The serum concentration of insulin, C-peptide, and proinsulin in patients with acute pancreatitis.

In 14 patients with acute pancreatitis during 16 episodes of the disease the concentrations of blood glucose, serum insulin (IRI), C-peptide (CP), and proinsulin (Pro) were determined in the fasting state on d 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 after the attack. The peptides were measured using RIAs, and for determination of CP two antibodies: Byk-Mallinckrodt's and more specific M-1221 Novo antibodies were used. Apart from sporadic rises in the initial period of the disease, the blood glucose level did not change significantly and had a decreasing trend. On d 1 the mean serum IRI level was 0.17 +/- 0.04 (SD) nM, and it decreased on d 5 to 0.06 +/- 0.04 nM, rising again to 0.11 +/- 0.15 nM on d 10. The serum Pro concentration was on the same days: 11.1 +/- 12.6, 4.2 +/- 2.4 and 7.5 +/- 10.8 pM, whereas the serum CP values determined with M-1221 antibodies were 0.48 +/- 0.50, 0.34 +/- 0.19, and 0.52 +/- 0.25 nM, respectively. However, when serum CP was determined using Byk-Mallinckrodt kits, the concentration on d 1 was 1.90 +/- 1.12 nM and over the following days it decreased to 1.08 +/- 0.98 nM on d 5 and on d 10 it was 1.11 +/- 0.46 nM.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Behavior of insulin, C-peptide and proinsulin levels in serum in the course of acute pancreatitis]. / Zachowanie sie stezenia insuliny, peptydu C i proinsuliny w surowicy w przebiegu ostrego zapalenia trzustki.

14 patients with acute pancreatitis during 16 episodes of the disease were studied. The concentration was measured of blood glucose, serum insulin (IRI), serum C-peptide (CP) using two methods: with Byk-Mallinckrodt kits and with more specific M-1221 antibodies Novo, and of serum proinsulin (Pro) in fasting state on days 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 after the acute onset. Apart from some sporadic rises in the initial period of the disease, the blood glucose level did not change significantly, and had rather a decreasing trend. The mean serum IRI concentration was 0.17 +/- 0.17 (SD) nmol/l, and it decreased on the 5th day to 0.06 nmol/l 0.04 nmol/l, rising again to 0.11 +/- 0.15 nmol/l on the 10th day. The serum Pro concentration was on the same days: 11.1 +/- 12.6, 4.2 +/- 2.4 and 7.5 +/- 10.8 pmol/l, while the serum CP concentration determined with M-1221 antibodies was 0.48 +/- 0.50, 0.34 +/- 0.19 and 0.52 +/- 0.25 nmol/l respectively. However, when for serum CP determinations the Byk-Mallinckrodt kits were used, the concentration of this peptide was on the 1st day 1.90 +/- 1.12 nmol/l, and it decreased over the following days to 1.08 +/- 0.98 on the 5th day, but remained on the same level on the 10th day (1.11 +/- 0.46 nmol/l).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of portal delivery of insulin on intracellular glucose and lipid metabolism.

We have investigated whether portal delivery of insulin as a result of intrahepatic islet cell autografts would prevent the development of metabolic alterations. Seven pancreatectomized dogs received islet autografts transplanted into the liver through the portal vein (PD). One year after transplantation, their intravenous glucose tolerance and insulin responses were similar to age-matched control (C) dogs (n = 5). Also, normal triglyceride content in arterial smooth muscle and striated muscle was observed in the dogs with portal insulin delivery in contrast to the substantial increases we observed in pancreatectomized dogs (n = 7) with pancreatic autografts that drained into the systemic circulation (SD). In these dogs, the tissue samples were taken at the age of 3 to 4 years. Triglyceride content (mean +/- SEM) in the aorta was 4.9 +/- 1.2 versus 2.6 +/- 0.6 versus 20.7 +/- 8.0 mumol/g (P less than .01) in C, PD, and SD models, respectively. The corresponding values for triglyceride content in striated muscles were 29.1 +/- 1.2, 25.9 +/- 1.5, and 171.4 +/- 46.6 mumol/g (P less than .01). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and malic enzyme, key enzymes for lipid synthesis, were also normal in the PD model, in contrast to the fivefold increased activity of these enzymes in the SD model (P less than .01). The glycolytic enzymes, hexokinase (HK) and phosphofructokinase (PFK), were normal compared with the decreased values in the SD. These data indicate that it is possible to normalize glucose and lipid metabolism in arterial walls by portal delivery of insulin, following intrahepatic islet cell transplantation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Action profiles of fast onset insulin analogues.

Recombinant DNA technology allows the production of insulin analogues with faster absorption rates from subcutaneous tissue as compared to conventional human regular insulin. We report the time-action profiles of 12 U subcutaneously injected insulin analogues (B9Asp + B27Glu or B10Asp) as evaluated against human regular insulin by means of the euglycaemic clamp technique (blood glucose 5.0 mmol/l) in healthy men. After injection of 12 U of either insulin preparation identical values were found for maximal insulin action (maximal glucose infusion rate, time to peak action), total amount of glucose infused as well as area under the curve of glucose infusion rate. Half-maximal glucose infusion rate was reached significantly earlier after injection of modified insulins (mean +/- SD 38 +/- 7 and 43 +/- 5 min) as compared to regular insulin (56 +/- 14 min, p less than 0.01). Forty-five min after injection of both insulin analogues glucose infusion rate had increased by 7.4 +/- 1.8 or 6.1 +/- 1.8 mg.kg-1.min-1, reflecting 83 +/- 27 or 67 +/- 15% of maximal regular insulin action. In conclusion, the two tested insulin analogues showed similar action profiles, but a significantly faster onset of action as compared to regular insulin.

Development of insulin antibodies, metabolic control and B-cell function in newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetic children treated with monocomponent human insulin or monocomponent porcine insulin.

One hundred and thirty eight patients participated in a two-year randomized, double-blind multicentre trial to compare monocomponent human insulin and porcine insulin in the treatment of newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetic children with respect to development of insulin antibodies, metabolic control and B-cell function. There was no difference between the two patient groups throughout treatment either in the level of IgG insulin binding or the percentage of patients with insulin antibodies (IgG-insulin greater than 0.012 U/l). However, the estimated mean of log insulin binding values in the antibody positive patients alone was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in the human insulin treated group at all times apart from 1 and 18 months (e.g., human insulin group at one and two years: 0.104 and 0.152 U/l, porcine insulin group at one and two years: 0.162 and 0.212 U/l). The insulin antibodies in both patient groups bound equivalent amounts of human and porcine insulin tracer. Metabolic control, insulin dosage and B-cell function in the two treatment groups were similar throughout the treatment period. It is concluded that in newly diagnosed insulin dependent diabetic children monocomponent human insulin is slightly less immunogenic than monocomponent porcine insulin, and equally effective in overall metabolic control.

Changes in endogenous insulin secretion during childhood as expressed by plasma and urinary C-peptide.

Basal fasting values of plasma C-peptide (CP), plasma insulin and 24 h urine CP were determined in 224 normal non-obese subjects of both sexes ranging in age from 1 to 20 years. Analysis of the results by age, pubertal rating, sex and bone age (BA) during childhood showed that mean +/- SD plasma CP levels in both sexes rose from 0.07 +/- 0.08 pmol/ml at the age of 1-2 years to 0.21 +/- 0.11 pmol/ml at 8-10 years. Mean +/- SD plasma insulin levels in both sexes rose from 3.2 +/- 4.3 microU/ml at the age of 1-2 years to 5.9 +/- 4.5 microU/ml at 8-10 years. Mean +/- SD urine CP levels rose from 6.5 +/- 2.8 pmol/mg creatinine per 24 h at the age of 2-8 years to 7.7 +/- 3.5 pmol/mg creatinine per 24 h at 8-11 years in both sexes. During puberty, plasma and urine CP and plasma insulin levels rose further to peak at pubertal stage P3, the values in females being higher (CP = 0.32 +/- 0.06 pmol/ml) than those in males (CP = 0.22 +/- 0.06 pmol/ml) (P less than 0.005). Plasma insulin levels in females were 13.2 +/- 6.9 microU/ml and 6.4 +/- 3.1 microU/ml in males (P less than 0.05). Urine CP levels were 14.5 +/- 5.7 pmol/mg creatinine per 24 h and 10.8 +/- 5.4 pmol/mg creatinine per 24 h in females and males respectively (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of skeletal muscle in type 2 diabetic patients.

Peripheral hyperinsulinaemia is the cause of metabolic changes that might contribute to the high incidence of macrovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus. In order to test this hypothesis muscle biopsies from 12 Type 2 diabetic patients and 14 age and sex matched non-diabetic patients, undergoing minor surgery, were obtained. The diabetic patients had significantly elevated fasting serum insulin (0.29 +/- 0.05 vs 0.06 +/- 0.03 nmol-1) and glucose (8.3 +/- 1.5 vs 4.6 +/- 0.5 mmol-1) and HbA1 levels (8.4 +/- 0.4 vs 5.0 +/- 0.2 per cent). The fasting and 2-h postprandial C-peptide levels were 0.99 +/- 0.25 vs 0.39 +/- 0.12 and 3.12 +/- 0.75 vs 1.09 +/- 0.34 nmol/l, respectively. The diabetic patients showed a marked elevation of triglyceride in the striated muscle biopsies compared to the non-diabetic controls (290 +/- 52 vs 48 +/- 6 mumol/g wet weight, p less than 0.001). Moreover, the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (0.25 +/- 0.03 vs 0.13 +/- 0.01 U/g wet weight) and malic enzyme (0.15 +/- 0.01 vs 0.05 +/- 0.01 U/g wet weight), necessary for lipid synthesis, were significantly increased (both p less than 0.001) in the diabetic patients while the glycolytic enzymes, hexokinase (0.65 +/- 0.09 vs 1.82 +/- 0.11 U/g wet weight), pyruvate kinase (7.3 +/- 0.9 vs 13.2 +/- 0.9 U/g wet weight), phosphofructokinase (1.3 +/- 0.2 vs 2.6 +/- 0.2 U/g wet weight), and alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (7.3 +/- 0.5 vs 12.5 +/- 0.7 U/g wet weight) were decreased (all p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Intracellular metabolism in biopsies from the aorta in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery.

Abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism in striated muscles and arterial wall has been demonstrated in 3 species: the pig, the dog, and human Type 2 diabetic patients, sharing the common feature of peripheral hyperinsulinaemia. In this study eighteen consecutive patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery and eight control patients were examined. Prior to surgery an oral glucose tolerance test showed that eleven out of eighteen patients had impaired glucose tolerance and significantly elevated fasting immune reactive insulin (IRI) and C-peptide concentrations. There was a statistically significant correlation between the 2 hour blood glucose value and the fasting plasma insulin level (R = 0.55, p less than 0.05). During the operation, aortic and muscle biopsies were taken. The eighteen patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery showed disturbances in glucose metabolism, i.e. decreased activity of glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase 0.30 +/- 0.06 versus 0.40 +/- 0.06 U/g, p less than 0.001, and phosphofructokinase 0.48 +/- 0.09 versus 0.61 +/- 0.07 U/g, p less than 0.01). Malic enzyme activity was increased in all patients (0.17 +/- 0.03 versus 0.06 +/- 0.02 U/g, p less than 0.001). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was increased in the eleven patients with impaired glucose tolerance (0.55 +/- 0.10 versus 0.30 +/- 0.07, p less than 0.01) parallel to a significant increase in triglyceride content in the aortic wall (16.1 +/- 4.8 versus 3.7 +/- 3.2 mumol/g, p less than 0.01) as well as in the striated muscles (374 +/- 44 versus 48 +/- 6 mumol/g, p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition by proinsulin of endogenous C-peptide release in healthy man.

To determine the role of proinsulin on endogenous insulin release, splanchnic output and arterial concentrations of C-peptide were measured in healthy subjects before and during infusion of human (HPI) and porcine (PPI) proinsulin at increasing rates for 70 min each (HPI, 328 and 656 micrograms X m-2 X h-1; PPI, 54, 134, and 268 micrograms/m-2 X h-1), while euglycemia was maintained by variable glucose infusion. By using this approach splanchnic C-peptide output was reduced by human proinsulin infusion from 143 +/- 16 (mean +/- SE) pmol/min to 111 +/- 18 and 75 +/- 11 pmol/min (P = 0.01). Simultaneously, arterial concentrations of C-peptide decreased from 716 +/- 40 pmol/l by 23 and 32%. Similar inhibition was induced by porcine PPI of splanchnic C-peptide output at an infusion rate of 268 micrograms X m-2 X h-1. Mean metabolic clearance rate was 2.7 and 3.7 ml X kg-1 X min-1 for HPI and PPI, respectively. Splanchnic glucose output was almost completely suppressed by human and porcine proinsulin at maximal infusion rates. This effect preceded both inhibition by proinsulin of splanchnic C-peptide output and stimulation of peripheral glucose utilization. We conclude that human and porcine proinsulin suppress endogenous insulin secretion at pharmacological concentrations. The observed constancy of the metabolic clearance rate of HPI demonstrates that its clearance remains a nonsaturable process up to supraphysiological HPI concentrations, while clearance of PPI appears to be subject to saturation. Furthermore, it appears that splanchnic glucose output responds earlier to proinsulin exposure than suppression of C-peptide release or stimulation of peripheral glucose utilization.

Human, porcine and bovine ultralente insulin: subcutaneous administration in normal man.

Six normal subjects received subcutaneous human, porcine, and bovine ultralente insulin (0.30 U/kg) and diluent (control) in randomized order. Plasma glucose, C-peptide, and insulin were measured for 32 h after injection. From 10 h onward human ultralente produced significantly lower plasma glucose levels (p less than 0.05-0.01) compared to bovine ultralente. Porcine ultralente produced an intermediate hypoglycaemic response up to 16 h and was similar to the bovine insulin from 24-32 h. Estimated exogenous insulin concentration was higher (p less than 0.05-0.001) following human ultralente compared to bovine ultralente between 2 and 22 h after injection. Up to 24 h the porcine preparation led to intermediate insulin levels, but becoming identical to bovine ultralente from 28-32 h. Peak mean exogenous insulin values for human, porcine, and bovine ultralente were 0.054, 0.044, and 0.023 nmol/l at 14, 16, and 18 h, respectively, reaching 0.022, 0.013, and 0.013 nmol/l at 32 h. The different pharmacokinetic behaviour of human and bovine ultralente insulin must be considered when initiating treatment with human ultralente or transferring patients from bovine to human ultralente.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against bovine insulin.

Six different monoclonal antibodies (IgG1 and IgG2a) were obtained after fusions of X63-Ag8-6.5.3 myeloma cells with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized with bovine insulin. Definition of binding determinants was attempted by competitive binding studies with insulins, proinsulins and modified insulins from various species. The monoclonal antibodies OXI-001 and OXI-004 were inferred to react with a region including residue A10, OXI-002 with an antigenic determinant in the B26-30 region, OXI-005 with a region including B30 and OXI-006 with a tertiary structure near the N-terminus of the B chain, possibly including B3 and A10. The equilibrium binding constants for these antibodies were calculated by three different methods (Scatchard, Langmuir and non-linear regression) and were found to be in the range of 2 X 10(7)-8 X 10(9), with good agreement between the different methods of calculation. As expected for a given monoclonal antibody, the heterogeneity index was close to 1.0, as calculated from Sip's logarithmic transformation of the binding equation. These parameters were compared to those of a mixture of the six different monoclonal antibodies and those of a conventional hyperimmune anti-insulin serum (guinea-pig). The half-dissociation times (t1/2) of complexes of antibody and bovine insulin ranged from 35 min to 38 h.

The effects of hyperinsulinemia on arterial wall and peripheral muscle metabolism in dogs.

Peripheral hyperinsulinemia may be associated with metabolic consequences that could contribute to the high incidence of macrovascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus. Arterial wall and striated muscle cells were studied in dogs to examine the effect of hyperinsulinemia on the lipid content and on lipogenic and glycolytic enzyme activity. Eight pancreatectomized dogs received segmental pancreatic autografts with venous drainage into the iliac vein. Glucose disappearance rates (K values) were normal four years after transplantation, but both fasting serum insulin levels (48.9 +/- 4.8 v 11.8 +/- 1.9 microU/mL) and the total area under the glucose-insulin response curve (1797 +/- 196 v 1110 +/- 158 microU X min/mL) were significantly greater than in control animals (P less than 0.05). The hyperinsulinemic dogs had a marked triglyceride elevation in arterial smooth muscle (20.6 +/- 8.0 v 0.5 +/- 0.4 mumol/g) and striated muscle (171.4 +/- 46.6 v 41.2 +/- 7.7 mumol/g) (P less than 0.001). Moreover, key enzymes in lipid synthesis (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA DH) were significantly increased (P less than 0.01) in the hyperinsulinemic animals, while the glycolytic enzymes, (phosphofructokinase, hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and alpha-glycerophosphate DH) were not significantly different. These data demonstrate substantial enhancement of lipid synthesis in arterial wall and striated muscle in hyperinsulinemic dogs. Altered substrate metabolism in arterial walls, in association with hyperinsulinemia, may have important implications with regard to macrovascular disease in diabetes, particularly in insulin-treated patients. In addition, these studies may serve to stimulate longer term assessments of macroangiopathy in the increasing number of patients with functioning pancreatic allografts draining into the systemic circulation.

Aorta and muscle metabolism in pigs with peripheral hyperinsulinaemia.

Peripheral hyperinsulinaemia usually found in conventionally treated Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients may have deleterious metabolic effects. We have used a hyperinsulinaemic model to examine intermediary metabolism in two key peripheral tissues, aorta and muscle. Nine pigs were immunized with crystalline insulin. Subsequently, they showed an insulin-binding capacity of 86.2 +/- 25.0 pmol/l and fasting total serum insulin of 3.9 +/- 3.1 nmol/l (control range 0.034-0.072 nmol/l), impaired glucose tolerance after oral glucose tolerance testing, significantly elevated levels of peripheral venous serum free insulin and C-peptide, and increased mean post-prandial free insulin/glucose ratios. The immunized pigs showed marked elevation of aorta and muscle triglycerides compared with control pigs (n = 15) but similar levels of non-esterified fatty acids. The glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase, malic enzyme and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase activities were all increased significantly (by 50%-300%) in both aorta and muscle. Phosphofructokinase was decreased in both tissues. Hexokinase was increased in muscle alone whereas pyruvate kinase was significantly decreased in aorta. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was not significantly different in aorta and muscle. Thus in insulin immunized pigs with normal beta-cell function and pronounced peripheral hyperinsulinaemia there was increased peripheral lipogenic activity. These findings have potentially important implications with regard to macrovascular disease in diabetes.

Human and porcine insulins are equally effective in the regulation of glucose kinetics of diabetic patients during exercise.

The rate of hepatic glucose production (Ra) and peripheral utilization (Rd) was determined in 8 insulin-dependent diabetic subjects in basal state and during 40 min cycle ergometric exercise. The patients were treated with continuous sc infusion of either semisynthetic human or porcine (Actrapid) insulin. Basal rate of glucose production was comparable during human (2.29 +/- 0.19 mg/kg/min) and porcine (2.18 +/- 0.12 mg/kg/min) insulin therapy. In response to exercise, Ra rose 30 to 40% (P less than 0.05), to 2.85 +/- 0.35 vs 3.18 +/- 0.42 mg/kg/min, similarly during both studies. The peak rise in Rd (to 3.20 +/- 0.32 during human vs 3.78 +/- 0.44 mg/kg/min during porcine insulin) was comparable in both groups and not significantly different from the rise in Ra. Consequently, blood glucose levels remained unchanged. During the exercise tests, the metabolic conditions were stable and comparable in both studies, as indicated by similar levels of blood glucose, plasma free insulin HbA1, serum lipids and insulin binding to erythrocytes. In conclusion, semisynthetic human insulin is equally effective as porcine insulin in regulating glucose kinetics in the basal state and during exercise.