title: Alterations in proglucagon processing and inhibition of proglucagon gene expression in transgenic mice which contain a chimeric proglucagon-SV40 T antigen gene.
abstract: The proglucagon gene is expressed in A cells of the pancreas and L cells of the large and small intestine. Transgenic mice expressing SV40 large T antigen under the control of proglucagon regulatory sequences develop neuroendocrine carcinoma of the large intestine. To determine the consequences of coexpression of SV40 large T antigen and proglucagon in different cell types, the levels of proglucagon mRNA transcripts and proglucagon-derived peptides were determined in tumor-bearing transgenic mice and in age-matched paired controls. Plasma levels of proglucagon-derived peptides (glicentin, oxyntomodulin, and glucagon, as determined by high pressure liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay) were markedly elevated in association with tumor growth (p < 0.001). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the increased concentration of proglucagon-derived peptides was associated with significant inhibition of the endogenous proglucagon gene in pancreas, and to a lesser extent, small intestine. Concomitantly, the concentrations of proglucagon-derived peptides fell to 1-10% of control values in pancreas (p < 0.001) and to 62% of control values in small intestine (p < 0.001). Analysis of proglucagon-derived peptides in mice of different ages demonstrated that tumor growth was associated with a switch in the post-translational processing of proglucagon. Compared with normal mouse intestine, tumors contained increased proportions of glucagon and glucagon-like peptide-1(7-37) relative to glicentin, oxyntomodulin, and glucagon-like peptide-1(1-37). The results of these studies provide evidence for humorally-mediated tissue-specific inhibition of proglucagon gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Brubaker
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Drucker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism; D005934:Glucagon / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010179:Pancreas / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D052336:Proglucagon; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D051381:Rats; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012016:Reference Values; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D007328:Insulin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D052336:Proglucagon; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D005934:Glucagon