R. Scott Heller

Control of endodermal endocrine development by Hes-1

Development of endocrine cells in the endoderm involves Atonal and Achaete/Scute-related basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins. These proteins also serve as neuronal determination and differentiation factors, and are antagonized by the Notch pathway partly acting through Hairy and Enhancer-of-split (HES)-type proteins. Here we show that mice deficient in Hes1 (encoding Hes-1) display severe pancreatic hypoplasia caused by depletion of pancreatic epithelial precursors due to accelerated differentiation of post-mitotic endocrine cells expressing glucagon. Moreover, upregulation of several bHLH components is associated with precocious and excessive differentiation of multiple endocrine cell types in the developing stomach and gut, showing that Hes-1 operates as a general negative regulator of endodermal endocrine differentiation.

Leptin Suppression of Insulin Secretion by the Activation of ATP-Sensitive K+ Channels in Pancreatic β-Cells

In the genetic mutant mouse models ob/ob or db/db, leptin deficiency or resistance, respectively, results in severe obesity and the development of a syndrome resembling NIDDM. One of the earliest manifestations in these mutant mice is hyperinsulinemia, suggesting that leptin may normally directly suppress the secretion of insulin. Here, we show that pancreatic islets express a long (signal-transducing) form of leptin-receptor mRNA and that β-cells bind a fluorescent derivative of leptin (Cy3-leptin). The expression of leptin receptors on insulin-secreting β-cells was also visualized utilizing antisera generated against an extracellular epitope of the receptor. A functional role for the β-cell leptin receptor is indicated by our observation that leptin (100 ng/ml) suppressed the secretion of insulin from islets isolated from ob/ob mice. Furthermore, leptin produced a marked lowering of ]Ca2+]i in ob/ob β-cells, which was accompanied by cellular hyperpolarization and increased membrane conductance. Cell-attached patch measurements of ob/ob β-Cells demonstrated that leptin activated ATP-sensitive potassium channels (KATP) by increasing the open channel probability, while exerting no effect on mean open time. These effects were reversed by the sulfonylurea tolbutamide, a specific inhibitor of KATP. Taken together, these observations indicate an important physiological role for leptin as an inhibitor of insulin secretion and lead us to propose that the failure of leptin to inhibit insulin secretion from the β-Cells of ob/ob and db/db mice may explain, in part, the development of hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and the progression to NIDDM.

GLP-1 Receptor Localization in Monkey and Human Tissue: Novel Distribution Revealed With Extensively Validated Monoclonal Antibody

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogs are increasingly being used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is clear that these drugs lower blood glucose through an increase in insulin secretion and a lowering of glucagon secretion; in addition, they lower body weight and systolic blood pressure and increase heart rate. Using a new monoclonal antibody for immunohistochemistry, we detected GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in important target organs in humans and monkeys. In the pancreas, GLP-1R was predominantly localized in β-cells with a markedly weaker expression in acinar cells. Pancreatic ductal epithelial cells did not express GLP-1R. In the kidney and lung, GLP-1R was exclusively expressed in smooth muscle cells in the walls of arteries and arterioles. In the heart, GLP-1R was localized in myocytes of the sinoatrial node. In the gastrointestinal tract, the highest GLP-1R expression was seen in the Brunners gland in the duodenum, with lower level expression in parietal cells and smooth muscle cells in the muscularis externa in the stomach and in myenteric plexus neurons throughout the gut. No GLP-1R was seen in primate liver and thyroid. GLP-1R expression seen with immunohistochemistry was confirmed by functional expression using in situ ligand binding with (125)I-GLP-1. In conclusion, these results give important new insight into the molecular mode of action of GLP-1 analogs by identifying the exact cellular localization of GLP-1R.

Expression of the GLP-1 Receptor in Mouse, Rat, and Human Pancreas

We studied the intra-islet localization of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) by colocalization studies of the GLP-1R mRNA and protein with islet cell hormones in mice, rats, and humans. In contrast to previous reports, we show that the GLP-1R is selectively located on the β cells. The localization of GLP-1R in islets and ducts was studied using ISH and double and triple fluorescence microscopy. In normal pancreatic tissue from mice and rats, GLP-1R mRNA was only detectable in the β cells. Double and triple immunofluorescence using two different GLP-1R antisera and combinations of insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin showed that GLP-1R protein is almost exclusively colocalized with insulin. The same pattern was observed in human pancreas, but the GLP-1R expression was more heterogeneous, with populations of insulin immunoreactive cells with high and low expression. This is the first time that the GLP-1R has been localized in human islets. Furthermore, GLP-1R immunoreactivity was found in the pancreatic ducts in mouse, rat, and human pancreas. As an important confirmation of the specificity of our methods, we found no signals for GLP-1R mRNA or protein in pancreatic tissue from gene-targeted GLP-1R—deficient mice. In conclusion, our data suggest that the GLP-1 receptor is restricted to the pancreatic β cells and the lack of receptor immunoreactivity on δ cells cannot be explained suitably to correspond with published in vivo and in vitro data. This manuscript contains online supplemental material at http://www.jhc.org. Please visit this article online to view these materials.

Expression patterns of Wnts, Frizzleds, sFRPs, and misexpression in transgenic mice suggesting a role for Wnts in pancreas and foregut pattern formation.

It is well established that gut and pancreas development depend on epithelial‐mesenchymal interactions. We show here that several Wnt, Frizzled, and secreted frizzled‐related protein (sFRP) encoding mRNAs are present during mouse pancreatic morphogenesis. Wnt5a and 7b mRNA is broadly expressed in foregut mesenchyme starting around embryonic day 10 in mice. Other members expressed are Wnt2b, Wnt5b, and Wnt11. In addition, genes for the Wnt receptors, Frizzled2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are expressed. To understand potential Wnt functions in pancreas and foregut development in vivo, we analyzed transgenic F0 mouse fetuses expressing Wnt1 and 5a cDNAs under control of the PDX‐1 gene promoter. In PDX‐Wnt1 fetuses, the foregut region normally comprising the proximal duodenum instead resembles a posterior extension of the stomach, often associated with complete pancreatic and splenic agenesis. Furthermore, the boundary between expression domains of gastric and duodenal markers is shifted in a posterior direction. In PDX‐Wnt5a fetuses, several structures derived from the proximal foregut are reduced in size, including the pancreas, spleen, and stomach, without any apparent shift in the stomach to duodenum transition. In these fetuses, overall pancreatic morphology is changed and the pancreatic epithelium is dense and compact, consistent with Wnt5A effects on cell movements and/or attachment. Taken together, these results suggest that Wnt genes participate in epithelial‐mesenchymal signaling and may specify region identity in the anterior foregut.

Developmental Expression of the Homeodomain Protein IDX-1 in Mice Transgenic for an IDX-1 Promoter/lacZ Transcriptional Reporter

Expression of the homeodomain transcription factor IDX-1 (also known as IPF-1, STF-1, and PDX-1) is required for pancreas development, because disruption of the gene in mice and humans results in pancreatic agenesis. During embryonic development the idx-1 gene is first expressed in a localized region of foregut endoderm from which the duodenum and pancreas later develop. To more fully understand the role of IDX-1 in pancreas development, transgenic mice expressing the Escherichia coli lacZ gene under control of the 5′-proximal 4.6 kb of the idx-1 promoter were created as a reporter for the developmental expression of IDX-1. Here we show that the determinants for the developmental and tissue-specific expression of the endogenous idx-1 gene are faithfully reproduced by the 4.6-kb region of the idx-1 promoter. Expression of lacZ is detected in the development of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas in pancreatic ducts, common bile and cystic ducts, pyloric glands of the distal stomach, Brunner’s glands, the i...

Nestin Is Expressed in Vascular Endothelial Cells in the Adult Human Pancreas

In this study we examined the expression of nestin in islets, the exocrine part, and the big ducts of the adult human pancreas by immunofluorescent double staining. Two different anti-nestin antisera in combination with various pancreatic and endothelial markers were employed. Nestin-immunoreactive cells were found in islets and in the exocrine portion. All nestin-positive cells co-expressed the vascular endothelial markers PE-CAM-1 (CD31), endoglin (CD105), and CD34 as well as vimentin. Endocrine, acinar, and duct cells did not stain for nestin. We also demonstrated that in the area of big pancreatic ducts, nestin-positive cells represent small capillaries scattered in the connective tissue surrounding the duct epithelium and do not reside between the duct cells. We detected nestin-expressing endothelial cells located adjacent to the duct epithelium where endocrine differentiation occurs. We have shown that nestin is expressed by vascular endothelial cells in human pancreas, and therefore it is unlikely that nestin specifically marks a subpopulation of cells representing endocrine progenitors in the adult pancreas.

Expression and misexpression of members of the FGF and TGFβ families of growth factors in the developing mouse pancreas

We have performed a high‐capacity, semiquantitative, reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction screen for expression of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family genes as well as their cognate receptors. By using cDNA prepared from embryonic day 12 to postnatal day 0 embryonic mouse pancreas, we have identified several factors potentially involved in the development of the endocrine pancreas. We find high‐level early expression of TGFβ‐1 and ‐2, and constitutive expression of TGFβ‐3 and their receptors. Of the Inhibin/Activin members, we found exclusively Inhibin‐α and Activin‐βB to be expressed, and the BMP family was represented by BMP4, BMP5, and BMP7. The predominant forms of the BMP and Activin type II receptors were ActR‐IIB and BMPR‐II and of the type I receptors, BMPR‐1A and ‐1B were the highest expressed. FGF1, FGF7, FGF9, FGF10, FGF11, and FGF18 were also expressed in the pancreas at varying time points and levels, as well as FGF receptor forms FGFR1b, FGFR1c, FGFR2b, FGFR2c, FGFR3b, and FGFR4. To gain insight into the biological function, we misexpressed members of these families in the pancreas by using the early pancreas promoter Pdx1. Misexpression of FGF4 results in disruption of the pancreas morphology with epithelial structures interspersed in stroma tissue. The endocrine compartment was reduced to scattered single cells, and the exocrine consisted of unbranched ductal epithelia with acinar structures budding off. In contrast, misexpression of BMP‐6 resulted in complete agenesis of the pancreas and reduced the size of the stomach and spleen dramatically and caused fusion of the liver and duodenum. Developmental Dynamics 226:663–674, 2003.

Pax6 and Pdx1 form a functional complex on the rat somatostatin gene upstream enhancer

The somatostatin upstream enhancer (SMS‐UE) is a highly complex enhancer element. The distal A‐element contains overlapping Pdx1 and Pbx binding sites. However, a point mutation in the A‐element that abolishes both Pdx1 and Pbx binding does not impair promoter activity. In contrast, a point mutation that selectively eliminates Pdx1 binding to a proximal B‐element reduces the promoter activity. The B‐element completely overlaps with a Pax6 binding site, the C‐element. A point mutation in the C‐element demonstrates that Pax6 binding is essential for promoter activity. Interestingly, a block mutation in the A‐element reduces both Pax6 binding and promoter activity. In heterologous cells, Pdx1 potentiated Pax6 mediated activation of a somatostatin reporter. We conclude that the β/δ‐cell‐specific activity of the SMS‐UE is achieved through simultaneous binding of Pdx1 and Pax6 to the B‐ and C‐elements, respectively. Furthermore, the A‐element appears to stabilise Pax6 binding.

Expression of Wnt, Frizzled, sFRP, and DKK genes in adult human pancreas.

Wnts are important signaling molecules involved in many normal developmental processes in the human body as well as some forms of cancer. Nineteen Wnt genes are found in the human genome, as well as 10 Wnt receptor genes called Frizzled. Two coreceptors called LRP 5 and 6 are critical for Wnt signal transduction. The interaction of the Wnts with the receptors is regulated by two classes of extracellular Wnt or LRP binding proteins called sFRP and Dickkopf (DKK), which modulate Wnt signaling. We have examined the expression of all Wnt family members both in the exocrine portion and in isolated islets of adult human pancreas. RT-PCR analysis of the 1-day cultured exocrine pellet fraction from the islet isolation procedure showed that Wnt 2, 2b, 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 7a, 7b, 14, and 15 were detectable. All 10 Frizzled (Frz) receptors were expressed but only Frizzled 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 strongly. RT-PCR performed on purified human islets revealed that Wnt 2b, 3, 4, 5a, 7b, 10a, and 14 and Frz 4, 5, and 6 were the most highly expressed. DKK 1, 3, and 4 as well as sFRP 1, 4, and 5 were expressed in the exocrine fraction. sFRP 2 and 3 were detectable but only at low levels. In situ hybridization for Frz 1-7 showed that expression colocalized with the islets of Langerhans. Together the data suggest that active Wnt signaling occurs in adult pancreas and is probably important for physiological functions.