Localisation of islet amyloid polypeptide and its carboxy terminal flanking peptide in islets of diabetic man and monkey

Diabetologia. 1991 Jun;34(6):449-51. doi: 10.1007/BF00403186.

Abstract

Islet amyloid polypeptide is a normal constituent of islet Beta cells and is derived from a larger precursor by removal of flanking peptides at the carboxy (C) and amino (N) terminals. The role of these flanking peptides in the formation of amyloid in Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and in insulinomas is unknown. The C-terminal flanking peptide of islet amyloid polypeptide was localised by immunocytochemistry in human and monkey pancreatic islets from Type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic individuals by use of specific polyclonal antisera. Immunoreactivity for the C-terminal peptide was found in insulin-containing cells in both diabetic and non-diabetic tissue: no antibody binding was detected in islet amyloid of Type 2 diabetic man or of monkeys although a positive reaction occurred with antisera for islet amyloid polypeptide. The C-terminal peptide was localised by immunogold electron microscopy in the insulin granules in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals but, unlike islet amyloid polypeptide, was not detected in lysosomes. The absence of immunoreactivity for the C-terminal peptide in amyloid suggests that incomplete cleavage of this flanking peptide from islet amyloid polypeptide is not a factor in the formation of islet amyloid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amyloid / immunology
  • Amyloid / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / pathology
  • Gold
  • Humans
  • Immune Sera / immunology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Islet Amyloid Polypeptide
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism*
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology
  • Islets of Langerhans / ultrastructure
  • Macaca
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Amyloid
  • Immune Sera
  • Islet Amyloid Polypeptide
  • Gold