Molecular characterization of a novel p.R118C mutation in the insulin receptor gene from patients with severe insulin resistance.

CONTEXT: Mutations of the insulin receptor gene (INSR) can cause genetic syndromes associated with severe insulin resistance. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyse INSR mutations in Saudi patients with severe insulin resistance. DESIGN: Ten patients with Type A insulin resistance syndrome from five unrelated Saudi families were investigated. The entire coding region of INSR was sequenced. The founder effect was assessed by microsatellite haplotype analysis. The functional effect of the mutation was investigated by in vitro functional assays. RESULTS: A novel biallelic c.433 C>T (p.R118C) mutation was detected in all patients. The c.433 C>T (p.R118C) sequence variation was not found in 100 population controls. The arginine residue at position 118 is located in the ligand-binding domain of INSR and is highly conserved across species. Microsatellite haplotype analysis of these patients indicated that p.R118C was a founder mutation created approximately 2900 years ago. The wild-type and mutant (R118C) INSR were cloned and expressed in CHO cells for functional analysis. Specific insulin binding to the mutant receptor was reduced by 83% as compared to wild-type (WT), although the mutant receptor was processed and expressed on the cell surface. Insulin-mediated receptor autophosphorylation was also significantly reduced in CHO(R118C) cells. CONCLUSIONS: Biallelic c.433 C>T (p.R118C) mutation of INSR causes significant damage to insulin binding and insulin-mediated signal transduction. p.R118C is a founder mutation frequently present in the Saudi patients with severe insulin resistance.

Preliminary evaluation of two radioiodinated maleimide derivatives targeting peripheral and membrane sulfhydryl groups for in vitro cell labeling.

A factor impeding the advancement of cell mediated therapy is the inability to track these cells in vivo by noninvasive techniques. It has been shown that cells express high levels of sulfhydryl groups. We sought to explore these groups to covalently label cells with radiolabeled maleimide derivatives. Two maleimide derivatives; N-[2-(2,5-dioxoazolinyl)ethyl](5-iodo(3-pyridyl))carboxamide and N-[2-(2,5-dioxoazolinyl)ethyl](3-iodophenyl)carboxamide ([(125)I]-4 and [(125)I]-8) were synthesized and radioiodinated. These compounds were evaluated for in vitro binding to neutrophils, endothelial and mesenchymal stem cells, and biodistribution of the radiolabeled stem cells in nude mice. These radiotracers were obtained in moderate to high radiochemical yields. Binding to cells were moderate (20-60%/10(6) cells) and the label was retained, although washout (an average of 18-55%) was observed depending on the cell type and the tracer used. The labeled cells initially localized in well perfused organs and at a later time showed a general distribution as expected. The novel tracers labeled several cell types and shown that the stability of the label and viability of the cells were maintained in vitro and in vivo for a reasonable period and warrant further in vivo investigation.

Radioiodinated naphthylalanine derivatives targeting pancreatic beta cells in normal and nonobese diabetic mice.

An imaging method capable of using a signal from pancreatic beta cells to determine their mass would be of immense value in monitoring the progression of diabetes as well as response to treatment. Somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) are expressed on beta cells and are a potential target for imaging. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether pancreatic beta cells are a target for radiolabeled naphthylalanine derivatives. The molecules were subjected to in vitro and ex vivo evaluations. Pancreatic uptake of radioactivity was lower in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice than normal mice at all time points investigated (P < .05) and correlated with the number of islets in tissue sections of both control and NOD mice. Immunohistochemical and confocal fluorescent microscopic studies showed colocalization of insulin and the conjugate radioligand in the pancreas. The results demonstrated that pancreatic uptake is receptor-mediated, and that beta cells are the primary target.