Pancreatic Reg/pancreatic stone protein (PSP) gene expression does not correlate with beta-cell growth and regeneration in rats.
The Reg/pancreatic stone protein (PSP) gene is postulated to be an important regulator of pancreatic beta-cell growth. To investigate this hypothesis, we analysed the expression of the Reg/PSP gene following a 90% pancreatectomy and after chronic glucose infusion, two well-defined models of pancreatic beta-cell growth. There was a rapid induction of the Reg/PSP gene in the remnant pancreas after a 90% pancreatectomy in rats during the period of marked growth of the exocrine and islet tissue. However, a similar rapid, but smaller, induction of the Reg/PSP gene was observed in sham-operated rats and in non-surgical control rats in which there was no enhanced pancreatic growth. Furthermore, there was no pancreatic Reg/PSP gene induction in a model of selective beta-cell growth, the chronic glucose-infused rat. Thus, it is unlikely that Reg/PSP is a beta-cell specific growth factor, even though the function of this important pancreatic gene is still unknown.
Smith
F E
FE
Research Division, Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.
Bonner-Weir
S
S
Leahy
J L
JL
Laufgraben
M J
MJ
Ogawa
Y
Y
Rosen
K M
KM
Villa-Komaroff
L
L
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051847:Lithostathine; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D051847:Lithostathine; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497616:Reg1a protein, rat