Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M S Lan

Publications and source records attributed to M S Lan.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Molecular characterization of the promoter region of a neuroendocrine tumor marker, IA-1.

IA-1 is an intronless gene, which encodes a 510 amino acid protein with a zinc-finger DNA-binding motif that is expressed in tumors of neuroendocrine origin. The 5'-upstream region of the IA-1 gene was recently sequenced. In this paper, the regulatory elements and the promoter region of the 5'-upstream region were analyzed by use of a series of deletion mutants (ranging from +26 bp to -2090 bp upstream of the IA-1 gene), which were tested in a pituitary tumor cell line, AtT-20, and Hela cells by transient transfection assays. These experiments showed that a 506 base pair upstream sequence was sufficient for maximal expression of a reporter gene. Multiple known regulatory elements were found within this region including three E boxes and a clustered Sp-1 site. In addition, Southwestern blot analysis, using a radiolabeled promoter sequence (extending from -108 bp to -66 bp) and nuclear extracts from both neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine cell lines, revealed four promoter binding proteins designated PBP1, PBP2, PBP3 and PBP4 with molecular weights of 55 kD, 32 kD, 29 kD, and 27/28 kD, respectively. These studies suggest that several different regulatory elements in the 5'-upstream region of the IA-1 gene and at least four different nuclear proteins may be involved in the cell-specific expression of IA-1.

Binding Sites↗

Immunization therapies in the prevention of diabetes.

Insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD), being an autoimmune disease, offers several opportunities for immunological interventions that may result either in the reduction of disease severity or in delaying diabetes onset. Among the various experimental preventative approaches, parenteral immunization with islet-specific autoantigens appears to be practically simpler and promising. We have previously shown that immunization with insulin, insulin B chain and B chain epitope (p9-23), but not insulin A chain, in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) and in alum (with B chain) delayed/prevented diabetes onset in NOD mice. Here we demonstrate the protective efficacy of affinity purified GAD65 in IFA. While both insulin B chain and GAD65 significantly delayed the onset of diabetes (P=0.001), a recently described tyrosine phosphatase (IA-2) antigen did not (P=0.38). Interestingly, B chain immunization reduced the incidence of cyclophosphamide (CY)-accelerated diabetes by about 50-55%. We also provide further evidence that B chain, upon increased adsorption to alum, could improve on its protective capacity in NOD mice.

Animals↗

Comparison of IA-2 with IA-2beta and with six other members of the protein tyrosine phosphatase family: recognition of antigenic determinants by IDDM sera.

To study the expression of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) in pancreatic islets, a cDNA library from islet cells was constructed and analysed. Twenty-one different PTPs were found to be expressed in islet cells, including three previously unknown PTPs. One of these, IA-2beta, was cloned, sequenced, and found to be related to IA-2, a major autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The intracellular and extracellular domains of IA-2beta were 74 and 27% identical, respectively, to the intracellular and extracellular domains of IA-2. Approximately 70 and 45% of sera from patients with IDDM had autoantibodies that immunoprecipitated recombinant IA-2 and IA-2beta, respectively. By use of deletion mutants, we were able to show that the autoantibodies reacted with the intracellular, and not the extracellular, domains of IA-2 and IA-2beta, and that the major antigenic determinants resided within the COOH-terminus of the intracellular domains. Further studies revealed that approximately 97% of the IDDM sera that reacted with IA-2beta also reacted with IA-2, whereas only 50% of IDDM sera that reacted with IA-2 also reacted with IA-2beta. In contrast to the reactivity of IDDM sera with the IA-2 and IA-2beta, IDDM sera did not react with six other members of the PTP family. It is concluded that many members of the PTP family are expressed in pancreatic islets, but thus far only IA-2 and IA-2beta appear to be recognized as autoantigens by IDDM sera.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular characterization of a pancreas-specific protein disulfide isomerase, PDIp.

A novel tissue-specific cDNA, PDIp, was previously isolated from human pancreas. It encodes a protein that is structurally and functionally related to protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). To compare the expression pattern of PDI and PDIp in human pancreas and liver tissues, we prepared rabbit polyclonal antiserum against a recombinant glutathione-S-transferase-coupled PDIp fusion protein. Western blot analysis revealed that pancreas expresses both PDI and PDIp, whereas liver only expresses PDI. Rabbit antiserum raised against recombinant PDIp immunostained specifically to the acinar cells of human pancreas. Treatment of PDIp with peptide:N-glycosidase F caused PDIp down shift in the NaDodSO4-PAGE gel, indicating that PDIp is a glycoprotein. A 2.0-kb message was detected from mouse pancreas using a human PDIp cDNA probe. Similarly, PDIp glycoprotein was detected in mouse pancreas extract by anti-human PDIp antiserum, suggesting that PDIp is highly conserved in human and mouse pancreas. From these studies, we conclude that the pancreas expresses two members of PDI and that PDIp is a glycoprotein specifically expressed in pancreatic acinar cells.

Animals↗

Autoantibodies to IA-2 in IDDM: location of major antigenic determinants.

Thirty-three IDDM sera that immunoprecipitated full-length IA-2 were tested for reactivity with different fragments of the IA-2 molecule. The fragments were prepared by PCR amplification of IA-2 cDNA and by expression in a rabbit reticulocyte transcription/translation system. Whereas all 33 sera reacted with the intracellular domain (amino acid 604 to 979), none of the sera reacted with the extracellular domain of IA-2 (amino acid 31 to 577). Analysis of the reactivity of IDDM sera with the different regions of the intracellular domain showed that 94% (31 of the 33) reacted with the COOH-terminus (amino acid 771 to 979), 40% reacted with the NH2-terminus (amino acid 604 to 776), and 40% reacted with the middle portion (amino acid 692 to 875). Of the 31 sera that reacted with the COOH-terminus, 14 of these reacted only with the COOH-terminus and with no other region. Of the 13 sera that reacted with the NH2-terminus, only one reacted exclusively with the NH2-terminus. Treatments of the different domains of IA-2 with trypsin showed that only the COOH-terminus was resistant to trypsin, arguing that it is from this region of the IA-2 molecule that the 40-kDa tryptic fragment from insulinoma cells is derived. From these experiments, it is concluded that the major antigenic determinant of IA-2 is located at the COOH-terminus and that minor antigenic determinants are located at the NH2-terminus and middle portion of the intracellular domain.

Adolescent↗

Value of antibodies to islet protein tyrosine phosphatase-like molecule in predicting type 1 diabetes.

Islet antigens associated with type 1 diabetes include a recently identified protein tyrosine phosphatase-like molecule IA-2, which contains the intracellular fragment IA-2ic. To determine whether combinations of antibodies including those to IA-2 characterize and predict type 1 diabetes, we studied antibodies to IA-2, IA-2ic, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65), and islet cell antibodies (ICAs) in 1) 60 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients followed for 1 year, 2) 31 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for type 1 diabetes followed up to 12 years (11 twins developed diabetes), 3) 18 dizygotic twin pairs discordant for type 1 diabetes, and 4) normal healthy control subjects. Newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients frequently had antibodies to IA-2 (62%), IA-2ic (67%), GAD65 (77%), and ICAs (85%). The intracellular fragment of IA-2 probably contains the immunodominant epitope as 137 of 143 samples with IA-2 antibodies from type 1 diabetic patients also had IA-2ic antibodies. Monozygotic twins were usually discordant for antibody specificities. Concordance was higher in monozygotic than matched dizygotic twins for both antibody combinations (33 vs. 6%, P < 0.05) and the development of diabetes (33 vs. 0%, P < 0.01). In monozygotic twins, all the antibodies were highly predictive of type 1 diabetes (positive predictive values all >87%), although antibodies were also detected in twins at low risk of disease. In summary, IA-2 emerges as a major antigen associated with type 1 diabetes and distinct from GAD65. Type 1 diabetes-associated autoimmunity, which is probably induced by environmental factors, does not necessarily herald progression to the disease. However, genetic factors may influence the development of combinations of disease-associated antibodies and the progression to type 1 diabetes.

Adolescent↗

Autoantigens in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: molecular cloning and characterization of human IA-2 beta.

In this study, we describe the isolation, expression, and characterization of a new member of the transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase family from human brain, designated IA-2 beta. The 3853-bp cDNA encodes 986 amino acids with a molecular mass of 108,044 daltons (a predicted pI value of 5.8). The intracellular domain of human IA-2 beta is 74% identical to human IA-2. Northern blot analysis showed that IA-2 beta cDNA recognized two transcripts (approximately 5.0 kb and 4.0 kb) in four of five human insulinomas, one glucagonoma, and in normal human brain, pituitary, and pancreas, but not in a variety of other normal tissues. Rabbit antiserum, raised against the intracellular domain of IA-2 beta, reacted with pancreatic islets. Treatment of in vitro-translated full-length IA-2 beta protein with trypsin converted it into a 37-kD fragment. Using recombinant human IA-2 beta, we developed a radioimmunoprecipitation assay to measure autoantibodies in the sera of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Seventy-six new-onset IDDM patients were tested. Thirty-seven percent (28 of 76) of the IDDM sera-but less than 1% of the control sera (1 of 174)-reacted with IA-2 beta. The same IDDM sera tested for autoantibodies to IA-2 and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) showed that 64% (49 of 76) and 57% (43 of 76), respectively, were positive. All but two of the IA-2 beta autoantibody-positive sera also reacted with IA-2, supporting the close sequence similarity between the two molecules. Combination of any two markers, such as IA-2 beta and IA-2, or IA-2 beta and GAD65, or IA-2 and GAD65, revealed that 67%, 74%, and 87% of IDDM sera were positive for autoantibodies, respectively. Blocking of IDDM sera with recombinant IA-2, IA-2 beta, or GAD65 resulted in marked inhibition of reactivity of IDDM sera with pancreatic islet sections as measured by islet cell autoantibody immunofluorescence. This result suggests that these three autoantigens are the major targets of islet-cell autoantibody reactivity.

Adolescent↗

IA-2, a transmembrane protein of the protein tyrosine phosphatase family, is a major autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

IA-2 is a 105,847 Da transmembrane protein that belongs to the protein tyrosine phosphatase family. Immunoperoxidase staining with antibody raised against IA-2 showed that this protein is expressed in human pancreatic islet cells. In this study, we expressed the full-length cDNA clone of IA-2 in a rabbit reticulocyte transcription/translation system and used the recombinant radiolabeled IA-2 protein to detect autoantibodies by immunoprecipitation. Coded sera (100) were tested: 50 from patients with newly diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 50 from age-matched normal controls. Sixty-six percent of the sera from patients, but none of the sera from controls, reacted with IA-2. The same diabetic sera tested for autoantibodies to islet cells (ICA) by indirect immunofluorescence and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65Ab) by depletion ELISA showed 68% and 52% positivity, respectively. Up to 86% of the IDDM patients had autoantibodies to IA-2 and/or GAD65. Moreover, greater than 90% (14 of 15) of the ICA-positive but GAD65Ab-negative sera had autoantibodies to IA-2. Absorption experiments showed that the immunofluorescence reactivity of ICA-positive sera was greatly reduced by prior incubation with recombinant IA-2 or GAD65 when the respective antibody was present. A little over one-half (9 of 16) of the IDDM sera that were negative for ICA were found to be positive for autoantibodies to IA-2 and/or GAD65, arguing that the immunofluorescence test for ICA is less sensitive than the recombinant tests for autoantibodies to IA-2 and GAD65. It is concluded that IA-2 is a major islet cell autoantigen in IDDM, and, together with GAD65, is responsible for much of the reactivity of ICA with pancreatic islets. Tests for the detection of autoantibodies to recombinant IA-2 and GAD65 may eventually replace ICA immunofluorescence for IDDM population screening.

Animals↗

IA-2, a transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase, is expressed in human lung cancer cell lines with neuroendocrine phenotype.

IA-2 is a transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase isolated recently from a human insulinoma subtraction library. Its expression in normal human tissues is restricted primarily to the pancreatic islets and brain. In this report, we describe the expression of IA-2 mRNA in a panel consisting of 20 lung tumor cell lines with neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine phenotype and 17 non-lung tumor cell lines. IA-2 mRNA was detected in 8 of 11 neuroendocrine small cell lung carcinomas, 4 of 4 non-small cell lung carcinomas with neuroendocrine phenotype, and 11 of 12 non-lung neuroendocrine tumor cell lines. In contrast, IA-2 mRNA was not detected in five non-neuroendocrine lung carcinomas, nor in a panel of other non-neuroendocrine tumor cell lines. The expression pattern of IA-2 mRNA suggests that IA-2 may represent a new marker for neuroendocrine differentiation In human lung cancer cells and perhaps other neuroendocrine tumors.

Autoantigens↗

Identification of a second transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase, IA-2beta, as an autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: precursor of the 37-kDa tryptic fragment.

A novel cDNA, IA-2beta, was isolated from a mouse neonatal brain library. The predicted protein sequence revealed an extracellular domain, a transmembrane region, and an intracellular domain. The intracellular domain is 376 amino acids long and 74% identical to the intracellular domain of IA-2, a major autoantigen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). A partial sequence of the extracellular domain of IA-2beta indicates that it differs substantially (only 26% identical) from that of IA-2. Both molecules are expressed in islets and brain tissue. Forty-six percent (23 of 50) of the IDDM sera but none of the sera from normal controls (0 of 50) immunoprecipitated the intracellular domain of IA-2beta. Competitive inhibition experiments showed that IDDM sera have autoantibodies that recognize both common and distinct determinants on IA-2 and IA-2beta. Many IDDM sera are known to immunoprecipitate 37-kDa and 40-kDa tryptic fragments from islet cells, but the identity of the precursor protein(s) has remained elusive. The current study shows that treatment of recombinant IA-2beta and IA-2 with trypsin yields a 37-kDa fragment and a 40-kDa fragment, respectively, and that these fragments can be immunoprecipitated with diabetic sera. Absorption of diabetic sera with unlabeled recombinant IA-2 or IA-2beta, prior to incubation with radiolabeled 37-kDa and 40-kDa tryptic fragments derived from insulinoma or glucagonoma cells, blocks the immunoprecipitation of both of these radiolabeled tryptic fragments. We conclude that IA-2beta and IA-2 are the precursors of the 37-kDa and 40-kDa islet cell autoantigens, respectively, and that both IA-2 and IA-2beta are major autoantigens in IDDM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

IA-2 and IA-2 beta are major autoantigens in IDDM and the precursors of the 40 kDa and 37 kDa tryptic fragments.

By subtraction strategy and polymerase chain reaction amplification, two novel cDNAs, designated IA-2 and IA-2 beta, were cloned, sequenced and expressed. Both are transmembrane proteins belonging to the protein tyrosine phosphatase family and are expressed in pancreatic islets. Serological studies revealed that a high percentage of patients with IDDM have autoantibodies to IA-2/IA-2 beta and that the presence of these autoantibodies in otherwise normal individuals is highly predictive in identifying those at risk of ultimately developing clinical diabetes. Moreover, many patients who are ICA positive, but who do not have Abs to GAD65, have Abs to IA-2/IA-2 beta. Enzymatic cleavage of IA-2/IA-2 beta and serological analysis showed that IA-2 is the precursor of the 40 kDa tryptic fragment and IA-2 beta is the precursor of the 37 kDa tryptic fragment, both previously shown to be autoantigens. It is concluded that IA-2/IA-2 beta are major autoantigens in IDDM and together with GAD65 are responsible for much of the reactivity of ICA with pancreatic islets. Tests for the detection of autoantibodies to recombinant IA-2/IA-2 beta and recombinant GAD65 are likely to replace the ICA immunofluorescence test for population screening.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization and chromosomal localization of a new protein disulfide isomerase, PDIp, highly expressed in human pancreas.

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) catalyzes protein folding and thiol-disulfide interchange reactions. The enzyme is localized in the lumen of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and is abundant in secretory cells of various tissues. In this study we describe the isolation and characterization from human pancreas of a new protein, PDIp, that is structurally and functionally related to PDIs. PDIp cDNA is 1,659 bp in length and predicts a protein with an open reading frame of 511 amino acids. PDIp amino acid sequence shows 46% identity and 66% similarity to that of human PDI. PDIp possesses two thioredoxin-like active sites (WCGHCQ and WCTHCK) and an endoplasmic reticulum retention signal sequence, KEEL, at the carboxyl terminus. Northern analysis of normal human tissues and various human tumor cell lines revealed PDIp mRNA (2.0 kb) expression only in the normal pancreas. Recombinant PDIp protein catalyzed reductive cleavage of insulin and renaturation of reduced RNaseA. Somatic cell genetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization localized the PDIp gene to the short arm of human chromosome 16. It is concluded that PDIp is a new member of the PDI family and is highly expressed in human pancreas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation, sequence and expression of a novel mouse brain cDNA, mIA-2, and its relatedness to members of the protein tyrosine phosphatase family.

This study describes the isolation of a putative transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), mIA-2, from a mouse brain cDNA library. The cDNA encodes 979 amino acids containing a unique extracellular domain and a single intracellular catalytic domain. Expression of mIA-2 was found primarily in the central nervous system and in neuroendocrine cells. The sequence shares a high degree of homology with its human counterpart (92% identity), especially in the intracellular domain, which shows 99.3% identity between the two species. In both human and mouse IA-2, several substitutions were found in the highly conserved regions including an Ala to Asp substitution in the core sequence. Bacterial expression of a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein showed that mIA-2 had no enzyme activity with conventional substrates such as Raytide, myelin basic protein, angiotensin, RR-src and pNpp. When tested with the total tyrosine-phosphorylated cellular proteins isolated on an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody column, it also showed little, if any, enzyme activity. These findings suggest that mIA-2 is a new member of the transmembrane PTP family that either has very narrow substrate specificity perhaps requiring post-translational modification for enzyme activity or has a still unknown biological function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genomic organization, 5'-upstream sequence, and chromosomal localization of an insulinoma-associated intronless gene, IA-1.

IA-1 is a novel cDNA originally isolated from a human insulinoma subtraction library (ISL-153). It encodes a protein containing both a zinc finger DNA-binding domain and a putative prohormone domain. IA-1 transcripts have been found thus far only in tumors of neuroendocrine origin. Clinical studies have shown that IA-1 is a sensitive marker for neuroendocrine differentiation of human lung tumors. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the entire IA-1 gene and its 5'-upstream region from a human liver genomic library. In situ hybridization localized the IA-1 gene to the short arm of human chromosome 20. Sequence analysis and restriction enzyme mapping showed that the IA-1 gene is uninterrupted and appears to be intronless. Evidence that IA-1 is an intronless gene that can translate into protein was obtained from in vitro translation studies that showed that both IA-1 cDNA and IA-1 genomic DNA yielded identical protein products of approximately 61,000 daltons. Examination of the 5'-upstream region (2090 base pairs) revealed several tissue-specific regulatory elements, including glucokinase upstream promoter elements and a Pit-1 factor binding site. The presence of several different upstream regulatory elements may account for IA-1 gene expression in different neuroendocrine tumors.

Base Sequence↗

cDNA sequence and genomic organization of mouse secretin.

A murine insulinoma library was constructed by subtracting glucagonoma cDNAs from insulinoma cDNAs. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence of one of the clones with sequences from the GenBank database showed that it was a member of the secretin family. The clone, 490 bp long, encodes a protein of 133 amino acids consisting of a signal peptide, a N-terminal peptide, secretin, and a C-terminal peptide, which showed 88% and 80% homology with rat and porcine secretin precursor proteins, respectively. The translated secretin peptide showed a unique Met to Thr substitution at position 5 as compared to the secretins from other species. That the Met to Thr substitution was not tumor-related was demonstrated by the fact that an identical sequence was found in cDNA from normal mouse intestine. Studies on the mouse secretin gene revealed that it contains four exons separated by 81 bp, 110 bp, and 96 bp introns.

Amino Acid Sequence↗