Heterogeneity in distribution of amyloid-positive islets in type-2 diabetic patients

Islet amyloid deposits preferentially in the highly functional and most blood-perfused islets

Islet amyloid and beta cell death in type 2 diabetes are heterogeneous events, where some islets are affected early in the disease process, whereas others remain visibly unaffected. This study investigated the possibility that inter-islet functional and vascular differences may explain the propensity for amyloid accumulation in certain islets. Highly blood-perfused islets were identified by microspheres in human islet amyloid polypeptide expressing mice fed a high-fat diet for three or 10 months. These highly blood-perfused islets had better glucose-stimulated insulin secretion capacity than other islets and developed more amyloid deposits after 10 months of high-fat diet. Similarly, human islets with a superior release capacity formed more amyloid in high glucose culture than islets with a lower release capacity. The amyloid formation in mouse islets was associated with a higher amount of prohormone convertase 1/3 and with a decreased expression of its inhibitor proSAAS when compared to islets with less amyloid. In contrast, levels of prohormone convertase 2 and expression of its inhibitor neuroendocrine protein 7B2 were unaltered. A misbalance in prohormone convertase levels may interrupt the normal processing of islet amyloid polypeptide and induce amyloid formation. Preferential amyloid load in the most blood-perfused and functional islets may accelerate the progression of type 2 diabetes.

Heterogeneity in the Beta-Cell Population: a Guided Search Into Its Significance in Pancreas and in Implants

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Intercellular differences in function have since long been noticed in the pancreatic beta-cell population. Heterogeneity in cellular glucose responsiveness is considered of physiological and pathological relevance. The present review updates evidence for the physiologic significance of beta-cell heterogeneity in the pancreas. It also briefly discusses what this role would imply for beta-cell implants in diabetes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Over the past 3 years, functionally different beta cells have been related to mechanisms that may underlie their heterogeneity in the pancreas, such as the stage in their life cycle and the degree of their clustering to islets with varying vascularization. Markers were identified for detecting these subpopulations in tissues. The existence of a functional heterogeneity in the pancreatic beta-cell population is further supported. Views on its origin and methods for its analysis in pancreas and implants will help guide the search into its significance in beta-cell biology, pathology, and therapy.

Superior beta cell proliferation, function and gene expression in a subpopulation of rat islets identified by high blood perfusion

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The blood perfusion of individual pancreatic islets is highly variable, with a subgroup of islets having high perfusion and blood vessels responsive to further blood flow increase induced by glucose. This study tested the hypothesis that there is heterogeneity between islets with regard to beta cell proliferation, function and gene expression based on differences in their blood perfusion.

METHODS

Fluorescent microspheres were injected into the ascending aorta, and then microsphere-containing and non-microsphere-containing pancreatic islets were isolated for investigation. By this procedure, the 5% of islets with the greatest blood perfusion were identified for study. Islet endothelial cells were isolated separately to investigate the role of improved vascular support in the observed differences.

RESULTS

The vascular network was found to be more dense and tortuous in microsphere-containing than other islets. The most highly blood-perfused islets also had a higher rate of beta cell proliferation, superior beta cell function and a markedly different gene expression from other islets. Cultured islets exposed to islet endothelial cell products had a similarly increased beta cell proliferation rate, yet significantly fewer changes in gene expression than observed in the most highly blood-perfused islets.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

A novel heterogeneity between islets was observed, with superior beta cell proliferation, function and gene expression in a subpopulation of islets identified by high blood perfusion. In contrast with a previously described population of low-oxygenated, sleeping islets, which are recruited into functionality when needed, the presently described heterogeneity is shown to remain in vitro after islet isolation.

Microscopic anatomy of the human islet of Langerhans

Human islets of Langerhans are complex micro-organs responsible for maintaining glucose homeostasis. Islets contain five different endocrine cell types, which react to changes in plasma nutrient levels with the release of a carefully balanced mixture of islet hormones into the portal vein. Each endocrine cell type is characterized by its own typical secretory granule morphology, different peptide hormone content, and specific endocrine, paracrine, and neuronal interactions. During development, a cascade of transcription factors determines the formation of the endocrine pancreas and its constituting islet cell types. Differences in ontogeny between the ventrally derived head section and the dorsally derived head, body, and tail section are responsible for differences in innervation, blood supply, and endocrine composition. Islet cells show a close topographical relationship to the islet vasculature, and are supplied with a five to tenfold higher blood flow than the exocrine compartment. Islet microanatomy is disturbed in patients with type 1 diabetes, with a marked reduction in beta-cell content and the presence of inflammatory infiltrates. Histopathological lesions in type 2 diabetes are less pathognomonic with a more limited reduction in beta-cell content and occasional deposition of amyloid in the islet interstitial space.