title: BACE2 is stored in secretory granules of mouse and rat pancreatic beta cells.
abstract: BACE2 is a protease homologous to BACE1 protein, an enzyme involved in the amyloid formation of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, despite the high homology between these two proteins, the biological role of BACE2 is still controversial, even though a few studies have suggested a pathogenetic role in sporadic inclusion-body myositis and hereditary inclusion-body myopathy, which are characterized by vacuolization of muscular fibers with intracellular deposits of proteins similar to those found in the brain of AD patients. Although BACE2 has also been identified in the pancreas, its function remains unknown and its specific localization in different pancreatic cell types has not been definitively ascertained. For these reasons, the authors have investigated the cellular and subcellular localization of BACE2 in normal rodent pancreases. BACE2 immunoreactivity was found in secretory granules of beta cells, co-stored with insulin and IAPP, while it was lacking in the other endocrine and exocrine cell types. The presence of BACE2 in secretory granules of beta cells suggests that it may play a role in diabetes-associated amyloidogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ospedale di Circolo, Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Finzi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franzi
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Placidi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Acquati
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taramelli
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Rosa
mesh_terms: D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D051381:Rats; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: C509285:Bace2 protein, mouse; D053829:Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C509287:Bace2 protein, rat