Immunocytochemical localization of cathepsins B and H in human pancreatic endocrine cells and insulinoma cells

Cathepsins B and H are representative cysteine proteinases localized to lysosomes of a variety of mammalian cells. Previous studies indicated the presence of these enzymes also in secretory granules of endocrine cells. Therefore, the human endocrine pancreas and human insulinomas were investigated by light microscopical immunohistochemistry on serial semithin plastic sections immunostained sequentially for cathepsins B or H and pancreatic hormones. Out of the four established endocrine cell types, insulin (B-) and glucagon (A-) cells showed immunoreactivities for these cathepsins. Cathepsin B immunoreactivities showed a dot-like appearance in A- and B-cells and in insulinoma cells. Immunoreactivities for cathepsin H additionally were found in cell parts containing secretory granules of B-cells and insulinoma cells. By single and double immunoelectron microscopy the dot-like immunoreactivities for cathepsin B were identified as immunoreactive lysosomes of A- and B-cells and insulinoma cells. In addition, some of the secretory granules of A- and B-cells showed cathepsin B immunoreactivities. Cathepsin H immunoreactivities showed an other pattern: they were found regularly in the secretory granules of A- and B-cells and insulinoma cells, and in lysosomes of A-cells. These findings suggest that cathepsins B and H in lysosomes of A- and/or B-cells are involved in the degradation of lysosomal constituents. In secretory granules of these cells, these cysteine proteinases may participate in the processing of the corresponding hormones from their precursor proteins.