Insulin-producing acinar cells in adult human pancreas.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to characterize cells expressing insulin and amylase in adult human pancreas.


METHODS
We applied serial section and immunohistochemistry to pancreas samples from 5 adult nondiabetic subjects (2 men and 3 women;mean age, 65.8 years; random plasma glucose level, 5.1 mM). Cells expressing insulin and amylase were captured by immunofluorescence and confocal miscroscopy.


RESULTS
We found a widespread occurrence of insulin-producing cells in exocrine acini and amylase-reactive acinar cells in well-formed islets. The insulin-producing cells in exocrine acini predominantly formed single and double cell units though cell clusters, and islands occurred. Acini containing insulin-producing cells outnumbered the islets with a factor of approximately 5. Confocal microscopy and double immunostaining identified acinar A-cells coexpressing both amylase and insulin.


CONCLUSIONS
The acinar A-cells represent a distinct category of pancreatic cell populations and might be possible endogenous progenitors of insulin-producing cells in normal and abnormal metabolic homeostasis.
Lan
L
Yu
Jiang-Xi
JX
Luo
Jia-Li
JL
Wei
Xue-Jing
XJ
Mu
Xin-Xin
XX
Ren
Zhan
Z
Yang
Yun-Tao
YT
Peng
Hai-Lu
HL
Zhao
D000368:Aged; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis; D001344:Autopsy; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis*; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D046790:Pancreas, Exocrine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology
D007328:Insulin; D000681:Amylases