Cellular internalization of proinsulin C-peptide

Proinsulin C-peptide is known to bind specifically to cell membranes and to exert intracellular effects, but whether it is internalized in target cells is unknown. In this study, using confocal microscopy and immunostained or rhodamine-labeled peptide, we show that C-peptide is internalized and localized to the cytosol of Swiss 3T3 and HEK-293 cells. In addition, transport into nuclei was found using the labeled peptide. The internalization was followed at 37°C for up to 1 h, and was reduced at 4°C and after preincubation with pertussis toxin. Hence, it is concluded to occur via an energy-dependent, pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism and without detectable degradation within the experimental time course. Surface plasmon resonance measurements demonstrated binding of HEK-293 cell extract components to C-peptide, and subsequent elution of bound material revealed the components to be intracellular proteins. The identification of C-peptide cellular internalization, intracellular binding proteins, absence of rapid subsequent C-peptide degradation and apparent nuclear internalization support a maintained activity similar to that of an intracrine peptide hormone. Hence, the data suggest the possibility of one further C-peptide site of action. Received 31 October 2006; received after revision 27 December 2006; accepted 30 December 2006     

重组羧肽酶B在胰岛素原C肽制备工艺中的应用

用RT-PCR方法克隆了大鼠羧肽酶原B的cDNA编码序列,将其重组到原核表达质粒pT7-473中,并在大肠杆菌中以包涵体方式获得高表达。SDS-PAGE电泳及灰度扫描显示表达量达菌体总蛋白的35％,表达产物融合了表达质粒上的6His。在变性条件下,经Ni-NTA柱纯化,得到羧肽酶原B,在复性液中进行稀释复性后,胰蛋白酶切得具酶活性的羧肽酶B,然后经DEAE-FF分离纯化获得较纯的羧肽酶B(28．5mg／L),比活为13．5u／mg。用RP-HPLC分析胰蛋白酶 羧肽酶B酶解胰岛素原C肽三聚体的酶解产物,证明该重组的羧肽酶B可替代提取的羧肽酶B应用于胰岛素原C肽的制备工艺中。     

C-peptide fragments stimulate glucose utilization in diabetic rats

Studies of C-peptide cellular effects show that not only the full-length native peptide but also specific C-terminal fragments are biologically active in in vitro systems. In the present study, the effect of five C-peptide fragments and the native peptide on whole-body glucose turnover was studied in streptozotocin diabetic rats using the insulin clamp technique. Insulin was infused intravenously at 18 pmol kg^–1 min^–1 for 90 min and blood glucose concentration was clamped at 8 and 4 mM in diabetic and non-diabetic animals. A steady state was reached during the last 30 min of the study period. Rat C-peptide II and fragments comprising residues 27–31 and 28–31 were effective in augmenting glucose turnover in diabetic rats (+100% to 150%), while no significant effects were seen for segments 1–26, 11–19 and 11–15. The metabolic clearance rate for glucose during infusion of C-peptide or fragments 27–31 and 28–31 in diabetic rats was similar to that seen in non-diabetic animals. We conclude that C-terminal tetra- and pentapeptides, but not fragments from the middle segment of C-peptide, are as effective as the full-length peptide in stimulating whole-body glucose turnover in diabetic rats.Received 18 December 2003; received after revision 19 January 2004; accepted 21 January 2004     

Proinsulin C-peptide elicits disaggregation of insulin resulting in enhanced physiological insulin effects

Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), proinsulin C-peptide was found to influence insulin-insulin interactions. In SPR with chip-bound insulin, C-peptide mixed with analyte insulin increased the binding, while alone C-peptide did not. A control peptide with the same residues in random sequence had little effect. In ESI-MS, C-peptide lowered the presence of insulin hexamer. The data suggest that C-peptide promotes insulin disaggregation. Insulin/insulin oligomer μM dissociation constants were determined. Compatible with these findings, type 1 diabetic patients receiving insulin and C-peptide developed 66% more stimulation of glucose metabolism than when given insulin alone. A role of C-peptide in promoting insulin disaggregation may be important physiologically during exocytosis of pancreatic β-cell secretory granulae and pharmacologically at insulin injection sites. It is compatible with the normal co-release of C-peptide and insulin and may contribute to the beneficial effect of C-peptide and insulin replacement in type 1 diabetics. Received 3 May 2006; received after revision 9 June 2006; accepted 12 June 2006 Free Online Access     

C-肽化学发光免疫测定法的建立

目的建立化学发光免疫法,测定C-肽及临床糖尿病患者胰岛素治疗跟踪与稳定性的可行性评估.方法 LEIA抗原竞争法.结果 CLIA测定C-肽的批内与批间变异系数分别为4.2%和5.0%.结论 CLIA法测定C-肽能及时有效地满足糖尿病患者的临床需要.     

Proinsulin C-peptide and its analogues induce intracellular Ca2+ increases in human renal tubular cells

Based on the findings that proinsulin C-peptide binds specifically to cell membranes, we investigated the effects of C-peptide and related molecules on the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) in human renal tubular cells using the indicator fura-2/AM. The results show that human C-peptide and its C-terminal pentapeptide (positions 27–31, EGSLQ), but not the des (27–31) C-peptide or randomly scrambled C-peptide, elicit a transient increase in [Ca²⁺]_i. Rat C-peptide and rat C-terminal pentapeptide also induce a [Ca²⁺]_i response in human tubular cells, while a human pentapeptide analogue with Ala at position 1 gives no [Ca²⁺]_i response, and those with Ala at positions 2–5 induce responses with different amplitudes. These results define a species cross-reactivity for C-peptide and demonstrate the importance of Glu at position 1 of the pentapeptide. Preincubation of cells with pertussis toxin abolishes the effect on [Ca²⁺]_i by both C-peptide and the pentapeptide. These results are compatible with previous data on C-peptide binding to cells and activation of Na⁺,K⁺ATPase. Combined, all data show that C-peptide is a bioactive peptide and suggest that it elicits changes in [Ca²⁺]_i via G-protein-coupled pathways, giving downstream enzyme effects. Received 13 May 2002; accepted 16 May 2002     

糖尿病患者C-肽、空腹血糖、糖化血清蛋白和糖化血红蛋白的相关性分析

分析糖尿病患者中C-肽、空腹血糖(FBG)、糖化血清蛋白(GSP)及糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)水平的相关性.收集糖尿病患者及查体健康人群的血,用化学发光分析法检测C-肽和胰岛素水平,用高效液相层析法检测HbA1c,用生化仪检测FBG和GSP.结果显示糖尿病患者血中C-肽值和胰岛素水平分别为(320.6±103.6)pmol/L、(5.18±1.39)mU/L,分别明显低于健康人群(P0.05);但血中FBG、GSP、HbA1c水平分别为(9.69±2.14)mmol/L、(8.27±1.53)%、(3.75±0.64)mmol/L,分别明显高于健康人群(P0.05).C-肽与FBG呈负相关(r=-0.565,P0.01);HbA1c与GSP呈正相关(r=0.523,P0.01).结果提示联合检测C-肽、FBG、HbA1c及GSP,能更准确反映患者血糖的控制水平,提高糖尿病的诊疗水平.     

C-peptide stimulates Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, K<Superscript>+</Superscript>-ATPase via activation of ERK1/2 MAP kinases in human renal tubular cells

Proinsulin-connecting peptide (C-peptide) exerts physiological effects partially via stimulation of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase. We determined the molecular mechanism by which C-peptide stimulates Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase in primary human renal tubular cells (HRTCs). Incubation of the cells with 5 nM human C-peptide at 37°C for 10 min stimulated ⁸⁶Rb⁺ uptake by 40% (p<0.01). The carboxy-terminal pentapeptide was found to elicit 57% of the activity of the intact molecule. In parallel with ouabain-sensitive ⁸⁶Rb⁺ uptake, C-peptide increased subunit phosphorylation and basolateral membrane (BLM) abundance of the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase ₁ and ₁ subunits. The increase in BLM abundance of the Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase ₁ and ₁ subunits was accompanied by depletion of ₁ and ₁ subunits from the endosomal compartments. C-peptide action on Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was ERK1/2-dependent in HRTCs. C-peptide-stimulated Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activation, phosphorylation of ₁-subunit and translocation of ₁ and ₁ subunits to the BLM were abolished by a MEK1/2 inhibitor (20 M PD98059). C-peptide stimulation of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ uptake was also abolished by preincubation of HRTCs with an inhibitor of PKC (1 M GF109203X). C-peptide stimulated phosphorylation of human Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase subunit on Thr-Pro amino acid motifs, which form specific ERK substrates. In conclusion, C-peptide stimulates sodium pump activity via ERK1/2-induced phosphorylation of Thr residues on the subunit of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase.Received 15 June 2004; received after revision 14 September 2004; accepted 14 September 2004     

放免测定血清INS、C—P对原发性高血压患者的临床意义

为探讨测定血清胰岛素(INS),C-肽(C-P)对原发性高血压(EH)患者的应用价值,对32例EH患者的空腹和餐后2小时血糖(BG)、INS、C-P等指标进行测定,计算胰岛素敏感指数(ISI),并与40名对照组进行比较.结果发现,EH组与对照组空腹血糖无明显差异,而空腹INS及餐后2小时BG、INS、C-P均明显高于对照组(P＜0.01);胰岛素抵抗、高胰岛素血症比例均明显高于对照组(P＜0.01).提示EH除血管和血液动力学异常外,尚存在多种物质代谢异常.同时血清INS、C-P的RIA测定,在糖尿病以外疾病中的应用前景也很广阔.