid polypeptide gene, as in human beta cells, and might represent an initial step in intracellular formation of amyloid fibrils.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amyloid↗