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J Wahren

Publications and source records attributed to J Wahren.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

C-peptide binding to human cell membranes: importance of Glu27.

In addition to its established role in proinsulin folding, C-peptide has a function in regulation of cellular activity. The 31-residue peptide influences renal, vascular, and metabolic functions in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Binding to cells has been demonstrated for C-peptide, which can be displaced by its C-terminal pentapeptide. We have now used fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to investigate structural requirements on the pentapeptide part for C-peptide binding. All pentapeptide residues, E(27)GSLQ(31), were individually replaced with Ala and the capacity of the resulting peptides to displace rhodamine-labelled full-length human C-peptide from human renal tubular cell membranes was determined. This showed that Glu27 is essential for displacement, while replacement of Gly28 with Ala has little effect, and replacement of any of the three most C-terminal residues had intermediate effects. Morevover, free Glu displaces full-length C-peptide to about 50%, while free Ala, C-peptide(1-26), and the truncated pentapeptide, corresponding to the tetrapeptide G(28)SLG(31), have no displacing capacity. The peptides EVARQ (corresponding to the rat C-terminal pentapeptide) and ELGGGPGAG (corresponding to positions 11-19 of human C-peptide) do not displace human C-peptide. These results indicate that Glu27 of C-peptide is critically involved in binding to cellular targets.

Alanine↗

Specific binding of proinsulin C-peptide to intact and to detergent-solubilized human skin fibroblasts.

Proinsulin C-peptide exerts physiological effects on kidney and nerve function, but the mechanisms involved remain incompletely understood. Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, we have studied binding of rhodamine-labelled human C-peptide to intact human skin fibroblasts and to detergent-solubilised extracts of fibroblasts, K-562, and IEC-6 cells. Specificity was shown by displacement of rhodamine-labelled human C-peptide with unlabelled human C-peptide. C-peptide was found to bind to the cell membranes of intact fibroblasts with an association constant of 3 x 10(9) M(-1), giving full saturation at about 0.9 nM, close to the physiological C-peptide plasma concentration. Treatment of all investigated cells with the zwitter-ionic detergent Chaps was found to release macromolecules that bind specifically to C-peptide. The binding in Chaps extracts of fibroblasts was sensitive to time but remained reproducible for up to 2 h at room temperature. Lysophosphatidylcholine, Triton X-100, beta-octylglucopyranoside, SDS, or cholate gave extracts with only low or nonspecific binding. It is concluded that C-peptide binding components can be solubilised from cells, and that Chaps appears to be a suitable detergent.

C-Peptide↗

C-peptide prevents and improves chronic Type I diabetic polyneuropathy in the BB/Wor rat.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Insulin and C-peptide exert neuroprotective effects and are deficient in Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus but not in Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. These studies were designed to test the preventive and interventional effects of C-peptide replacement on diabetic polyneuropathy in the Type I diabetic BB/Wor rat. METHODS: Diabetic BB/Wor rats were replaced with rat C-peptide from onset of diabetes and between 5 and 8 months of diabetes. They were examined at 2 and 8 months and compared to non-C-peptide replaced BB/Wor rats, Type II diabetic (non-C-peptide deficient) BB/Z rats and non-diabetic control rats. Animals were monitored as to hyperglycaemia and nerve conduction velocity (NCV). Acute changes such as neural Na+/K+-ATPase and paranodal swelling were examined at 2 months, morphometric and teased fiber analyses were done at 8 months. RESULTS: C-peptide replacement for 2 months in Type I diabetic rats prevented the acute NCV defect by 59% (p < 0.005), the neural Na+/K+-ATPase defect by 55% (p < 0.001) and acute paranodal swelling by 61% (p < 0.001). Eight months of C-peptide replacement prevented the chronic nerve conduction defect by 71% (p < 0.001) and totally prevented axoglial dysjunction (p < 0.001) and paranodal demyelination (p < 0.001). C-peptide treatment from 5 to 8 months showed a 13% (p < 0.05) improvement in NCV, a 33% (p < 0.05) improvement in axoglial dysjunction, normalization (p < 0.001) of paranodal demyelination, repair of axonal degeneration (p < 0.01), and a fourfold (p < 0.001) increase in nerve fibre regeneration. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: C-peptide replacement of Type I BB/Wor-rats partially prevents acute and chronic metabolic, functional and structural changes that separate Type I diabetic polyneuropathy from its Type II counterpart suggesting that C-peptide deficiency plays a pathogenetic role in Type I diabetic polyneuropathy.

Animals↗

Insulin binding monitored by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy.

AIM/HYPOTHESIS: The characteristics of insulin binding to its receptors have been extensively studied by the radioligand binding assay. We used fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to determine the distribution of diffusion times and further novel data on the kinetics of insulin's binding to its receptor. METHODS: Cultured human renal tubular cells (HRTC) were incubated with tetramethyl rhodamine labelled insulin (Rh-Ins) for 60 min. Fluorescence intensity fluctuations and autocorrelation functions for Rh-Ins, free in the incubation medium and bound to the cell membrane, were studied at single-molecule detection sensitivity in a 0.2 fL confocal volume. RESULTS: Measurements at the cell membrane revealed Rh-Ins binding with at least two diffusion components (diffusion times tauD1 = 0.8 ms, tauD2 = 20 ms) and corresponding weight fractions of y1 = 0.43 and y2 = 0.42. Specificity of the binding was shown by the dislocation of bound Rh-Ins when excess unlabelled insulin was added. Scatchard analysis showed a nonlinear plot, revealing two binding processes with different affinities (Kass approximately 2 x 10(10) M(-1) and approximately 1 x 10(9) M(-1), respectively). CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: The fluorescence correlation spectroscopy results show two classes of binding sites with different affinities for insulin, or interactions between receptor sites consistent with negative cooperativity. This conclusion is in agreement with studies of insulin binding using radioligand binding assays. Because of its high sensitivity (single molecule detection), FCS, provides additional data allowing a more precise evaluation of the kinetics of ligand-receptor interactions at low expression levels in living cells.

Cell Membrane↗

Substance P: a pioneer amongst neuropeptides.

A brief overview of recent developments in the substance P field is provided, in addition to a historical introduction. It is emphasized that there are multiple tachykinins and tachykinin receptors and that there are examples of coexistence of several tachykinin peptides and of several tachykinin receptors in single cells, and there is evidence for tachykininergic cotransmission. The distribution and functional significance of tachykinins in the gastrointestinal tract and in sensory neurones, and interactions with other peptides and transmitters, are reviewed. The recent production of knock-out mice for either substance P or the NK1 receptor is discussed, as well as the exciting concept of substance P receptor internalization. Finally, the development of specific substance P antagonists is summarized, and possible clinical implications discussed, and, in particular, a recent study which reports that a substance P antagonist shows clinical efficacy in depression.

Animals↗

Diminished skin blood flow in Type I diabetes: evidence for non-endothelium-dependent dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the extent to which skin blood flow (SBF) responses to application of endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilating agents differ between Type I diabetic patients and healthy subjects. Patients and matched controls were studied after an overnight fast. SBF was determined with laser Doppler perfusion imaging before and after iontophoresis of acetylcholine (Ach; endothelium-dependent) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP; endothelium-independent). Basal SBF did not differ significantly between groups. Iontophoresis of ACh and SNP increased SBF 20-fold in controls. In the patients, the increases in SBF following iontophoresis of ACh and SNP were reduced by 18% and 19%, respectively, versus controls (P<0.05 for both). These data demonstrate that Type I diabetic patients have similar diminished SBF responses to iontophoresis of ACh and SNP, which suggests that non-endothelial-dependent factors are primarily responsible for the diminished SBF responses.

Acetylcholine↗

Integrated bioprocess for production of human proinsulin C-peptide via heat release of an intracellular heptameric fusion protein.

An integrated bioprocess has been developed suitable for production of recombinant peptides using a gene multimerization strategy and site-specific cleavage of the resulting gene product. The process has been used for production in E. coli of the human proinsulin C-peptide via a fusion protein BB-C7 containing seven copies of the 31-residues C-peptide monomer. The fusion protein BB-C7 was expressed at high level, 1.8 g l(-1), as a soluble gene product in the cytoplasm. A heat treatment procedure efficiently released the BB-C7 fusion protein into the culture medium. This step also served as an initial purification step by precipitating the majority of the host cell proteins, resulting in a 70% purity of the BB-C7 fusion protein. Following cationic polyelectrolyte precipitation of the nucleic acids and anion exchange chromatography, native C-peptide monomers were obtained by enzymatic cleavage at flanking arginine residues. The released C-peptide material was further purified by reversed-phase chromatography and size exclusion chromatography. The overall yield of native C-peptide at a purity exceeding 99% was 400 mg l(-1) culture, corresponding to an overall recovery of 56%. The suitability of this process also for the production of other recombinant proteins is discussed.

Bioreactors↗

Unordered structured of proinsulin C-peptide in aqueous solution and in the presence of lipid vesicles.

Proinsulin C-peptide ameliorates renal and autonomic nerve function and increases skeletal muscle blood flow, oxygen uptake and glucose transport in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These effects have in part been ascribed to the stimulatory influence of C-peptide on Na+,K+-ATPase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. To evaluate the capacity of C-peptide to insert into lipid bilayers and form ion channels, C-peptide secondary structure and membrane interactions were studied with circular dichroism spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography. C-peptide is shown to lack a stable secondary structure, both when part of proinsulin and when free in aqueous solution, although the N-terminal third of the peptide exhibits an alpha-helical conformation in trifluoroethanol. Moreover, C-peptide remains disordered in the aqueous solvent in the presence of lipid vesicles, regardless of vesicle composition. In conclusion, C-peptide is unlikely to elicit physiological effects through stable conformation-dependent interactions with lipid membranes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Site of nicotine absorption from a vapour inhaler--comparison with cigarette smoking.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the site of nicotine absorption during and after use of a nicotine-vapour inhaler compared with that after cigarette smoking. METHODS: Using a catheterisation technique, the nicotine plasma concentration-time profiles in arterial and jugular venous blood after using a nicotine inhaler were compared with those achieved after cigarette smoking a in seven healthy habitual smokers. RESULTS: After use of the inhaler, arterial nicotine concentrations rose slowly to a maximum level of 5. 9 +/- 1.5 ng/ml at a mean time to reach peak concentration (t(max)) of 9.0 +/- 1.1 min, whereas jugular venous nicotine levels peaked at 25.4 +/- 5.4 ng/ml at 6.7 +/- 0.3 min. The concentration-time curves indicate that the absorption occurs mainly via the mucosa of the oral cavity and the pharynx, and that there is minimal absorption via the lungs. In contrast, after smoking a cigarette, arterial nicotine plasma concentrations rose quickly to a maximum level of 49. 2 +/- 9.7 ng/ml after 4.0 +/- 0.6 min, while the maximum concentration of nicotine in the jugular vein was 22.4 +/- 3.9 ng/ml after 6.4 +/- 0.4 min, indicating primarily pulmonary absorption of nicotine. CONCLUSION: Nicotine absorption after use of the vapour inhaler occurs primarily via the mucosa of the oral cavity; the absorption occurs slowly and the arterial nicotine concentration spike, typical of cigarette smoking, is avoided. Thus, the likelihood for abuse of the nicotine inhaler is probably small.

Absorption↗

Beneficial effects of C-peptide on incipient nephropathy and neuropathy in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: Recent studies have indicated that proinsulin C-peptide shows specific binding to cell membrane binding sites and may exert biological effects when administered to patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus. This study was undertaken to determine if combined treatment with C-peptide and insulin might reduce the level of microalbuminuria in patients with Type 1 diabetes and incipient nephropathy. METHODS: Twenty-one normotensive patients with microalbuminuria were studied for 6 months in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over design. The patients received s.c. injections of either human C-peptide (600 nmol/24 h) or placebo plus their regular insulin regimen for 3 months. RESULTS: Glycaemic control improved slightly during the study and to a similar extent in both treatment groups. Blood pressure was unaltered throughout the study. During the C-peptide treatment period, urinary albumin excretion decreased progressively on average from 58 microg/min (basal) to 34 microg/min (3 months, P < 0.01) and it tended to increase, but not significantly so, during the placebo period. The difference between the two treatment periods was statistically significant (P < 0.01). In the 12 patients with signs of autonomic neuropathy prior to the study, respiratory heart rate variability increased by 21 +/- 9% (P < 0.05) during treatment with C-peptide but was unaltered during placebo. Thermal thresholds were significantly improved during C-peptide treatment in comparison to placebo (n = 6, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that combined treatment with C-peptide and insulin for 3 months may improve renal function by diminishing urinary albumin excretion and ameliorate autonomic and sensory nerve dysfunction in patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗

Role of C-peptide in human physiology.

The C-peptide of proinsulin is important for the biosynthesis of insulin but has for a long time been considered to be biologically inert. Data now indicate that C-peptide in the nanomolar concentration range binds specifically to cell surfaces, probably to a G protein-coupled surface receptor, with subsequent activation of Ca(2+)-dependent intracellular signaling pathways. The association rate constant, K(ass), for C-peptide binding to endothelial cells, renal tubular cells, and fibroblasts is approximately 3. 10(9) M(-1). The binding is stereospecific, and no cross-reaction is seen with insulin, proinsulin, insulin growth factors I and II, or neuropeptide Y. C-peptide stimulates Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activities. Data also indicate that C-peptide administration is accompanied by augmented blood flow in skeletal muscle and skin, diminished glomerular hyperfiltration, reduced urinary albumin excretion, and improved nerve function, all in patients with type 1 diabetes who lack C-peptide, but not in healthy subjects. The possibility exists that C-peptide replacement, together with insulin administration, may prevent the development or retard the progression of long-term complications in type 1 diabetes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of proinsulin C-peptide on nitric oxide, microvascular blood flow and erythrocyte Na+,K+-ATPase activity in diabetes mellitus type I.

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of proinsulin C-peptide on erythrocyte Na(+),K(+)-ATPase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activities in patients with type I diabetes. In a randomized double-blind study design, ten patients with type I diabetes received intravenous infusions of either human C-peptide or physiological saline on two different occasions. C-peptide was infused at a rate of 3 pmol.min(-1).kg(-1) for 60 min, and thereafter at 10 pmol.min(-1).kg(-1) for 60 min. At baseline and after 60 and 120 min, laser Doppler flow (LDF) was measured following acetylcholine iontophoresis or mild thermal stimulation (44 degrees C), and venous blood samples were collected to determine plasma cGMP levels and erythrocyte membrane Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity. The LDF response to acetylcholine increased during C-peptide infusion and decreased during saline infusion [18.6+/-19.2 and -13.2+/-9.4 arbitrary units respectively; mean+/-S.E.M.; P<0.05). No significant change in LDF was observed after thermal stimulation. The baseline plasma concentration of cGMP was 5.5+/-0.6 nmol.l(-1); this rose to 6.8+/-0.9 nmol.l(-1) during C-peptide infusion (P<0.05). Erythrocyte Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity increased from 140+/-29 nmol of P(i).h(-1).mg(-1) in the basal state to 287+/-5 nmol of P(i). h(-1).mg(-1) during C-peptide infusion (P<0.01). There was a significant linear relationship between plasma C-peptide levels and erythrocyte Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity during the C-peptide infusion (r=0.46, P<0.01). No significant changes in plasma cGMP levels or Na(+),K(+)-ATPase activity were observed during saline infusion. This study demonstrates an effect of human proinsulin C-peptide on microvascular function, which might be mediated by an increase in NO production and an activation of the erythrocyte Na(+),K(+)-ATPase. These mechanisms are compatible with the previous observed microvascular effects of C-peptide in patients with type I diabetes.

Acetylcholine↗

Specific binding of proinsulin C-peptide to human cell membranes.

Recent reports have demonstrated beneficial effects of proinsulin C-peptide in the diabetic state, including improvements of kidney and nerve function. To examine the background to these effects, C-peptide binding to cell membranes has been studied by using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Measurements of ligand-membrane interactions at single-molecule detection sensitivity in 0.2-fl confocal volume elements show specific binding of fluorescently labeled C-peptide to several human cell types. Full saturation of the C-peptide binding to the cell surface is obtained at low nanomolar concentrations. Scatchard analysis of binding to renal tubular cells indicates the existence of a high-affinity binding process with K(ass) > 3.3 x 10(9) M(-1). Addition of excess unlabeled C-peptide is accompanied by competitive displacement, yielding a dissociation rate constant of 4.5 x 10(-4) s(-1). The C-terminal pentapeptide also displaces C-peptide bound to cell membranes, indicating that the binding occurs at this segment of the ligand. Nonnative D-C-peptide and a randomly scrambled C-peptide do not compete for binding with the labeled C-peptide, nor were crossreactions observed with insulin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, or proinsulin. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin, known to modify receptor-coupled G proteins, abolishes the binding. It is concluded that C-peptide binds to specific G protein-coupled receptors on human cell membranes, thus providing a molecular basis for its biological effects.

Binding, Competitive↗

Rat C peptide I and II stimulate glucose utilization in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

AIMS: To study the effects of physiological concentrations of rat proinsulin C peptide I and II, respectively, on whole body glucose utilization in streptozotocin diabetic and healthy rats. METHODS: A sequential insulin clamp procedure was used (insulin infusion rates 3.0 and 30.0 mU.kg-1.min-1) in awake animals. C-peptide infusion rates were 0.05 and 0.5 nmol.kg-1.min-1. Blood glucose was clamped at 7.7 +/- 0.3 mmol/l in the diabetic rats and at 3.9 +/- 0.1 mmol/l in the healthy rats. RESULTS: In diabetic rats infused at lower rates of C peptide and insulin, glucose utilization increased by 79-90% (p < 0.001) compared with diabetic animals infused with saline and insulin. Increasing the rate of C-peptide infusion tenfold did not elicit a statistically significant further increase in glucose utilization. C peptide I and II exerted similar effects. The metabolic clearance rate for glucose in the diabetic animals infused with C peptide was not different from that of the healthy rats. During high-dose insulin infusion (30.0 mU.kg-1.min-1) glucose utilization increased considerably and no statistically significant C-peptide effects were observed. About 85% of the increase in glucose utilization induced by C peptide could be blocked by treatment with N-monomethyl-L-arginine. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Physiological concentrations of homologous C peptide stimulate whole body glucose utilization in diabetic but not in healthy rats. C peptide I and II elicit similar effects. The influence of C peptide on glucose utilization may be mediated by nitric oxide.

Animals↗

Arterial KIC as marker of liver and muscle intracellular leucine pools in healthy and type 1 diabetic humans.

In human protein turnover studies with isotopically labeled leucine (Leu) as a tracer, plasma ketoisocaproate (KIC) enrichment is extensively used as a surrogate measure of intracellular leucine enrichment. To test how accurately arterial ketoisocaproate (A-KIC) represents leucine isotopic enrichment in the hepatic (HV) and femoral veins (FV), which drain liver and muscle beds, we measured Leu and KIC enrichments in samples collected from HV, FV, and femoral artery (A) in 24 control and 6 type I diabetic subjects after a primed, continuous infusion of L-[1-(13)C,(15)N]-Leu. Studies were performed during insulin deprivation or insulin replacement in the diabetic group, whereas the effect of normal saline or three different doses of insulin infusion (0.25, 0.50, and 1 mU. kg(-1). min(-1)) were assessed in healthy controls. The ratios of baseline isotopic enrichments of A-KIC to HV Leu and FV Leu were 0.93 +/- 0.01 and 0.94 +/- 0.02, respectively, in normal subjects and 1.07 +/- 0.04 and 1.05 +/- 0.03, respectively, in diabetic subjects (P < 0.01, diabetic vs. normal subjects). Insulin did not change A-KIC-to-HV Leu ratios in either group, but the A-KIC-to-FV Leu ratio decreased during insulin infusion in normal subjects (P < 0.05). In conclusion, A-KIC represents a reliable surrogate measure of HV Leu enrichment at different levels of circulating insulin in humans. The present data support the use of A-KIC as a surrogate precursor pool for hepatic protein synthesis.

Adult↗

Origins of the hydrogen bound to carbon 1 of glucose in fasting: significance in gluconeogenesis quantitation.

Healthy subjects ingested (2)H(2)O. (2)H enriched the hydrogen bound to carbon 1 of blood glucose 1.3 to 1.8 times more than the hydrogens bound to carbon 6. Enrichment at carbon 1 was more than at carbon 5 after 14 h, but not after 42 h, of fasting. After overnight fasting, when [2,3-(3)H]succinate was infused, 34 times as much (3)H was bound to carbon 6 as to carbon 1. On [1-(2)H,1-(3)H, 1-(14)C]galactose infusion, the ratios of (2)H to (14)C and of (3)H to (14)C in blood glucose were 30% less than in the galactose. (3)H at carbon 6 was 1% of that at carbon 1 of the glucose. Thus, although the two hydrogens bound to carbon 1 and the two bound to carbon 6 of fructose 6-phosphate (p) during gluconeogenesis are equally enriched in (2)H via pyruvate's equilibration with alanine, one of each is further enriched via hydration of fumarate that is converted to glucose. That hydrogen at carbon 1 of fructose 6-phosphate (P) is also enriched in fructose 6-P's equilibration with mannose 6-P. (2)H from (2)H(2)O at carbon 1 to carbon 2 of blood glucose cannot then quantitate gluconeogenesis because of [1-(2)H]glucose formation during glycogenolysis. Triose-P cycling has a minimal effect on quantitation. (2)H recovery in glucose from [1-(2)H]galactose does not quantitate galactose conversion via UDP-glucose to glycogen.

Adult↗

Contributions by kidney and liver to glucose production in the postabsorptive state and after 60 h of fasting.

Contributions of renal glucose production to whole-body glucose turnover were determined in healthy individuals by using the arteriovenous balance technique across the kidneys and the splanchnic area combined with intravenous infusion of [U-13C6]glucose, [3-(3)H]glucose, or [6-(3)H]glucose. In the postabsorptive state, the rate of glucose appearance was 11.5 +/- 0.6 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1). Hepatic glucose production, calculated as the sum of net glucose output (9.8 +/- 0.8 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and splanchnic glucose uptake (2.2 +/- 0.3 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) accounted for the entire rate of glucose appearance. There was no net exchange of glucose across the kidney and no significant renal extraction of labeled glucose. The renal contribution to total glucose production calculated from the arterial, hepatic, and renal venous 13C-enrichments (glucose M+6) was 5 +/- 2%. In the 60-h fasted state, the rate of glucose appearance was 8.2 +/- 0.3 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1). Hepatic glucose production, estimated as net splanchnic output (5.8 +/- 0.7 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) plus splanchnic uptake (0.6 +/- 0.3 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) accounted for 79% of the rate of glucose appearance. There was a significant net renal output of glucose (0.9 +/- 0.3 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1)), but no significant extraction of labeled glucose across the kidney. The renal contribution to whole-body glucose turnover calculated from the 13C-enrichments was 24 +/- 3%. We concluded that 1) glucose production by the human kidney in the postabsorptive state, in contrast to recent reports, makes at most only a minor contribution (approximately 5%) to blood glucose homeostasis, but that 2) after 60-h of fasting, renal glucose production may account for 20-25% of whole-body glucose turnover.

Adult↗