Effect of food-deprivation on rat pancreatic islet cells

Somatostatin, insulin and glucagon concentrations in rat pancreas were measured following various intervals of food-deprivation. Tissue concentrations, as measured by radioimmunoassay, were correlated with A-, B-, and D-cell number and size using a scanning integrating image analyzer (Quantimet 720). Alterations in total islet hormone content were not correlated to changes in size or distribution of cells. This implies that changes in tissue content reflect changes in turnover of peptides rather than changes in cell size or number.     

The purification and quantitation of helper T cell-replacing factors secreted by murine spleen cells activated by concanavalin A.

A microculture assay with low numbers of athymic (nude) spleen cells has been used to quantitate the helper T cell-replacing activity secreted by concanavalin A-treated spleen cells. This quantitation allows an estimate of the recovery of biologic activity during concentration from culture supernatants by salt precipitation, and purification by gel filtration, ion exchange chromatography, and isoelectric focusing. The T cell-replacing activity is found in protein of 30 to 40,000 daltons size as estimated by gel filtration, but shows heterogeneity in electric charge. The activity is active at concentrations of less than 10(-9) M, and is strictly antigen dependent in its mode of action.     

High-conductance K+ channel in pancreatic islet cells can be activated and inactivated by internal calcium

Summary The Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel in rat pancreatic islet cells has been studied using patch-clamp single-channel current recording in excised inside-out and outside-out membrane patches. In membrane patches exposed to quasi-physiological cation gradients (Na⁺ outside, K⁺ inside) large outward current steps were observed when the membrane was depolarized. The single-channel current voltage (I/V) relationship showed outward rectification and the null potential was more negative than –40 mV. In symmetrical K⁺-rich solutions the single-channelI/V relationship was linear, the null potential was 0 mV and the singlechannel conductance was about 250 pS. Membrane depolarization evoked channel opening also when the inside of the membrane was exposed to a Ca²⁺-free solution containing 2mm EGTA, but large positive membrane potentials (70 to 80 mV) were required in order to obtain open-state probabilities (P) above 0.1. Raising the free Ca²⁺ concentration in contact with the membrane inside ([Ca²⁺]_i) to 1.5×10^–7 m had little effect on the relationship between membrane potential andP. When [Ca²⁺]_i was increased to 3×10^–7 m and 6×10^–7 m smaller potential changes were required to open the channels. Increasing [Ca²⁺]_i further to 8×10^–7 m again activated the channels, but the relationship between membrane potential andP was complex. Changing the membrane potential from –50 mV to +20 mV increasedP from near 0 to 0.6 but further polarization to +50 mV decreasedP to about 0.2. The pattern of voltage activation and inactivation was even more pronounced at [Ca²⁺]_i=1 and 2 m. In this situation a membrane potential change from –70 to +20 mV increasedP from near 0 to about 0.7 but further polarization to +80 mV reducedP to less than 0.1. The high-conductance K⁺ channel in rat pancreatic islet cells is remarkably sensitive to changes in [Ca²⁺]_i within the range 0.1 to 1 m which suggests a physiological role for this channel in regulating the membrane potential and Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-activated Ca²⁺ channels.     

Effect of glucose on the intracellular pH of pancreatic islet cells.

To characterize the effect of glucose on the intracellular pH (pHi) of pancreatic islet cells, we measured the accumulation of 14C-labelled 5,5-dimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione ( [14C]DMO) in beta-cell-rich islets from ob/ob mice. D-Glucose (20 mM) stimulated insulin release and enhanced the [14C]DMO equilibrium uptake corresponding to an increase of pHi by about 0.15 unit. The glucose effect on DMO uptake was concentration-dependent, with half-maximal effect at about 4 mM-glucose and maximum effect at about 10 mM-glucose. It was inhibited by 20 mM-mannoheptulose and potentiated by 4 mM-L-5-hydroxytryptophan, but not affected by 2 mM-theophylline. Mannoheptulose is an inhibitor and L-5-hydroxytryptophan and theophylline are potentiators of glucose-stimulated insulin release. The glucose-induced increase in pHi appeared rapidly (7 min) and persisted for at least 30 min and it was observed both in bicarbonate/CO2-buffered and in Hepes [4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazine-ethanesulphonic acid]-buffered media. Addition of extracellular bicarbonate buffer lowered the pHi, but did not affect basal insulin release, whereas 5 mM-NH4+ increased pHi and induced a 4-fold increase of basal insulin release. We conclude that, in contrast with previous assumptions, glucose increases intracellular pH in the islet cells. This effect may be coupled to the glucose metabolism and associated with triggering of insulin release.     

Adoptive transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis with activated spleen cells: Comparison of in vitro activation by concanavalin A and myelin basic protein

Adoptive transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was carried out in Lewis rats using splenic lymphocytes incubated in vitro with either concanavalin A (Con A) or myelin basic protein (MBP). Requirements were established for sensitization of donors, culture conditions, numbers of transferred cells, and incubation period of EAE in recipients. These were strikingly similar whether Con A or MBP was used. In addition, cellular proliferation in vitro was not required in either system, but proliferation after transfer to the recipient was essential for the development of clinical signs and histological lesions. These methods have potential value for analyzing mechanisms of immune induction in this classic model of autoimmune disease.     

Electrical pacemaker mechanisms of pancreatic islet cells

Glucose, the major physiological stimulus for insulin secretion, induces a periodic bursting pattern of Ca2+ action potentials that are thought to mediate the uptake of Ca2+ into the intracellular pool of free Ca2+, which controls the rate of insulin release. Evidence is reviewed that shows that the voltage-dependent Ca2+ spikes are driven by a slow, voltage-dependent plateau depolarization that may also be caused by Ca2+ influx. Current evidence suggests that this plateau conductance is periodically terminated in turn by a pacemaker current through membrane K+ channels that are activated by intracellular free Ca2+. The control of electrical activity by different modulators of insulin release may involve interactions with this system at several points, including changes of the sensitivity of K+ channels to intracellular Ca2+ and to changes of intracellular Ca2+ buffering capacity.     

Effect on erythropoiesis of conditioned media of mammal erythrocytes

It is known that a medium conditioned by erythrocytes (ECM) reduces 59Fe uptake into haem in hemopoietic cell cultures. In order to evaluate if the release of this factor in conditioned media is correlated with the whole erythrocyte surface, the same volume of packed erythrocytes of Mammals characterized by different MCV were incubated according to the method of Cole and Regan (1977). The influence of these conditioned media upon 59Fe uptake into haem in cultures of Guinea pig bone marrow cells was studied. Our results demonstrate that ECM of lamb erythrocytes (MCV = 28) caused a more marked depression of haem synthesis in vitro than ECM of calf (MCV = 34) and Guinea pig (MCV = 69) erythrocytes, and that this inhibitory effect is correlated to the MCV of considered erythrocytes.     

Effect of concanavalin A on lysosomal enzyme content of Hela cells

Precoating Hela cells with concanavalin A (Con A) induces a decrease of lysosomal enzyme intracellular content, and correlatively increases the amount of these enzymes in the culture medium. Possible mechanisms of the lectin effect are discussed in relation to the hypothesis of the secretion-endocytosis cycle of lysosomal enzymes.     

Crabtree effect in tumoral pancreatic islet cells

The relationship between glycolysis and respiration was examined in a model of pancreatic B-cell dysfunction, namely in tumoral insulin-producing cells of the RINm5F line. A rise in D-glucose concentration from 2.8 to 16.7 mM increased the utilization of D-[5-3H]glucose and production of [14C]lactate from D-[U-14C]glucose, whereas decreasing the oxidation of either D-[U-14C]glucose or D-[6-14C]glucose. Whereas 2.8 mM D-glucose augmented O2 uptake above basal value, a further rise in D-glucose concentration to 16.7 mM decreased respiration, which remained higher, however, than basal value. Whether at low or high concentration, D-glucose exerted a pronounced sparing action upon the oxidation of endogenous nutrients in cells prelabeled with either L-[U-14C]glutamine or [14C]palmitate and, nevertheless, augmented above basal value the rate of lipogenesis, ATP/ADP content, adenylate charge, and cytosolic NADH/NAD+ and NADPH/NADP+ ratios. The generation of ATP resulting from the catabolism of either exogenous D-glucose or endogenous nutrients was not affected by the rise in hexose concentration from 2.8 to 16.7 mM. Thus, in sharp contrast with the situation found in normal islet cells, a rise in D-glucose concentration, instead of stimulating mitochondrial oxidative events, caused, through a Crabtree effect, inhibition of hexose oxidation and O2 consumption in tumoral islet cells.     

A preliminary analysis of hepatitis C virus in pancreatic islet cells

Background

An association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is supported by numerous epidemiologic studies. We hypothesized that HCV could infect human pancreatic islet cells in vitro.

Methods

Measures of HCV RNA synthesis and protein production were used to evaluate HCV infection of pancreatic islets recovered from human donors.

Results

Significant co-staining of insulin and the HCV entry factor CD81 was observed in pancreatic islets. Positive- and negative-sense HCV RNA were detected in HCV-exposed islets at days 1, 3, 7, and 14 post-infection. The HCV core and NS3 proteins were expressed and increased with time providing further evidence of viral replication. Interferon and an HCV polymerase inhibitor reduced viral replication in islet cells. In HCV-infected islets, TNFα levels were elevated at days 1, 3, and 7 post-infection, while IL-6 levels were elevated at day 1 but not days 3 or 7. Overall, the expression of miR-122 was low in islets compared to the Huh7.5 hepatocyte-derived cell line, although the relative expression of miR-122 increased in islet cells after viral infection (1, 6.63, and 5.83 at days 1, 3, and 7, respectively).

Conclusions

In this pilot study, viral infection was demonstrated in pancreatic islet cells from multiple donors using complementary measures of viral replication, thus providing evidence of in vitro infection. Altered cytokine expression may contribute to the development of insulin deficiency, and understanding the etiology of diabetes in individuals with HCV infection may facilitate the development of novel treatment modalities and prevention strategies. This in vitro system provides an important model for mechanistic studies of HCV-pancreas interactions and facilitates future studies of the potential impact of viral infection on islet cell function.

     

Effect of concanavalin A on the killing of tumor cells by antibody and complement.

Concanavalin A (Con A) was found to inhibit the killing of antibody-sensitized line-1 tumor cells (TA) by guinea pig complement (GPC) but not by human complement (HuC). Other plant lectins (wheat germ, leucoagglutinin, and pokeweed mitogen) were also tested but Con A was the only lectin found to inhibit antibody-GPC-mediated killing. The inhibitory effect of Con A was observed when the GPC was mixed with Con A or when the antibody-sensitized cells were pretreated with Con A (TA-Con A) before the addition of GPC. The effect could be reversed by treatment of such cells with alpha-D-methylglucopyranoside or by incubation at 37 degrees C for approximately 2 hr. Con A appeared to act by preventing the binding of the first component of GPC (GPC1) to antibody-sensitized tumor cells. Differences in the binding of the first component of HuC (HuC1) and GPC1 to TA-Con A suggested that a difference in the binding site for HuC1 and GPC1 might exist. There was no difference in the number of GPC1 molecules fixed to antibody-sensitized sheep erythrocytes (EA) or EA treated with Con A in experiments using the same antibody as used with the tumor cells and the same Con A preparation. It would consequently appear that the inhibitory effect of Con A on the binding of GPC1 to TA is not due solely to an interaction of Con A with the antibody.     

Catecholamine-containing pancreatic islet cells of the domestic fowl

Summary In an attempt to identify pancreatic islet cells emitting formaldehyde-induced fluorescence (FIF), the pancreatic islets of the domestic fowl were studied by combined fluorescence, ultrastructural, silver-impregnation and immunohistochemical methods in the same section or in consecutive semi-thin and ultra-thin sections. The results indicate that islet cells emitting intense FIF exhibit a strongly argyrophil reaction with the Grimelius' silver method and also immunohistochemical reaction with anti-glucagon serum, but not with anti-5-HT serum. Therefore, the fowl islet A cell, a peptide hormone-producing cell, stores simultaneously catecholamine as biogenic amine. The islet B and D cells did not display any FIF, any argyrophil reaction with the Grimelius' silver method, or any immunoreactivity with anti-glucagon or anti-5-HT sera. The fluorescent but non-argyrophil cells dispersed in the exocrine acinus may well be PP cells.     

Spontaneous cytotoxicity of macrophages against pancreatic islet cells

Activated peritoneal macrophages were found to lyse syngeneic [3H]leucine-labeled pancreatic islet cells or rat insulinoma cells after 15 h of coculture at 37 degrees C. Lysis was verified by electron microscopic analysis. Islet cell lysis was dependent on the T:E ratio and was comparable with P815 and L929 tumor cells used as targets. The cytotoxic activity was localized in the adherent fraction of Corynebacterium parvum activated peritoneal cells and was destroyed by incubation of cells with macrophage-toxic silica particles. Syngeneic thyrocytes and hepatocytes were found to be resistant to the cytolytic action of activated macrophages. It has been shown previously that macrophages contribute to pancreatic islet inflammation. The present in vitro analysis demonstrates that macrophages can function as effector cells in islet destruction.     

Effect of extracellular sodium removal upon 86Rb outflow from pancreatic islet cells

The present study was undertaken to characterize the effect of extracellular Na+ removal on 86Rb outflow from perifused rat pancreatic islets. Complete Na+ omission inhibited 86Rb outflow whether the islets were perifused in the presence or in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. Ouabain (1 mM) did not reduce the inhibitory effect of Na+ deprivation, whilst diphenylhydantoin (72.9 microM) mimicked the Na+-removal-induced fall in 86Rb outflow. Glucose (16.7 mM) lost its capacity to inhibit 86Rb outflow when the perifusate was deprived of extracellular Na+. These results indicate that Na+ omission reproduces the inhibitory effect of glucose on 86Rb outflow. The reduction in 86Rb outflow recorded after Na+ deprivation could be mediated by an intracellular acidification and/or a decrease in the intracellular Na+ activity. It is tempting to speculate that the capacity of glucose to reduce the B-cell Na+ content may participate in the process by which the sugar decreases K+ permeability.     

The Surface structure of isolated pancreatic islet cells

Summary The surfaces of isolated pancreatic islet cells were studied with the scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Islets were isolated from the pancreas of Wistar rats by collagenase treatment and were incubated either in glucose-free medium or in 300 mg% glucose for one hour. Immunoreactive insulin (IRI) in the media of both control and experimental preparations was assayed. Islets were then transferred to 4% glutaraldehyde, buffered with cacodylate, pH 7.4, and prepared for scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Cell masses average 200 in diameter. Alpha cells appear pyramidal in shape, are about 8 in diameter and appear in groups. Beta cells are round or oval in shape and have an average diameter of 10 . Glucose stimulation raised the IRI value tenfold and increased the number of blebs and other surface irregularities per unit area of beta cell surface. Comparison with transmission electron micrographs suggests that the blebs are related to the process of emiocytosis.Supported by U.S.P.H.S. Grant AM-10151.     

In vivo immune response suppression by the supernatant from concanavalin A-activated spleen cells.

Supernatants from concanavalin A- (Con A) activated murine spleen cells have been shown to suppress the in vitro plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The present study examined the effect of such Con A-activated spleen cell supernatants (herein termed CONS) on the in vivo immune response to SRBC in C57BL/6, BALB/c and CDF1 mice. CONS derived from BALB/c spleen cells suppressed direct PFC 4 and 8 days after immunization with 2 X 10(8) SRBC. CONS also suppressed indirect PFC 8 days after immunization, as well as serum hemagglutinins to SRBC. The PFC response of C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice was suppressed as much as that of BALB/c (H-2d) by CONS derived from BALB/c mice, indicating a lack of H-2 specificity of the CONS. In addition to suppression of the antibody response to SRBC, in vivo CONS administration resulted in reduction in spleen cell number. This reduction was not sufficient to explain the decreased PFC response. When the CONS was separated into less than 10,000 m.w. and greater than or equal to 10,000 m.w. fractions, the immunosuppressive activity was found in the less than 10,000 m.w. fraction. This observation suggests that intact interferon, SIRS, and MIF were not responsible for the results obtained.