Immunocytochemical localization of metallothionein in human pancreatic islets.
Metallothioneins (MTs) are small intracellular proteins that bind to metal ions and are involved in heavy-metal homeostasis and detoxication. Pancreatic islets were previously reported to contain zinc-containing matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) by immunocytochemical staining. The immunolocalization of MMPs and TIMPs in pancreatic islets prompted us to investigate further the link between zinc and MTs. Both beta and nonbeta islet cells were found to contain MTs by this immunocytochemical staining, suggesting that MTs may be involved in pancreatic hormone synthesis and secretion, in addition to their roles in zinc homeostasis and detoxification.
Tomita
T
T
Department of Pathology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160, USA.
Matsubara
O
O
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000737:chemistry*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010187:Pancreatic Hormones / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D012016:Reference Values; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism
D004396:Coloring Agents; D010187:Pancreatic Hormones; D008668:Metallothionein; D015032:Zinc