Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) aggregates to form amyloid fibrils in patients with type 2 diabetes and acts as a potent stimulus for interleukin (IL)-1β secretion by bone marrow-derived macrophages. We sought to determine the contribution of resident islet macrophages to IAPP-induced inflammation and β-cell dysfunction. In cultured islets, macrophages (F4/80(+)CD11b(+)CD11c(+) cells) were req...

Amylin is an endocrine hormone and is a member of the family of amyloid peptides and proteins that emerge as potential scaffolds by self-assembly processes. Zn(2+) ions can bind to amylin peptides to form self-assembled Zn(2+)-amylin oligomers. In the current work the binding sites of Zn(2+) ions in the self-assembled amylin oligomers at various concentrations of zinc have been investigated. Ou...

The deposition of fibrillated human islet β-cell peptide islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) into amyloid plaques is characteristic of the pathogenesis of islet cell death during type 2 diabetes. We investigated the effects of the neuroendocrine secretory proteins 7B2 and proSAAS on hIAPP fibrillation in vitro and on cytotoxicity. In vitro, 21-kDa 7B2 and proSAAS blocked hIAPP fibrillation. Struc...

Islet amyloidosis is characterized by the aberrant accumulation of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in pancreatic islets, resulting in β cell toxicity, which exacerbates type 2 diabetes and islet transplant failure. It is not fully clear how IAPP induces cellular stress or how IAPP-induced toxicity can be prevented or treated. We recently defined the properties of toxic IAPP species. Here, we h...

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by impaired -cell function, hyperglycemia, and islet amyloid deposition. The primary constituent of islet amyloid is the 37–amino acid -cell product called islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) or amylin. To study mechanisms of islet amyloid formation, we developed a transgenic mouse model that produces and secretes the amyloidogenic human IAPP (hIAPP) molecule and h...

The almost constantly appearing amyloid deposits in islets of Langerhans of individuals with type 2 diabetes was for long time regarded as more or less innocent bystanders. Even after that the amyloid was shown to be an aggre-gated form of a novel polypeptide hormone, islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP or amylin), the deposits themselves attracted little interest. This can appear peculiar today an...

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) (amylin), the major component of islet amyloid, is produced by cleavage at the COOH- and NH(2)-termini of its precursor, proIAPP, likely by the beta-cell prohormone convertases (PC) 1/3 and PC2. Mice lacking PC2 can process proIAPP at its COOH- but not its NH(2)-terminal cleavage site, suggesting that PC1/3 is capable of initiating proIAPP cleavage at its COOH-t...