Preservation of Beta cell function in adult human pancreatic islets for several months in vitro

Summary Islets of Langerhans were isolated from four human kidney donors, aged 16 to 21 years, by the collagenase method described for isolation of rodent islets. So far the human islets have been kept in tissue culture, without attachment, in medium RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% calf serum for more than 9 months, with preservation of the ability to release insulin in response to glucose stimulation. Replacement of calf serum with serum from normal human subjects did not affect B-cell survival, but resulted in elevated insulin values partly due to lower insulin degrading activity. Thus the described technique presents a valuable tool for studying chronic effects of metabolites and hormones on islet function, as well as for islet storage prior to transplantation into humans.     

线粒体DNA拷贝数与疾病

线粒体是人体中的重要细胞器,参与生物体的新陈代谢,线粒体DNA(mtDNA)拷贝数更是与糖尿病、心血管疾病、神经系统疾病和肿瘤等多种疾病密切相关。mtDNA突变常常导致多器官功能障碍,从而产生一系列的临床综合征。本文回顾近年来有关mtDNA拷贝数的文献,对mtDNA拷贝数及其调控机制、以及mtDNA与临床疾病的相关性等方面进行阐述。     

Immaturity of insulin secretion by pancreatic islets isolated from one human neonate

Human β‐cells are functionally mature by the age of 1 year. The timeline and mechanisms of this maturation are unknown owing to the exceptional availability of testable tissue. Here, we report the first in vitro study of insulin secretion by islets from a 5‐day‐old newborn. Glucose was inefficient alone, but induced insulin secretion, which was concentration‐dependent, showed a biphasic time‐course and was of similar magnitude as in infant islets when β‐cell cyclic adenosine monophosphate was raised by forskolin. Tolbutamide alone was effective in low glucose, but its effect was not augmented by high glucose. Metabolic amplification by glucose was thus inoperative, in contrast to amplification by cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Newborn islets showed high basal insulin secretion that could be inhibited by diazoxide or omission of CaCl₂. Postnatal acquisition of functional maturity by human β‐cells implicates control of basal secretion and production of metabolic signals able to activate both triggering and amplifying pathways of insulin secretion.     

Is mitochondrial DNA copy number a good prognostic marker in resectable pancreatic cancer?

Background

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in a group of resectable pancreatic cancer (PC) tumor tissues and adjacent normal pancreatic tissues, and to explore the correlation between the mtDNA content in tissues and the clinicopathological parameters and the overall survival.

Effects of L-leucine on the insulin production,oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial ultrastructure of isolated mouse pancreatic islets in tissue culture

Summary This study was performed to evaluate whether L-leucine is able to relieve the structural and functional alterations previously described in pancreatic islets exposed in vitro for a prolonged time to a subnormal glucose concentration (3.3 mM). It was found that both the impairment of secretion and the decreased rate of biosynthesis of insulin characteristic, of islets cultured for one week in 3.3 mM glucose were prevented by adding 15 mM L-leucine to the culture medium. Furthermore, the rates of tritiated water production and glucose or leucine oxidation were significantly enhanced after culture in the presence of L-leucine. The rate of DNA synthesis as estimated by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine was, however, unchanged by the presence of L-leucine in the culture medium. Leucine cultured islet cells displayed ultrastructural signs of high functional activity. A detailed morphometric examination revealed fewer but hypertrophic mitochondria. The present results suggest that L-leucine can replace glucose in several respects as a long-term stimulus of the pancreatic B-cells, possibly by acting as a metabolic substrate.Presented in part at the Congresses of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, Munich, 1975 and Helsinki, 1976     

Decreased mitochondrial gene expression in isolated islets of rats injected neonatally with streptozotocin

Summary The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible role of the expression of the mitochondrial genome for the regulation of insulin production in the pancreatic Beta cell. For this purpose, islets of Langerhans were isolated from adult control rats and rats injected neonatally with streptozotocin and the islet contents of specific mitochondrial DNAs and RNAs together with nuclear-encoded RNAs were determined. The contents of mitochondrial cytochrome b mRNA, the mitochondrial 12 S rRNA and insulin mRNA were all 30–40% lower in islets isolated from the streptozotocin-treated rats as compared to islets from control rats. In contrast, the nuclear mRNA coding for the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocator was not decreased in the streptozotocin-treated rats. Contents of mitochondrial DNA, as assessed by the Southern blotting technique, were markedly decreased in the streptozotocin islets. Sequence analysis of mitochondrial DNA from streptozotocin islets and control islets however, did not reveal any differences in nucleotide sequences. In control islets the contents of mitochondrial cytochrome b mRNA increased in response to a high glucose concentration during a 4-h incubation period. Serum deprivation or the addition of theophylline or 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate failed to affect the cytochrome b mRNA contents in vitro. It is concluded that islets of streptozotocin-treated rats contain low contents of mitochondrial DNA and RNA. Since a lower mitochondrial RNA content may result in a diminished oxidative capacity, it is conceivable that a deficiency of this messenger may contribute to the development of insulin deficiency.     

Heterogeneous lengths of copy number mutations in human coagulopathy revealed by genome-wide high-density SNP array

Background

The recent advent of genome-wide molecular platforms has facilitated our understanding of the human genome and disease, particularly copy number aberrations. We performed genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism-array in hereditary coagulopathy to delineate the extent of copy number mutations and to assess its diagnostic utility.

Design and Methods

The study subjects were 17 patients with hereditary coagulopathy from copy number mutations in coagulation genes detected by multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification. Eleven had hemophilia (7 hemophilia A and 4 hemophilia B) and 6 had thrombophilia (4 protein S deficiency and 2 antithrombin deficiency). Single nucleotide polymorphism-array experiments were performed using Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP arrays 6.0.

Results

Copy number mutations were identified by single nucleotide polymorphism-array in 9 patients, which ranged in length from 51 Kb to 6,288 Kb harboring 2 to ~160 genes. Single nucleotide polymorphism-array showed a neutral copy number status in 8 patients including 7 with either a single-exon copy number mutation or duplication mutations of PROS1.

Conclusions

This study revealed unexpectedly heterogeneous lengths of copy number mutations underlying human coagulopathy. Single nucleotide polymorphism-array had limitations in detecting copy number mutations involving a single exon or those of a gene with homologous sequences such as a pseudogene.     

慢性胰腺炎增生性胰管上皮细胞线粒体DNA突变的意义

目的探讨慢性胰腺炎增生性胰管上皮细胞线粒体DNA调控序列D-环突变的意义。方法利用PCR技术扩增46份来自11例慢性胰腺炎不同程度的胰腺导管增生性上皮细胞和其各自正常组织的线粒体DNA全序列。使用核苷同源序列（BLAST）分析病变组织的线粒体DNA。结果9份标本D-环共有15个突变点，增生性导管上皮细胞D-环至少存在一个以上异常点。异常D-环随病变进展程度呈进行性增加趋势．从单纯性导管上皮细胞肥大性增生的26．1％增至腺瘤样增生的80．0％（P〈0．01）。结论D-环异常程度与病变程度近乎呈平行性发展，异常D-环可作为检测增生性胰管上皮性组织病变的标志物。     

Structural changes of pancreatic islets in genetically obese rats

Summary Light and electron microscopic observations were performed on pancreatic islets from genetically obese rats, (Zucker, fatty), from 5 to 52 weeks of age. At 5 weeks of age, islets were moderately hypertrophied. After that age, hypertrophy of islets became more prominent, until 24 weeks of age, with accompanying degranulation of B cells. The plasma insulin level also continued to increase during this period, but the glucose level was normal. Degranulated B cells contained a highly developed Golgi complex, numerous vesiculated, granular, endoplasmic reticulum and a small number of secretory granules, but no glycogen deposits. Emiocytosis and microtubule formation were very remarkable with these B cells. Frequently, mixed or intermediate cells, such as exocrine-endocrine or ductural-endocrine cell, were observed in pancreas with hypertrophied islets. At 52 weeks of age, both the plasma insulin and triglyceride levels decreased. In the pancreas, there were observed proliferation of fibrous tissue and well granulated B cells in hypertrophied islets. Hence, in fatty rats, pancreatic islets were in an active state during the period of development of obesity and hyperlipaemia (from 5 to 24 weeks of age). These correlates of obesity and hyperinsulinism disappeared at 52 weeks of age.     

Stimulatory effect of serum from diabetic patients on insulin release from mouse pancreatic islets maintained in tissue culture

Summary Islets of Langerhans from NMRI-mice were kept for one week in tissue culture in medium supplemented with human serum obtained from either normal healthy subjects or newly diagnosed juvenile diabetic patients before insulin treatment. Islets cultured in diabetic serum released more inslin than islets cultured in normal serum, whether tissue culture medium 199 with 5.5–8.3 mmol/1 glucose and 10% serum, or culture medium RPMI1 640 with 11 mmol/1 glucose and 0.5% serum were used. Islets kept for one week in culture with diabetic serum did not show any decrease in DNA content or glucose induced insulin secretion and biosynthesis. It is concluded that serum from newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetic patients stimulates insulin release from isolated mouse islets kept in tissue culture. The underlying mechanism is unknown.     

Mitochondrial DNA,diabetes and pancreatic pathology in Kearns-Sayre syndrome

Summary Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are associated with diabetes mellitus but their role in the onset of hyperglycaemia is unclear. A patient presented with diabetes requiring insulin therapy at the age of 7 years, followed by diagnosis of Kearns–Sayre syndrome (KSS). Beta-cell function was absent at age 19 years as shown by lack of glucose-stimulated C-peptide secretion. Following development of a cardiac conduction defect the patient died aged 21 years. Analysis of mtDNA in blood and several tissues revealed related re-arranged deletions, duplications and deletion dimers in addition to normal mtDNA with the highest levels of duplications in kidney and blood. Pancreatic tissue from the KSS patient was compared with tissue from an insulin-dependent diabetic patient with a similar clinical history of diabetes. Islets in KSS were small, regular in shape and contained predominantly glucagon-containing cells with no evidence of beta cells. In comparison, a small number of beta cells were present in some of the larger more irregularly-shaped islets from the insulin-dependent diabetic patient. These data together suggest that in KSS the loss of beta cells at the onset of diabetes is less disruptive to islet architecture: a small proportion of beta cells or their gradual destruction over a long period would allow retention of islet shape. Abnormal function of the re-arranged mtDNA could affect both development and function of pancreatic islet cells since glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is energy dependent. [Diabetologia (1995) 38: 868–871]. Received: 19 January 1995 and in revised form: 17 March 1995     

Effect of human lymphoblastoid interferon on insulin synthesis and secretion in isolated human pancreatic islets

Summary Human islets of Langerhans were isolated from the pancreas removed from a 13-year-old female transplant donor. The islets were incubated in a culture medium for 24 h in the presence of human lymphoblastoid interferon (1000 units/ml). Insulin secretion, proinsulin biosynthesis, total protein biosynthesis and total insulin content were assessed at various concentrations of glucose in the presence of interferon. In interferon-treated islets glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was unaltered from that of control islets; however, glucose-stimulated proinsulin biosynthesis was specifically inhibited by interferon (48%, p<0.025). Total protein biosynthesis and total insulin content were not significantly affected by interferon.     

Advanced glycation end products,leukocyte telomere length,and mitochondrial DNA copy number in patients with coronary artery disease and alterations of glucose homeostasis: From the GENOCOR study

Background and aimAlterations of glucose homeostasis can increase advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that exacerbate vascular inflammatory disease and may increase vascular senescence and aging. This study examined the relationships between carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) and soluble receptor for AGEs (sRAGE) with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), as cell aging biomarkers, in patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods and resultsWe studied 459 patients with CAD further categorized as having normal glucose homeostasis (NG, n = 253), pre-diabetes (preT2D, n = 85), or diabetes (T2D, n = 121). All patients were followed up for the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Plasma concentrations of sRAGE and CML were measured by ELISA. mtDNAcn and LTL were measured by qRT-PCR. CML levels were significantly higher in patients with preT2D (p < 0.007) or T2D (p < 0.003) compared with those with NG. mtDNAcn resulted lower in T2D vs preT2D (p = 0.04). At multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, short LTL (HR: 2.89; 95% CI: 1.11–10.1; p = 0.04) and high levels of sRAGE (HR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.01–5.14; p = 0.04) were associated with an increased risk for MACEs in patients with preT2D and T2D, respectively. T2D patients with both short LTL and high sRAGE levels had the highest risk of MACEs (HR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.11–9.92; p = 0.04).ConclusionsHigh levels of sRAGE and short LTL were associated with an increased risk of MACEs, especially in patients with diabetes, supporting the usefulness of both biomarkers of glycemic impairment and aging in predicting cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CAD.     

食管鳞癌组织中线粒体和细胞核DNA的提取和鉴定

目的:研究在同一组织中同时提取线粒体DNA(mtDNA)和核DNA(nDNA)的方法的有效性.方法:同一组织中既含有mtDNA又含有nDNA,利用试剂盒同时提取出mtDNA和nDNA,用琼脂糖凝胶电泳,聚合酶链反应(PCR)的方法,对所提取的mtDNA和nDNA进检测.结果:用同一组织从线粒体中得到mtDNA,从细胞核中得到nDNA.与用传统方法分别提取mtDNA和nDNA效果一样,并且两者相关性强,相比较更有说服力.结论:同一组织中能同时提取mtDNA和nDNA,既节省组织又节省时间和费用,为DNA的研究提供了较好的实验方法.     

Impairment of the mitochondrial oxidative response to D-glucose in pancreatic islets from adult rats injected with streptozotocin during the neonatal period

Summary Pancreatic islets removed from adult rats injected with streptozotocin during the neonatal period display an impaired secretory response to D-glucose and, to a lesser extent, to L-leucine. Despite normal to elevated hexokinase and glucokinase activities in the islets of these glucose-intolerant animals and despite normal mitochondrial binding of the hexokinase isoenzymes, the metabolic response to a high concentration of D-glucose is severely affected, especially in terms of D-[6-¹⁴C]glucose oxidation. Thus, the ratio in D-[6-¹⁴C]glucose oxidation/D-[5-³H]glucose utilization is much less markedly increased in response to a rise in hexose concentration and, at a high concentration of D-glucose (16.7 mmol/l), less markedly decreased by the absence of Ca²⁺ and presence of cycloheximide in diabetic than control rats. This metabolic defect contrasts with (1) a close-to-normal or even increased capacity of the islets of diabetic rats to oxidize D-[6-¹⁴C]glucose, [2-¹⁴C]pyruvate, L-[U-¹⁴C]glutamine and L-[U-¹⁴C]leucine at low, non-insulinotropic, concentrations of these substrates; (2) a lesser impairment of the oxidation of L-[U-¹⁴ C]leucine tested in high concentration (20 mmol/l), the effect of Ca²⁺ deprivation upon the latter variable being comparable in diabetic and control rats; (3) an unaltered transamination of either [2-¹⁴ C]pyruvate or L-[U-¹⁴C]leucine; and (4) a modest perturbation of glycolysis. The most obvious alteration in glycolysis consists in a lesser increase of the glycolytic flux in response to a rise of D-glucose concentration in diabetic than control rats, this coinciding with an apparent decrease in affinity of glucokinase for the hexose. It is speculated that the preferential impairment of the metabolic and secretory response to D-glucose may be mainly attributable to an altered coupling between calcium accumulation and the stimulation of oxidative events in Beta-cell mitochondria of diabetic rats.     

Insulin secretion profiles are modified by overexpression of glutamate dehydrogenase in pancreatic islets

Aims/hypothesis Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is a mitochondrial enzyme playing a key role in the control of insulin secretion. However, it is not known whether GDH expression levels in beta cells are rate-limiting for the secretory response to glucose. GDH also controls glutamine and glutamate oxidative metabolism, which is only weak in islets if GDH is not allosterically activated by L-leucine or (+/–)-2-aminobicyclo-[2,2,1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH).Methods We constructed an adenovirus encoding for GDH to overexpress the enzyme in the beta-cell line INS-1E, as well as in isolated rat and mouse pancreatic islets. The secretory responses to glucose and glutamine were studied in static and perifusion experiments. Amino acid concentrations and metabolic parameters were measured in parallel.Results GDH overexpression in rat islets did not change insulin release at basal or intermediate glucose (2.8 and 8.3 mmol/l respectively), but potentiated the secretory response at high glucose concentrations (16.7 mmol/l) compared to controls (+35%). Control islets exposed to 5 mmol/l glutamine at basal glucose did not increase insulin release, unless BCH was added with a resulting 2.5-fold response. In islets overexpressing GDH glutamine alone stimulated insulin secretion (2.7-fold), which was potentiated 2.2-fold by adding BCH. The secretory responses evoked by glutamine under these conditions correlated with enhanced cellular metabolism.Conclusions/interpretation GDH could be rate-limiting in glucose-induced insulin secretion, as GDH overexpression enhanced secretory responses. Moreover, GDH overexpression made islets responsive to glutamine, indicating that under physiological conditions this enzyme acts as a gatekeeper to prevent amino acids from being inappropriate efficient secretagogues.Abbreviations AUC Area under the curve - BCH (+/–)-2-aminobicyclo-[2,2,1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid - _m mitochondrial membrane potential - FCCP carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone - GABA -aminobutyric acid - GDH glutamate dehydrogenase - HPLC high-pressure liquid chromatography - KRBH Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate HEPES buffer - MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5,-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide - RPMI Roswell Park Memorial Institute - TCA tricarboxylic acid