Pancreatic islet immunoreactivity to the Reg protein INGAP. |
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Authors: | David A Taylor-Fishwick Angela Bowman Maricarmen Korngiebel-Rosique Aaron I Vinik |
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Institution: | Department of Medicine,, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 855 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, VA, USA. Taylord@evms.edu |
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Abstract: | The Reg-related protein family member INGAP (islet neogenesis-associated protein) is a pleiotropic factor enhancing islet neogenesis, neurite growth, beta-cell protection, and beta-cell function. Using an antibody to the N-termini of INGAP, we have identified that immunoreactivity to INGAP localized to the pancreatic endocrine cells in mouse. INGAP- and insulin-immunoreactive cells are mutually exclusive, with INGAP-immunoreactive cells being preserved after streptozotocin-mediated destruction of beta-cells. Glucagon- and INGAP-immunoreactive cells colocalize, although respective antigen expression occurs in different intracellular locations. These data suggest that INGAP-immunoreactive cells include alpha-cells; however, detection of single INGAP-immunoreactive/glucagon-negative cells indicates that this may not be exclusive. In addition to mouse, detection of islet endocrine cells that were INGAP immunoreactive/glucagon immunoreactive/insulin negative was also observed in islets from human, monkey, and rat. These findings reveal that INGAP and/or related group 3 Reg proteins have a conserved expression in the pancreatic islet. |
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