Glucose stimulates and potentiates islet amyloid polypeptide secretion by the B-cell.

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) has been shown to be actively secreted by the pancreatic B-cell along with insulin. To determine whether the modulation of B-cell IAPP secretion is similar to that of insulin, we assessed IAPP release in response to glucose at 4 different concentrations (1.67, 5.5, 8.8 and 16.7 mM) and to non-glucose secretagogues at different glucose concentrations in a neonatal rat islet monolayer culture preparation. Glucose alone stimulated IAPP and insulin secretion in a dose dependent fashion with maximal release for both peptides occurring at 8.8 mM. B-cell secretion of IAPP in response to arginine, isobutylmethylxanthine or both together was potentiated by increasing glucose concentrations from 1.67 to 16.7 mM. This same pattern of glucose potentiation was observed for insulin secretion. The data indicate that the pattern of peptide responses of cultured neonatal B-cells to glucose is similar for both IAPP and insulin release. Furthermore, the data suggest that glucose is capable of potentiating B-cell secretion of both IAPP and insulin.     

Effects of insulin alone on the accumulation of a specific mRNA in rat hepatoma cells

Experiments were conducted to investigate the action of insulin alone on the induction of a specific mRNA referred to as p33. In 24-h serum-deprived rat liver hepatoma cells (H4) grown in monolayer cultures, insulin induced a 3-fold increase in the levels of p33 mRNA within 30 min, and a maximum 10-fold increase was observed by 1 h. The effects of insulin were evident at concentrations as low as 10(-12) M and were maximal at 0.5-1 X 10(-8) M. The effect of insulin was specific, since the level of mRNA for the histocompatibility complex, H2d, was unaffected by insulin. The increase in p33 mRNA was not due to an effect of insulin on the stabilization of mRNA, since insulin did not alter the half-life of this message. In addition, two different RNA synthesis inhibitors blocked the stimulation of p33 mRNA production by insulin. These data suggest that insulin may specifically stimulate the synthesis of p33 mRNA which results in an increased accumulation of total cellular p33 mRNA.     

Insulin secretion and islet endocrine cell content at onset and during the early stages of diabetes in the BB rat: effect of the level of glycemic control.

Although it is agreed that autoimmune destruction of pancreatic islets in diabetic BB rats is rapid, reports of endocrine cell content of islets from BB diabetic rats at the time of onset of diabetes vary considerably. Because of the rapid onset of the disease (hours) and the attendant changes in islet morphology and insulin secretion, it was the aim of this study to compare islet beta-cell numbers to other islet endocrine cells as close to the time of onset of hyperglycemia as possible (within 12 h). As it has been reported that hyperglycemia renders the beta cell insensitive to glucose, the early effects of different levels of insulin therapy (well-controlled vs. poorly controlled glycemia) on islet morphology and insulin secretion were examined. When measured within 12 h of onset, insulin content of BB diabetic islets, measured by morphometric analysis or pancreatic extraction, was 60% of insulin content of control islets. Despite significant amounts of insulin remaining in the pancreas, 1-day diabetic rats exhibited fasting hyperglycemia and were glucose intolerant. The insulin response from the isolated perfused pancreas to glucose and the glucose-dependent insulinotropic hormone, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), was reduced by 95%. Islet content of other endocrine peptides, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide, was normal at onset and at 2 weeks post onset. A group of diabetic animals, maintained in a hyperglycemic state for 7 days with low doses of insulin, were compared with a group kept normoglycemic by appropriate insulin therapy. No insulin could be detected in islets of poorly controlled diabetics, while well-controlled animals had 30% of the normal islet insulin content.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The inhibitory effect of 2-deoxyglucose on insulin receptor autophosphorylation does not depend on known serine phosphorylation sites or other conserved serine residues of the receptor beta-subunit.

Hyperglycemia induces insulin resistance in diabetic patients. It is known that supraphysiological levels of D-glucose or 2-deoxyglucose inhibit the insulin receptor and it is speculated that this effect is mediated by serine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor beta-subunit and other proteins of the insulin signaling chain. To test this hypothesis we prepared point mutations of the human insulin receptor where serine was exchanged to alanine at 16 different positions, either at known phosphorylation sites or at positions which are conserved in different tyrosine kinase receptors. These receptor constructs were expressed in HEK 293 cells and the effect of 2-deoxyglucose (25 mM) on insulin (100 nM) induced receptor autophosphorylation was studied. 2-Deoxyglucose consistently inhibits insulin stimulated autophosphorylation of all constructs to the same degree as observed in wild-type human insulin receptor. The data suggest that none of the chosen serine positions are involved in 2-deoxyglucose induced receptor inhibition.     

Flexibility and bioactivity of insulin: an NMR investigation of the solution structure and folding of an unusually flexible human insulin mutant with increased biological activity

The structure and folding of a novel human insulin mutant, [Thr(B27) --> Pro, Pro(B28) --> Thr]insulin (PT insulin), in aqueous solution and in mixtures of water and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) have been studied by NMR spectroscopy. It was found that PT insulin has a highly flexible structure in pure water and is present in at least two different conformations, although with an overall tertiary structure similar to that of native insulin. Furthermore, the native helical structures are poorly defined. Surprisingly, the mutant has a biological activity about 50% higher than native insulin. In contrast, in TFE/water solution the mutant reveals a propensity of forming a well-defined structure at the secondary structure level, similar to monomeric native insulin. Thus, as shown by a detailed determination of the structure from 208 distance restraints and 52 torsion angle restraints by distance geometry, simulated annealing, and restrained energy minimization, the native insulin helices (A2-A7, A13-A19, and B10-B19) as well as the beta-turn (B20-B23) are formed in 35% TFE. However, the amount of tertiary structure is decreased significantly in TFE/water solution. The obtained results suggest that only an overall tertiary fold, as observed for PT insulin in pure water, is necessary for expressing the biological activity of insulin, as long as the molecule is flexible and retains the propensity to form the secondary structure required for its receptor binding. In contrast, a compact secondary structure, as found for native insulin in solution, is unnecessary for the biological activity. A model for the receptor binding of insulin is suggested that relates the increased bioactivity to the enhanced flexibility of the mutant.     

Long interspersed repeated DNA (LINE) causes polymorphism at the rat insulin 1 locus.

The insulin 1, but not the insulin 2, locus is polymorphic (i.e., exhibits allelic variation) in rats. Restriction enzyme analysis and hybridization studies showed that the polymorphic region is 2.2 kilobases upstream of the insulin 1 coding region and is due to the presence or absence of an approximately 2.7-kilobase repeated DNA element. DNA sequence determination showed that this DNA element is a member of a long interspersed repeated DNA family (LINE) that is highly repeated (greater than 50,000 copies) and highly transcribed in the rat. Although the presence or absence of LINE sequences at the insulin 1 locus occurs in both the homozygous and heterozygous states, LINE-containing insulin 1 alleles are more prevalent in the rat population than are alleles without LINEs. Restriction enzyme analysis of the LINE-containing alleles indicated that at least two versions of the LINE sequence may be present at the insulin 1 locus in different rats. Either repeated transposition of LINE sequences or gene conversion between the resident insulin 1 LINE and other sequences in the genome are possible explanations for this.     

Comparison of insulin antibody levels during the first 3 years of treatment of adult diabetics with monocomponent porcine lente-insulin and single peak beef NPH insulin

Insulin antibody production was studied in two groups of 9 adult diabetics each, who were never treated before with insulin. One group received Monocomponent porcine lente insulin (MC) and the other group single peak beef NPH insulin, for 3 years. Insulin antibodies were evaluated by antibody-bound immunoreactive insulin (Abl) and by the labelled insulin binding capacity (IBC) which presented a significant correlation best fitted by a logarithmic curve. The patients treated with MC insulin developed significant levels of insulin antibodies, however, at lower levels and appearing later in comparison to those with beef NPH. Only 3 patients did not produce significant levels of insulin antibodies. The highest titers occurred after different lengths of treatment in the two groups of patients. Abl decreased after continuation of treatment particularly in the MC series. While in the MC-treated patients there was some positive correlation between the insulin dose and the level of Abl no significant correlation was found between the diabetes control and insulin antibody titers in both groups of patients.     

Differences in the nature of the interaction of insulin and proinsulin with zinc

1. The reversible interaction of zinc with pig insulin and proinsulin has been studied at pH7 by equilibrium dialysis (ultrafiltration) and by sedimentation equilibrium and velocity measurements in the ultracentrifuge. Binding values calculated from equilibria, where the ratio of free to bound zinc was varied in the range 0.01:1-10:1, indicated that proinsulin and insulin each contained two main orders of zinc binding with very different affinities for the metal. 2. In equilibria containing low concentrations of free zinc (free: bound ratios of 0.01-0.1:1) both insulin and proinsulin aggregated to form soluble hexamers containing firmly bound zinc (up to 0.284g-atom/monomer) with an apparent intrinsic association constant of 1.9x10(6)m(-1). 3. Higher concentrations of zinc (free: bound ratios of 0.1-10.0:1) resulted in a progressive difference in the zinc binding, aggregation and solubility properties of the metal complexes of insulin and proinsulin. At the highest concentration of free zinc, proinsulin bound a total of more than 5.0g-atom/monomer and aggregated to form a mixture of soluble polymers (mainly 5.1S). In contrast, insulin bound a total of only 1.0g-atom/monomer and was almost completely precipitated from solution. 4. These results would indicate that the presence of the peptide segment connecting the insulin moiety in proinsulin does not prevent the firm binding of zinc to the insulin moiety and the formation of hexamers of zinc-proinsulin. At the same time although the connecting peptide contains additional sites of lower affinity for zinc, which should facilitate inter- and intra-molecular cross-linking, the general conformation of the zinc-proinsulin hexamer must preclude the formation of very large and close-packed aggregates that are insoluble in solutions at equilibrium.     

Human growth factor receptor bound 14 binds the activated insulin receptor and alters the insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation levels of multiple proteins.

To identify proteins interacting in the insulin-signaling pathway that might define new pathways or regulate existing ones, we have employed the yeast two-hybrid system. In a two-hybrid screen of a human liver cDNA library, we identified the human growth factor receptor bound 14 (hGrb14) adaptor protein as a partner of the activated insulin receptor. Additional analysis of the insulin receptor--hGrb14 interaction in the yeast two-hybrid system revealed that the SH2 domain of hGrb14 was not the sole region involved in binding the activated insulin receptor. The insulin-stimulated interaction between hGrb14 and the insulin receptor was also observed in different mammalian cultured cell lines. This association was detected at 1 min of insulin stimulation and was maximal at 10 nM and greater concentrations of insulin. Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing the insulin receptor (CHO-IR) and hGrb14 were used to examine the effects of hGrb14 overexpression on insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins; in general, increasing levels of hGrb14 expression resulted in a reduction in tyrosine phosphorylation. This decrease was demonstrated for the specific proteins src homology-containing and collagen-related protein (Shc), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), and Downstream of tyrosine Kinase (Dok). The broad effects of hGrb14 overexpression on insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation suggest that it acts early in the insulin-signaling pathway.     

Circadian patterns of plasma leptin,insulin and glucose concentration in the toad-headed lizard Phrynocephalus versicolor

To understand the circadian rhythms of the glucose metabolism and related hormones in desert reptiles, we studied the daily changes in plasma leptin, insulin, and glucose in the toad-headed lizard, Phrynocephalus versicolor, in the semi-desert of the Alashan Plateau. Blood samples were obtained from groups of 20 lizards (about equal sex ratio for each group) at 4-h intervals throughout a 24-h period. Leptin, insulin, and glucose levels were determined using ELISA, RIA, and the glucose oxidase method, respectively. Ambient temperature and humidity were also measured when the blood samples were taken. We found that: (1) there was a significant difference in plasma leptin concentrations at different times of day; (2) no significant circadian rhythm could be measured for plasma insulin and glucose; (3) ambient temperature, humidity, and body condition had no significant effect on plasma leptin, insulin, and glucose levels; and (4) there were significant correlations between plasma glucose concentrations and leptin concentrations 8 h later, and between insulin concentrations and leptin concentration 8–12 h later. These results suggested that the secretions of leptin and insulin played an important role in glucose metabolism in reptiles in an arid environment.     

Insulin alters the effects of follicle stimulating hormone on aromatase in bovine granulosa cells in vitro

It is known that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and insulin stimulate estradiol secretion from cultured non-luteinizing granulosa cells. The interaction between these hormones is less well understood. Granulosa cells from small (2-4 mm) bovine follicles were cultured in serum-free medium to determine if cytochrome P450 aromatase activity is regulated by FSH in the presence of different concentrations of insulin. Insulin significantly stimulated aromatase activity in the absence of FSH. There was a significant interaction between insulin and FSH on aromatase activity, such that FSH stimulated activity at low (0.5, 1 and 10 ng/ml) doses of insulin, whereas at higher (100 ng/ml) doses of insulin FSH failed to stimulate aromatase activity. To determine if the lack of a response to FSH with higher doses of insulin is related to gene expression, the effect of FSH on P450 aromatase mRNA levels was measured. An 'uncoupling' of mRNA and enzyme activity was observed for cells cultured with 100 ng/ml insulin, as FSH significantly increased P450 aromatase mRNA abundance without affecting estradiol secretion or aromatase activity. We conclude that in the presence of high doses of insulin, FSH decreases aromatase activity, and an uncoupling of P450 aromatase mRNA and aromatase activity occurs. This may have implications for infertility treatments when there is a risk of hyperinsulinemia.     

十两茶水提物降糖作用及机制研究

探讨了湖南安化黑茶的主要品种十两茶水提物的降糖作用及机制.选用6～8周龄db/db自发性糖尿病模型小鼠,每日灌胃给予3个不同剂量的十两茶水提物(100、200、400 mg/kg),连续28 d.每周测定空腹血糖值,实验结束时检测糖耐量和胰岛素水平.研究结果显示,十两茶水提物400 mg/kg给药28 d就能显著降低db/db糖尿病小鼠空腹血糖和改善其对葡萄糖耐受能力.同时,十两茶水提物能显著降低db/db糖尿病小鼠血清胰岛素水平,增加葡萄糖耐量试验胰岛素的释放.结果显示十两茶水提物对2型糖尿病小鼠具有很好的降糖作用,其作用机制与增加胰岛素敏感性有关.     

Insulin blockade of norepinephrine tachyphylaxis in the perfused kidney

Tachyphylaxis to norepinephrine (NOR) was determined in the rabbit kidney perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution by using different calcium concentrations (2.5 mM; 5 mM; 12.5 mM) in the perfusate. The addition of insulin to the perfusion fluid causes a reversion of the tachyphylaxis which is seen at those Ca2+ concentrations. This effect is demonstrated mainly at 5 mM Ca2+. When kidneys were perfused with 12.5 mM calcium there was disappearance of NOR-mediated tachyphylaxis, both in the absence and in the presence of insulin. In this calcium concentration, insulin decreases vascular reactivity to NOR. These results suggest that insulin blockade of alpha adrenergic tachyphylaxis is a calcium-mediated effect which is thought to be due to an enhancement of calcium pumping inside the cells.     

Effects of a long-lasting hyperinsulinemia induced by insulin infusion on the subcellular distribution of liver insulin receptors in the rat

Acute hyperinsulinemia in rats have been shown to cause enhanced endocytosis of liver insulin receptors with little or no change in the total receptor number. To determine whether a similar phenomenon occurs in long-lasting hyperinsulinemia, the subcellular distribution of liver insulin receptors has been studied in rats infused continuously with insulin (0.4 and 0.2 U/h) for 4 days. In rats in which plasma insulin concentration was maintained at 15-20 ng/ml, there was, from 3 to 24 h, a 2-fold decrease in insulin binding to plasma membranes (PM), along with 2 to 4-fold increase in insulin binding to the light (GEI), intermediate (GEi) and heavy (GEh) Golgi-endosomal fractions; concomitantly, there was a 10-fold increase in the insulin content of Golgi-endosomal fractions. After 24 h, the changes in insulin binding to PM and GEI were maintained, but the increase in both insulin binding activity and insulin content of GEi and GEh became progressively less marked, although plasma insulin concentration remained elevated. Throughout infusion, insulin binding to the total particulate fraction was unchanged. In rats, in which plasma insulin was maintained at 6-8 ng/ml, insulin binding to PM was decreased to a lesser degree and insulin binding to Golgi-endosomal fractions was unchanged (GEh) or decreased (GEI and GEi), although the insulin content of these fractions remained high. These results suggest that, while an enhanced receptor endocytosis accounts for the decrease in cell surface receptors observed at an early stage of the hyperinsulinemia, additional regulatory mechanisms are probably involved at a later stage.     

Metabolic and mitogenic effects of IGF-I and insulin on muscle cells of rainbow trout

The relative function of IGF-I and insulin on fish muscle metabolism and growth has been investigated by the isolation and culture at different stages (myoblasts at day 1, myocytes at day 4, and myotubes at day 10) of rainbow trout muscle cells. This in vitro model avoids interactions with endogenous peptides, which could interfere with the muscle response. In these cells, the effects of IGF-I and insulin on cell proliferation, 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), and l-alanine uptake at different development stages, and the use of inhibitors were studied and quantified. Insulin (10-1,000 nM) and IGF-I (10-100 nM) stimulated 2-DG uptake in trout myocytes at day 4 in a similar manner (maximum of 124% for insulin and of 142% for IGF-I), and this stimulation increased when cells differentiated to myotubes (maximum for IGF-I of 193%). When incubating the cells with PD-98059 and especially cytochalasin B, a reduction in 2-DG uptake was observed, suggesting that glucose transport takes place through specific facilitative transporters. IGF-I (1-100 nM) stimulated the l-alanine uptake in myocytes at day 4 (maximum of 239%), reaching higher values of stimulation than insulin (100-1,000 nM) (maximum of 160%). This stimulation decreased when cells developed to myotubes at day 10 (118% for IGF-I and 114% for insulin). IGF-I (0.125-25 nM) had a significant effect on myoblast proliferation, measured by thymidine incorporation (maximum of 170%), and required the presence of 2-5% fetal serum (FBS) to promote thymidine uptake. On the other hand, insulin was totally ineffective in stimulating thymidine uptake. We conclude that IGF-I is more effective than insulin in stimulating glucose and alanine uptake in rainbow trout myosatellite cells and that the degree of stimulation changes when cells differentiate to myotubes. IGF-I stimulates cell proliferation in this model of muscle in vitro and insulin does not. These results indicate the important role of IGF-I on growth and metabolism of fish muscle.     

Comparison of the functional insulin binding epitopes of the A and B isoforms of the insulin receptor

The human insulin receptor is expressed as two isoforms that are generated by alternate splicing of its mRNA; the B isoform has 12 additional amino acids (718-729) encoded by exon 11 of the gene. The isoforms have been reported to have different ligand binding properties. To further characterize their insulin binding properties, we have performed structure-directed alanine-scanning mutagenesis of a major insulin binding site of the receptor, formed from the receptor L1 domain (amino acids 1-470) and amino acids 705-715 at the C terminus of the alpha subunit. Alanine mutants of each isoform were transiently expressed as recombinant secreted extracellular domain in 293 cells, and their insulin binding properties were evaluated by competitive binding assays. Mutation of Arg(86) and Phe(96) of each isoform resulted in receptors that were not secreted. The Kds of unmutated receptors were almost identical for both isoforms. Several new mutations compromising insulin binding were identified. In L1, mutation of Leu(37) decreased affinity 20- to 40-fold and mutations of Val(94), Glu(97), Glu(120), and Lys(121) 3 to 10-fold for each isoform. A number of mutations produced differential effects on the two isoforms. Mutation of Asn(15) in the L1 domain and Phe(714) at the C terminus of the alpha subunit inactivated the A isoform but only reduced the affinity of the B isoform 40- to 60-fold. At the C terminus of the alpha subunit, mutations of Asp(707), Val(713), and Val(715) produced 7- to 16-fold reductions in affinity of the A isoform but were without effect on the B isoform. In contrast, alanine mutations of Tyr(708) and Asn(711) inactivated the B isoform but only reduced the affinities of the A isoform 11- and 6-fold, respectively. In conclusion, alanine-scanning mutagenesis of the insulin receptor A and B isoforms has identified several new side chains contributing to insulin binding and indicates that the energetic contributions of certain side chains differ in each isoform, suggesting that different molecular mechanisms are used to obtain the same affinity.     

Mediation of the actions of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 on preimplantation mouse embryos in vitro.

Previous studies showed that both insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) stimulate metabolism and growth of preimplantation embryos. Because the effects of insulin occur with very low doses, it was suggested that its effects were mediated by its own receptors. However, the effects of IGF-1 occurred at higher doses, suggestive of cross reaction with the insulin receptor but still in the range for mediation via its own receptor. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediation of the metabolic and growth effects of insulin and IGF-1 using a specific insulin receptor antagonist. The antagonistic B-10 Fab fragment (B-10f) completely blocked stimulation of protein synthesis by both insulin and IGF-1, indicating that the insulin receptor mediates this action of both hormones. Alternately, only insulin's stimulation of inner cell mass mitogenesis and morphological development was inhibited by the B-10 Fab fragment. This showed that growth stimulation by insulin and IGF-1 was mediated via different receptors, insulin through its own receptor and IGF-1 through some other receptor. However, mediation via the IGF-2 receptor is not excluded since IGF-1 stimulates compaction when there is evidence for only the presence of the IGF-2 receptor. In summary, insulin or IGF-1 at physiological concentrations stimulates preimplantation mouse embryos, suggesting an important role for both these growth factors in early development.