Insulin is produced and stored inside the pancreatic β-cell secretory granules, where it is assumed to form Zn2+-stabilized oligomers. However, the actual storage forms of this hormone and the impact of zinc ions on insulin production in vivo are not known. Our initial X-ray fluorescence experiment on granules from native Langerhans islets and insulinoma-derived INS-1E cells revealed a considerable difference in the zinc content. This led our further investigation to evaluate the impact of the intra-granular Zn2+ levels on the production and storage of insulin in different model β-cells. Here, we systematically compared zinc and insulin contents in the permanent INS-1E and BRIN-BD11 β-cells and in the native rat pancreatic islets by flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, immunoblotting, specific messenger RNA (mRNA) and total insulin analysis. These studies revealed an impaired insulin production in the permanent β-cell lines with the diminished intracellular zinc content. The drop in insulin and Zn2+ levels was paralleled by a lower expression of ZnT8 zinc transporter mRNA and hampered proinsulin processing/folding in both permanent cell lines. To summarize, we showed that the disruption of zinc homeostasis in the model β-cells correlated with their impaired insulin and ZnT8 production. This indicates a need for in-depth fundamental research about the role of zinc in insulin production and storage.

• Keywords
• insulin, pancreatic islets, proinsulin, zinc ions, znt8, β-cells,
• MeSH
• Insulin-Secreting Cells metabolism   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Chemical Fractionation MeSH
• Cytoplasmic Granules metabolism   MeSH
• Gene Expression * MeSH
• Glucose metabolism   MeSH
• Insulin genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Islets of Langerhans metabolism   MeSH
• RNA, Messenger genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Flow Cytometry methods   MeSH
• Zinc metabolism   MeSH
• Zinc Transporter 8 MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Glucose MeSH
• Insulin MeSH
• RNA, Messenger MeSH
• Slc30a8 protein, rat MeSH Browser
• Zinc MeSH
• Zinc Transporter 8 MeSH

Subcutaneously implanted polymeric scaffolds represent an alternative transplantation site for pancreatic islets (PIs) with the option of vascularisation enhancement by mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Nevertheless, a proper timing of the transplantation steps is crucial. In this study, scaffolds supplemented with plastic rods were implanted into diabetic rats and two timing schemes for subsequent transplantation of bioluminescent PIs (4 or 7 days after rod removal) were examined by multimodal imaging. The cavities were left to heal spontaneously or with 10 million injected MSCs. Morphological and vascularisation changes were examined by MRI, while the localisation and viability of transplanted islets were monitored by bioluminescence imaging. The results show that PIs transplanted 4 days after rod removal showed the higher optical signal and vascularisation compared to transplantation after 7 days. MSCs slightly improved vascularisation of the graft but hindered therapeutic efficiency of PIs. Long-term glycaemia normalisation (4 months) was attained in 80% of animals. In summary, multimodal imaging confirmed the long-term survival and function of transplanted PIs in the devices. The best outcome was reached with PIs transplanted on day 4 after rod removal and therefore the suggested protocol holds a potential for further applications.

• MeSH
• Allografts MeSH
• Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental * diagnostic imaging   surgery   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Islets of Langerhans * blood supply   diagnostic imaging   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Luminescent Measurements * MeSH
• Mesenchymal Stem Cells metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Rats, Transgenic MeSH
• Graft Survival * MeSH
• Tissue Scaffolds * MeSH
• Islets of Langerhans Transplantation methods   MeSH
• Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

AIM: Assessment of islet mass before islet transplantation requires a reliable technique to enable exact analysis of islet volume. This study aimed to test the applicability of digital image analysis (DIA) for evaluation of samples of purified and non-purified islets. METHODS: Pancreatic islets were isolated from 10 Lewis rats. Samples of purified (n = 10) and non-purified islets (n = 30) were counted conventionally and by using a computerized method. The equipment for the computerized counting consisted of a digital camera installed on a stereomicroscope and connected to a personal computer. Images of 2272x1704 pixels were processed using a previously described non-commercial program originally developed for this purpose. Islets were converted to equivalents using globe and ellipsoid models. The insulin content of purified islets was assessed using radioimmunoassay and was correlated to the absolute and standardized islet number. RESULTS: Mean absolute numbers of purified islets +/- SD were 908 +/- 130 and 1049 +/- 230 (manually and DIA respectively). Mean insulin content +/- SD obtained from purified islets was 161 +/- 45 mU. The mean equivalents of purified islets (1589 +/- 555 for globe and 1219 +/- 452 for ellipsoid) significantly correlated with insulin content. However, this correlation was not significant when absolute islet numbers were used, counted using either method. There was no significant difference in absolute non-purified islet numbers assessed by manual and computerized methods (average +/- SD in 50 microl samples; 12.6 +/- 4.1 and 13.3 +/- 5.3 respectively; p = 0.22). The manual method showed a significantly higher yield of islet equivalents (IE; p < 0.001 for both globe and ellipsoid). CONCLUSION: The computer-based system for islet counting correlated better to insulin content than conventional islet estimation and prevented overestimation. Reproducibility and ease of assessment make it potentially applicable to clinical islet transplantation.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

BACKGROUND: Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) is a G-protein coupled transmembrane receptor activated by trypsin by site-specific cleavage. Its presence on pancreatic structures was demonstrated in the past. PAR-2 physiologically involves in duct/acinary cells secretion, arterial tonus regulation or capillary liquid turnover. During development of acute pancreatitis/acute pancreatic lesion (APL) these mentioned structures are influenced by very high concentration of trypsin due to its increased basolateral secretion into the interstitium. The aim of our study as presented was to investigate whether PAR-2 is also involved in APL following changes of PAR-2 expression. METHODS: APL was investigated in Wistar rats after injection of 0.1 mL taurocholate into the ductus choledochus. Anatomy, histology, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) as well as immunohistochemistry and Western-blot analysis of pancreatic tissue were performed using antibody mapping of the new NH2 terminal of PAR-2 after trypsin cleavage. Results from control rats and d 1 or d 4 rats after taurocholate injection were compared. RESULTS: Much higher positivity on acinary/duct cells was observed in APL induced animals than in controls. Similar findings were noticed on arterial smooth muscle cells. Surprisingly, parallel to the exocrine pancreas and vessel findings, enhanced Langerhans' islet cell positivity was observed in experimental animals. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we have demonstrated that during APL development PAR-2 expression increases. This effect is caused by conformational changes after PAR-2 activation, and the new NH2 terminal of activated receptor presentation. We suggest that PAR-2 physiological functions are enhanced during APL development.

• MeSH
• Acute Disease MeSH
• Immunohistochemistry MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Taurocholic Acid MeSH
• Islets of Langerhans metabolism   MeSH
• Models, Animal MeSH
• Pancreas cytology   metabolism   MeSH
• Pancreatitis chemically induced   metabolism   MeSH
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
• Rats, Wistar MeSH
• Receptor, PAR-2 MeSH
• Receptors, Thrombin biosynthesis   metabolism   MeSH
• Blotting, Western MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Taurocholic Acid MeSH
• Receptor, PAR-2 MeSH
• Receptors, Thrombin MeSH