Tissue-specific expression of transfected human insulin genes in pluripotent clonal rat insulinoma lines induced during passage in vivo

Characterization of membrane-shed microvesicles from cytokine-stimulated β-cells using proteomics strategies

Microparticles and exosomes are two of the most well characterized membrane-derived microvesicles released either directly from the plasma membrane or released through the fusion of intracellular multivesicular bodies with the plasma membrane, respectively. They are thought to be involved in many significant biological processes such as cell to cell communication, rescue from apoptosis, and immunological responses. Here we report for the first time a quantitative study of proteins from β-cell-derived microvesicles generated after cytokine induced apoptosis using stable isotope labeled amino acids in cell culture combined with mass spectrometry. We identified and quantified a large number of β-cell-specific proteins and proteins previously described in microvesicles from other cell types in addition to new proteins located to these vesicles. In addition, we quantified specific sites of protein phosphorylation and N-linked sialylation in proteins associated with microvesicles from β-cells. Using pathway analysis software, we were able to map the most distinctive changes between microvesicles generated during growth and after cytokine stimulation to several cell death and cell signaling molecules including tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1A, tumor necrosis factor, α-induced protein 3, tumor necrosis factor-interacting kinase receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1.

Stem cells and diabetes treatment

Diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2 are characterized by absolute versus relative lack of insulin-producing beta cells, respectively. Reconstitution of a functional beta-cell mass by cell therapy--using organ donor islets of Langerhans--has been demonstrated to restore euglycaemia in the absence of insulin treatment. This remarkable achievement has stimulated the search for appropriate stem cell sources from which adequate expansion and maturation of therapeutic beta cells can be achieved. This recent activity is reviewed and presented with particular focus on directed differentiation from pluripotent embryonic stem cells (versus other stem/progenitor cell sources) based on knowledge from pancreatic beta-cell development and the parallel approach to controlling endogenous beta-cell neogenesis.

Unraveling the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes with Proteomics: Present And Future Directions

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the result of selective destruction of the insulin-producing beta-cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. T1D is due to a complex interplay between the beta-cell, the immune system, and the environment in genetically susceptible individuals. The initiating mechanism(s) behind the development of T1D are largely unknown, and no genes or proteins are specific for most T1D cases. Different pro-apoptotic cytokines, IL-1 beta in particular, are present in the islets during beta-cell destruction and are able to modulate beta-cell function and induce beta-cell death. In beta-cells exposed to IL-1 beta, a race between destructive and protective events are initiated and in susceptible individuals the deleterious events prevail. Proteins are involved in most cellular processes, and it is thus expected that their cumulative expression profile reflects the specific activity of cells. Proteomics may be useful in describing the protein expression profile and thus the diabetic phenotype. Relatively few studies using proteomics technologies to investigate the T1D pathogenesis have been published to date despite the defined target organ, the beta-cell. Proteomics has been applied in studies of differentiating beta-cells, cytokine exposed islets, dietary manipulated islets, and in transplanted islets. Although that the studies have revealed a complex and detailed picture of the protein expression profiles many functional implications remain to be answered. In conclusion, a rather detailed picture of protein expression in beta-cell lines, islets, and transplanted islets both in vitro and in vivo have been described. The data indicate that the beta-cell is an active participant in its own destruction during diabetes development. No single protein alone seems to be responsible for the development of diabetes. Rather the cumulative pattern of changes seems to be what favors a transition from dynamic stability in the unperturbed beta-cell to dynamic instability and eventually to beta-cell destruction.

Gene expression profiles during beta cell maturation and after IL-1beta exposure reveal important roles of Pdx-1 and Nkx6.1 for IL-1beta sensitivity

AIM/HYPOTHESIS

Maturation of the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans is dependent upon sequential activation of different transcription factors such as Pdx-1 and Nkx6.1. This maturation is associated with an acquired sensitivity to cytokines and may eventually lead to type 1 diabetes. The aims of this study were to characterise changes in mRNA expression during beta cell maturation as well as after interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) exposure.

METHODS

Transcriptome analyses were performed on two phenotypes characterised as a glucagon-producing pre-beta-cell phenotype (NHI-glu), which matures to an IL-1beta-sensitive insulin-producing beta cell phenotype (NHI-ins). Beta cell lines over-expressing Pdx-1 or Nkx6.1, respectively, were used for functional characterisation of acquired IL-1beta sensitivity.

RESULTS

During beta cell maturation 98 fully annotated mRNAs changed expression levels. Of these, 50 were also changed after 24 h of IL-1beta exposure. In addition, 522 and 197 fully annotated mRNAs, not affected by maturation, also changed expression levels following IL-1beta exposure of the beta cell and the pre-beta-cell phenotype, respectively. Beta cell maturation was associated with an increased expression of Nkx6.1, whereas both Pdx-1 and Nkx6.1 expression were decreased following IL-1beta exposure. Over-expression of Nkx6.1 or Pdx-1 in cell lines resulted in a significantly increased sensitivity to IL-1beta.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

These results suggest that the final beta cell maturation accompanied by increased IL-1beta sensitivity is, in part, dependent upon the expression of genes regulated by Pdx-1 and Nkx6.1. Future classification of the genes regulated by these transcription factors and changed during beta cell maturation should elucidate their role in the acquired sensitivity to IL-1beta and may be helpful in identifying new targets for intervention/prevention strategies.

Protein expression changes in a cell system of beta-cell maturation reflect an acquired sensitivity to IL-1beta

AIM/HYPOTHESIS

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is caused by specific destruction of the pancreatic beta cells in the islets of Langerhans. Increased sensitivity to cytokines, in particular to interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) seems to be an acquired trait during beta-cell maturation. In response to cytokines both protective and deleterious mechanisms are induced in beta cells, and when the deleterious prevail, T1DM develops. The aims of this study were to identify perturbation in protein patterns (PiPP) associated with beta-cell maturation, and compare these changes to previous analyses of IL-1beta exposed rat islets. For this purpose, proteome analyses were carried out using a cell-line, which matures from a glucagon-producing pre-beta-cell phenotype (NHI-glu) to an insulin-producing beta-cell phenotype (NHI-ins). We have previously shown that this maturation is accompanied by acquired sensitivity to the toxic effects of IL-1beta.

METHODS

2D-gel electrophoresis was used to separate the proteins and MALDI-MS and database searches were performed to identify the proteins.

RESULTS

During beta-cell maturation 135 protein spots out of 2239 detectable changed expression levels. Of these, 74 were down-regulated, 44 up-regulated, 16 were suppressed and 1 was expressed de novo. Using MALDI-MS, positive identification was obtained for 93 out of the 135 protein-spots revealing 97 different proteins. Of these, 22 proteins were in common with changes identified in previous proteome analysis of perturbation in protein pattern in IL-1beta exposed rat islets. Several of the proteins were present in more than one spot suggesting post-translational modification.

CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION

Several proteins and protein modifications were identified that could be critically involved in beta-cell maturation, insulin-gene expression and the acquired IL-1beta sensitivity.

Glucose induced MAPK signalling influences NeuroD1-mediated activation and nuclear localization

The helix-loop-helix transcription factor NeuroD1 (also known as Beta2) is involved in beta-cell survival during development and insulin gene transcription in adults. Here we show NeuroD1 is primarily cytoplasmic at non-stimulating glucose concentrations (i.e. 3 mM) in MIN6 beta-cells and nuclear under stimulating conditions (i.e. 20 mM). Quantification revealed that NeuroD1 was in 40-45% of the nuclei at 3 mM and 80-90% at 20 mM. Treatment with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 or substitution of a serine for an alanine at a potential mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation site (S274) in NeuroD1 significantly increased the cytoplasmic level at 20 mM glucose. The rise in NeuroD1-mediated transcription in response to glucose also correlated with the change in sub-cellular localization, a response attenuated by PD98059. The data strongly suggest that glucose-stimulation of the MEK-ERK signalling pathway influences NeuroD1 activity at least partially through effects on sub-cellular localization.

Pdx1 level defines pancreatic gene expression pattern and cell lineage differentiation

The absence of Pdx1 and the expression of brain-4 distinguish alpha-cells from other pancreatic endocrine cell lineages. To define the transcription factor responsible for pancreatic cell differentiation, we employed the reverse tetracycline-dependent transactivator system in INS-I cell-derived subclones INSralphabeta and INSrbeta to achieve tightly controlled and conditional expression of wild type Pdx1 or its dominant-negative mutant, as well as brain-4. INSralphabeta cells express not only insulin but also glucagon and brain-4, while INSrbeta cells express only insulin. Overexpression of Pdx1 eliminated glucagon mRNA and protein in INSralphabeta cells and promoted the expression of beta-cell-specific genes in INSrbeta cells. Induction of dominant-negative Pdx1 in INSralphabeta cells resulted in differentiation of insulin-producing beta-cells into glucagon-containing alpha-cells without altering brain4 expression. Loss of Pdx1 function alone in INSrbeta cells, which do not express endogenous brain-4 and glucagon, was also sufficient to abolish the expression of genes restricted to beta-cells and to cause alpha-cell differentiation. In contrast, induction of brain-4 in INSrbeta cells initiated detectable expression of glucagon but did not affect beta-cell-specific gene expression. In conclusion, Pdx1 confers the expression of pancreatic beta-cell-specific genes, such as genes encoding insulin, islet amyloid polypeptide, Glut2, and Nkx6.1. Pdx1 defines pancreatic cell lineage differentiation. Loss of Pdx1 function rather than expression of brain4 is a prerequisite for alpha-cell differentiation.

Implantation of rat insulinoma cell line into cyclosporine treated rats. Effect of the in vivo environment on beta-cell specific gene expression

BACKGROUND

Transplantation of engineered beta cell-derived lines is a promising modality for cell-based therapy of diabetes mellitus. The in vivo environment and antirejection and other medications may have significant effects on the differentiation and proliferation of the transplanted beta cells, thus affecting their function. The effect of the in vivo environment on expression of genes encoding proteins involved in insulin production, secretion, and glucose sensing were analyzed in the RIN 104638 cell line.

METHODS

RIN 104638 cells, were used for s.c. implantation in cyclosporine treated rats and for parallel in vitro culture. The differential expression of the insulin, PDX-1, GLUT-2, and glucokinase genes were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The in vivo environment of cyclosporine-treated rats, preserved most of the differentiated characteristics of the implanted cells. Insulin and glucokinase gene expression were maintained at high levels, although GLUT-2 expression decreased. This was in contrast to the substantial decrease of all the three genes expression when cultured in vitro. Cyclosporine treatment reduced insulin and GLUT-2 gene expression in in vitro culture.

CONCLUSIONS

Beta cell implantation in cyclosporine-treated rats induces alteration in expression of genes pivotal to insulin production and secretion and the glucose sensing abilities. The normal in vivo environment improves the implanted b cell function by increasing the insulin gene expression and content. Furthermore, it reverses some of the dedifferentiating changes caused by the in vitro culture. This may have a positive effect on the therapeutic efficiency of this cell line.

Pax4 represses pancreatic glucagon gene expression

The paired box and homeodomain containing transcription factors Pax4 and Pax6 are known to be essential for development of the pancreatic endocrine cells. In this report we demonstrate that stable expression of Pax4 in a rat glucagon-producing cell line inhibits the endogenously expressed glucagon gene completely. Furthermore, Pax4 represses Pax6 independent transcription of the insulin promoter, suggesting that Pax4 can actively repress transcription in addition to acting by competition with the transcriptional activator Pax6.

Cloning and DNA-binding properties of the rat pancreatic beta-cell-specific factor Nkx6.1

The homeodomain (HD) protein Nkx6.1 is the most beta-cell-specific transcription factor known in the pancreas and its function is critical for the formation of the insulin-producing beta-cells. However, the target genes, DNA-binding site, and transcriptional properties of Nkx6.1 are unknown. Using in vitro binding site selection we have identified the DNA sequence of the Nkx6.1 binding site to be TTAATTG/A. A reporter plasmid containing four copies of this sequence is activated by an Nkx6.1HD/VP16 fusion construct. Full-length Nkx6.1 fails to activate this reporter plasmid in spite of robust interaction with the binding site in vitro. Stable expression of Nkx6.1 in the glucagon-producing alpha-cell-like MSL-G-AN cells induces expression of the endogenous insulin gene in a subset of the cell population. The expression of other known beta-cell-specific factors such as Pax4, Pax6, Pdx1, GLUT2 and GLP1-R is unchanged by the introduction of Nkx6.1.

The TATA-less rat GAD65 promoter can be activated by Sp1 through non-consensus elements

Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) 65 is one of two homologous proteins responsible for the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid, the most ubiquitous inhibitory neurotransmitter. In order to characterize the DNA elements responsible for controlling GAD65 expression, we cloned the 5' flanking region of the rat GAD65 gene. A major, proximal and a minor, distal region of transcription initiation were located by RACE experiments. Sequence analysis revealed that the initiation sites are located within a region devoid of TATA boxes. We investigated the functional organization of the promoter by measuring the ability of 5' deletion mutants to drive the expression of a luciferase reporter gene. The major promoter was found to be located in the region encompassing the 100bp immediately upstream of the proximal transcription initiation site. A number of near consensus GC boxes and initiator elements are found in this region, but gel-shift assays suggest that they play only a minor role in transcription initiation. However, gel-shift assays and reporter gene assays suggest that Sp1 can bind to a region devoid of consensus Sp1 binding sites.

The hypothalamic satiety peptide CART is expressed in anorectic and non-anorectic pancreatic islet tumors and in the normal islet of Langerhans

The hypothalamic satiety peptide CART (cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript) is expressed at high levels in anorectic rat glucagonomas but not in hypoglycemic insulinomas. However, a non-anorectic metastasis derived from the glucagonoma retained high CART expression levels and produced circulating CART levels comparable to that of the anorectic tumors. Moreover, distinct glucagonoma lines derived by stable HES-1 transfection of the insulinoma caused severe anorexia but retained low circulating levels of CART comparable to that of insulinoma bearing or control rats. Islet tumor associated anorexia and circulating CART levels are thus not correlated, and in line with this peripheral administration of CART (5-50 mg/kg) produced no effect on feeding behavior. In the rat two alternatively spliced forms of CART mRNA exist and quantitative PCR revealed expression of both forms in the hypothalamus, in the different islet tumors, and in the islets of Langerhans. Immunocytochemistry as well as in situ hybridization localized CART expression to the somatostatin producing islet D cell. A potential endocrine/paracrine role of islet CART remains to be clarified.

Transplantable rat glucagonomas cause acute onset of severe anorexia and adipsia despite highly elevated NPY mRNA levels in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus

We have isolated a stable, transplantable, and small glucagonoma (MSL-G-AN) associated with abrupt onset of severe anorexia occurring 2-3 wk after subcutaneous transplantation. Before onset of anorexia, food consumption is comparable to untreated controls. Anorexia is followed by adipsia and weight loss, and progresses rapidly in severity, eventually resulting in reduction of food and water intake of 100 and 80%, respectively. During the anorectic phase, the rats eventually become hypoglycemic and hypothermic. The tumor-associated anorexia shows no sex difference, and is not affected by bilateral abdominal vagotomy, indicating a direct central effect. The adipose satiety factor leptin, known to suppress food intake by reducing hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels, was not found to be expressed by the tumor, and circulating leptin levels were reduced twofold in the anorectic phase. A highly significant increase in hypothalamic (arcuate nucleus) NPY mRNA levels was found in anorectic rats compared with control animals. Since elevated hypothalamic NPY is among the most potent stimulators of feeding and a characteristic of most animal models of hyperphagia, we conclude that the MSL-G-AN glucagonoma releases circulating factor(s) that overrides the hypothalamic NPY-ergic system, thereby eliminating the orexigenic effect of NPY. We hypothesize a possible central role of proglucagon-derived peptides in the observed anorexia.

Pancreatic development and maturation of the islet B cell. Studies of pluripotent islet cultures

Pancreas organogenesis is a highly regulated process, in which two anlage evaginate from the primitive gut. They later fuse, and, under the influence of the surrounding mesenchyme, the mature organ develops, being mainly composed of ductal, exocrine and endocrine compartments. Early buds are characterized by a branching morphogenesis of the ductal epithelium from which endocrine and exocrine precursor cells bud to eventually form the two other compartments. The three compartments are thought to be of common endodermal origin; in contrast to earlier hypotheses, which suggested that the endocrine compartment was of neuroectodermal origin. It is thus generally believed that the pancreatic endocrine-lineage possesses the ability to mature along a differentiation pathway that shares many characteristics with those of neuronal differentiation. During recent years, studies of insulin-gene regulation and, in particular, the tissue-specific transcriptional control of insulin-gene activity have provided information on pancreas development in general. The present review summarizes these findings, with a special focus on our own studies on pluripotent endocrine cultures of rat pancreas.

Induction of insulin and islet amyloid polypeptide production in pancreatic islet glucagonoma cells by insulin promoter factor 1

Insulin promoter factor 1 (IPF1), a member of the homeodomain protein family, serves an early role in pancreas formation, as evidenced by the lack of pancreas formation in mice carrying a targeted disruption of the IPF1 gene [Jonsson, J., Carlsson, L., Edlund, T. & Edlund, H. (1994) Nature (London) 371, 606-609]. In adults, IPF1 expression is restricted to the beta-cells in the islets of Langerhans. We report here that IPF1 induces expression of a subset of beta-cell-specific genes (insulin and islet amyloid polypeptide) when ectopically expressed in clones of transformed pancreatic islet alpha-cells. In contrast, expression of IPF1 in rat embryo fibroblasts factor failed to induce insulin and islet amyloid polypeptide expression. This is most likely due to the lack of at least one other essential insulin gene transcription factor, the basic helix-loop-helix protein Beta 2/NeuroD, which is expressed in both alpha- and beta-cells. We conclude that IPF1 is a potent transcriptional activator of endogenous insulin genes in non-beta islet cells, which suggests an important role of IPF1 in beta-cell maturation.

mRNA profiling of rat islet tumors reveals nkx 6.1 as a beta-cell-specific homeodomain transcription factor

Development of a high capacity multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction protocol has allowed us to screen lineage related rat islet tumors classified as alpha-, beta-, and delta-like as judged by their hormone profile for differential expression of more than 50 selected genes. We find that in addition to insulin the insulinoma express the normal beta-cell markers Pdx-1, IAPP, and Glut-2, and that these markers are absent from the glucagonoma: a reflection of the normal alpha-cell. Furthermore, this study suggests that the GLP-1, glucagon, GIP, IGF-1, and insulin receptors as well as E-cadherin, R-cadherin, Id-1, and Id-2 are differentially expressed within the islet of Langerhans. Importantly, insulinoma-specific expression of the recently cloned homeodomain protein Nkx 6.1 predicted beta-cell-specific expression in the normal islet. Immunohistochemistry using antibodies raised against recombinant Nkx 6.1 did indeed localize Nkx 6.1 expression exclusively to the nuclei of normal islet beta-cells. Apart from pancreatic islets only the antral part of the stomach contained Nkx 6.1 mRNA. We conclude that multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-based mRNA profiling is a powerful tool to identify differentially expressed genes within phenotypically related cells and propose that Nkx 6.1 is involved in specifying the unique characteristics of the beta-cell.

[Insulin producing cells as therapy in diabetes mellitus]

Even with intensive insulin therapy it is impossible to reach physiological blood glucose levels in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Because of the high costs and technical problems involved in islet cell transplantation broad applicability of this therapy seems uncertain. An alternative approach is the development of molecular-engineered insulin-producing clonal cell lines. The main interest is in rodent insulinoma cell lines and neuroendocrine AtT-20ins cells. This paper reviews the current knowledge about glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and the problems that have to be solved before these cells can be used for therapy in diabetes mellitus.

Potent inhibitory effects of transplantable rat glucagonomas and insulinomas on the respective endogenous islet cells are associated with pancreatic apoptosis

Effects of transplantable rat insulinomas (IN) and glucagonomas (GLU) on the endogenous pancreas were analyzed using morphometry, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, and staining for apoptotic cells. Hyperinsulinemia (IN-rats) and hyper-GLP-1/glucagonemia (GLU-rats) were both associated with marked islet atrophy (67 and 76% of control average planimetrical islet area, respectively). Selective islet B cell inhibition of proinsulin (I and II) genes as well as of expression of the insulin gene transcription factor, IPF1/STF1, was found in IN-rats. Moreover, these islets were characterized by significant B cells apoptosis in the absence of infiltrating lymphocytes. In GLU-rats selective islet A cell inhibition was observed at the level of glucagon mRNA. These islets contained small, highly condensed but clearly active B cells with prominent IPF1/STF1-positive nuclei, surrounded by densely packed glucagon-negative cells with reduced cytoplasm. Furthermore, an active apoptotic process was found exclusively in the exocrine pancreas of GLU-rats. Thus, in IN-rats, islet B cell mass reduction is distinguished by non-immune-mediated programmed cell death, while GLU-rats exhibit A cell mass reduction by cytoplasmic retraction and selective exocrine apoptosis.

The homeodomain protein IPF-1/STF-1 is expressed in a subset of islet cells and promotes rat insulin 1 gene expression dependent on an intact E1 helix-loop-helix factor binding site

The mouse homeodomain protein insulin promoter factor-1 (IPF-1) and the rat homologue somatostatin transactivating factor-1 (STF-1) are involved in early pancreatic development and have been implicated in the cell-specific regulation of insulin- and somatostatin-gene expression in mature islet beta- and delta-cells. The cell specificity of IPF-1/STF-1 expression in mature islets is, however, still unclear. Using antisera against recombinant IPF-1 and STF-1 in combination with antisera against islet hormones we find that all beta-cells in monolayers of newborn rat islet cells express STF-1, as do a fraction of the delta-cells. In adult rat and mouse pancreas we find a similar distribution. IPF-1/STF-1 expression was not detected in glucagon-producing alpha-cells. In islet cell tumour models we found that a glucagon/islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP)-producing pluripotent rat islet cell line (NHI-6F-GLU) expresses STF-1 in all cells prior to insulin gene activation induced by in vivo culture. In contrast, a mouse alpha-cell line (alpha TC1) exclusively expressed IPF-1 in a small subset of insulin-producing cells while an insulin-negative subclone (alpha TC1.9) was negative for IPF-1. In transfection experiments using alpha TC1.9 cells STF-1 activated a rat insulin 1 reporter gene dependent not only on both STF-1-binding sites, but also on the E1-binding site for the helix-loop-helix factor IEF-1. However, the endogenous mouse insulin genes remained inactive in these cells. These results suggest that the insulin promoter acquires its very high, yet cell-specific, activity at least partly through the action of IPF-1/STF-1. This action is dependent on helix-loop-helix factors bound to the E1 element.

Islet expression of Rhombotin and Isl-1 suggests cell type specific exposure of LIM-domain epitopes

The homeodomain protein Isl-1 and the proto-oncogene Rhombotin (a LIM-only protein), share a double zinc-binding LIM domain and have both been implicated in neural and possibly endocrine development. Isl-1 is expressed in all endocrine cell-types of the islet of Langerhans while Rhombotin mRNA expression was reported in rat insulinoma cells. We have cloned and sequenced Rhombotin cDNA from rat insulinoma (99.4% identical to human and mouse sequences) and demonstrate that it is expressed in normal islets, intestinal tissue, and testis, in addition to the brain; but absent in all other organs tested. Rhombotin mRNA is expressed in phenotypically distinct islet tumours (α-, β, and δ-tumours) at levels comparable to that of normal islets. Antisera raised against two distinct epitopes contained within a short synthetic peptide representing part of the N-terminal LIM domain of Rhombotin surprisingly stain α- and δ-cells, respectively, on sections of rat pancreas. Rhombotin is undetectable by immunocytochemistry using LIM-domain antisera on intact monolayer islet tumor cells or transfected fibroblasts while readily detectable when equipped with a FLAG epitope, as detected with FLAG antiserum. In contrast, recombinant FLAG-Rhombotin is efficiently recognised by Western blotting or immunoprecipitation with all LIM-specific antisera. Almost identical results were obtained with LIM-specific versus homeodomain/C-terminal Isl-1 antisera staining α-cell cytoplasm or all islet nuclei, respectively. We conclude that Rhombotin in addition to Isl-1 is expressed in the islet of Langerhans and propose that the differential staining patterns obtained with antisera towards the LIM domains versus flanking epitopes of both proteins reflect (1) cell-specific protein-protein interactions of these domains or, alternatively, (2) islet cell type specific expression of novel homologous LIM domain proteins.

Transcriptional regulation of the human insulin gene is dependent on the homeodomain protein STF1/IPF1 acting through the CT boxes

Insulin gene transcription is a unique feature of the pancreatic beta cells and is increased in response to glucose. The recent cloning of insulin promoter factor 1 (IPF1) and somatostatin transcription factor 1 (STF1) unexpectedly revealed that these are mouse and rat homologues of the same protein mediating transactivation through binding of CT box-like elements in rat insulin 1 and somatostatin promoter/enhancer regions, respectively. By using oligonucleotides representing each of the three CT boxes of the human insulin (HI) gene enhancer and nuclear extracts from the mouse islet tumor cell lines beta TC3 and alpha TC1, we have identified a beta-cell-specific binding activity as reported for IPF1, which has maximal affinity toward the CT2 box. However, in pluripotent, HI-transfected rat islet tumor cells, NHI-6F, this binding activity is present prior to induction of (human) insulin gene transcription. Its migration is identical to that of in vitro translated STF1 in electrophoretic mobility-shift assays; it is specifically recognized by anti-STF1 antibodies and has an apparent molecular mass of 46 kDa. Mutation of the CT2 box decreases transcriptional activity of a HI reporter plasmid by approximately 65% in beta TC3 cells and blocks the glucose response in isolated newborn rat islet cells. Furthermore, cotransfection with STF1 cDNA into the glucagon-producing alpha TC1 cells increases the activity of the HI enhancer 4- to 5-fold, suggesting that STF1/IPF1 can confer on alpha TC1 cells the ability to transcribe the HI gene. We conclude that STF1/IPF1 is a necessary but not sufficient key regulator of insulin gene activity, possibly also involved in glucose-regulated transcription.

Cellular Engineering for the Treatment of Metabolic Disorders: Prospects for Therapy in Diabetes

Significant advances in the areas of identification of disease susceptibility genes and gene transfer technologies have fueled new initiatives in cellular engineering as a means for treating metabolic disease. This article utilizes new findings from such work as the blueprint for a discussion of the prospects for gene therapy in diabetes mellitus.

Detection of gastrin and its messenger RNA in Zollinger-Ellison tumors by non-radioactive in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry

Gastrin immunocytochemistry and non-radioactive in situ hybridization, using biotinylated oligonucleotide probes, for gastrin mRNA have been used for studying a retrospective material of six gastrin-producing (Zollinger-Ellison) tumors. Hybridization results for gastrin mRNA were positive in all six, while gastrin immunoreactivity could be detected in five tumors. In one of the patients, different areas of the same tumor displayed differences in immunoreactivity to gastrin, but were uniformly hybridization positive. Weak hybridization signals were detected in liver metastases from a necropsy case, while the gastrin immunostaining was more pronounced. The results show that non-radioactive hybridization methods are applicable to routine clinical specimens stored for as long as 16 years and that in situ hybridization may be a useful complement to immunocytochemical diagnosis, particularly in cases where high synthesis and little storage of hormonal products occur.

Cloning, characterization, and autoimmune recognition of rat islet glutamic acid decarboxylase in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

A 64-kDa islet protein is a major autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Autoantibodies against the 64-kDa protein were recently shown to immunoprecipitate glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD; L-glutamate 1-carboxy-lyase, EC 4.1.1.15) from brain and from islets. We present evidence that the autoantisera also recognize a hydrophilic islet protein of approximately 67 kDa in addition to the amphiphilic 64-kDa form. We have isolated a full-length rat islet GAD cDNA encoding a hydrophilic 67-kDa protein, which appears to be identical to rat brain 67-kDa GAD. A partial sequence of human insulinoma 67-kDa GAD was identical to human brain 67-kDa GAD. Allelic variations were observed in rat as well as in human 67-kDa GAD sequences. The expressed rat islet 67-kDa GAD protein is functional and is immunoprecipitated by IDDM sera; it comigrates electrophoretically with the 67-kDa islet autoantigen. The hydrophilic 67-kDa form of GAD in islets is an additional autoantigen in IDDM and is recognized by a different subset of autoantibodies than the 64-kDa autoantigen. Thus, mammalian cell lines expressing functionally active, recombinant GAD may become important tools to study the nature and the role of GAD autoreactivity in IDDM.

Protein HMG-17 is hyper-expressed in rat glucagonoma. Single-step isolation and sequencing

High-mobility-group protein 17 (HMG-17) was identified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis as a major component in acidic extracts of transplantable rat glucagonoma tissue but not in insulinoma tissue of similar origin. The peptide was purified in a single step and the entire sequence of 89 amino acids was determined. Rat HMG-17 has a molecular mass of 9238 Da and shows strong similarity to human, bovine (94.4%) and chicken (88.8%) HMG-17. Six of the seven residues which vary among the mammalian sequences are located within a short segment (positions 64-83) present in the acidic, non-DNA-binding C-terminal part of HMG-17. This region shows least similarity to the otherwise related proteins HMG-14 and H6 (a trout HMG protein). Interestingly, four of the six variable positions are Asp in rat HMG-17 which results in an overall net increase in the negative charge of the C-terminal region. The nature of selective hyper-expression of HMG-17 in glucagon but not in insulin-producing tumor tissue remains to be clarified.