Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2001) 2 OC7

SFE2001 Oral Communications Vascular and Metabolic (5 abstracts)

Arachidonic acid and insulin release from human islets of Langerhans

VD Belin , PE Squires , PM Jones & SJ Persaud


Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Group, New Hunt's House, GKT School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL


Aim: To identify the role of unmetabolised arachidonic acid (AA) produced by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes, and its 12-lipoxygenase (12-LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) products in the insulin secretory response of human islets of Langerhans. Material and Methods: Expression of COX-1 and COX-2 mRNAs was determined by RT-PCR. Insulin secretion from perifused human islets was measured by radioimmunoassay, in the presence of inhibitors of PLA2 (AACOCF3, PACOCF3), COX and LOX (phenidone), 12-LOX (baicalein) and COX-2 (NS-398). Results: Both COX-1 and COX-2 mRNAs were amplified by RT-PCR from unstimulated human islets. Insulin release from human islets increased significantly (P<0.01) in response to 20mM glucose, with a maximal response of 825±91% basal (2mM glucose) secretion, followed by a sustained plateau of 361±38% basal (n=10). Neither the profile nor the magnitude of the glucose-induced insulin secretory response was significantly affected by 100µM of AACOCF3 or PACOCF3. Exposure of human islets to AA (50µM) transiently stimulated basal insulin secretion (peak 298±63% basal, P<0.05, n=6) and returned to basal levels within 20 minutes, but subsequent exposure to AA in the presence of phenidone led to a further, significant increase in insulin secretion. A similar profile was obtained when human islets were exposed to NS-398. Exposure of human islets to NS-398 or baicalein in the absence of AA transiently increased basal insulin secretion (246±26% basal; 247±18% basal respectively, n=3). Conclusion: COX-2 is constitutively expressed in human islets and we have shown, for the first time, that human islets also express COX-1 mRNA. Secretion data provide compelling evidence for a stimulatory role for unmetabolised AA in the stimulation of insulin secretion from human islets of Langerhans, but they also indicate that AA generation is not obligatory for nutrient-induced insulin secretion.

Work was funded by Eli Lilly International Foundation.

Volume 2

192nd Meeting of the Society for Endocrinology

Society for Endocrinology 

Browse other volumes

Article tools

My recent searches

No recent searches.