Lecture 30 Flashcards
Islet Cell Tumors
- aka Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)
- Derive from neuroendocrine cells in islets of Langerhans
- May be benign or malignant
Malignant Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)
- Pancreatic Endocrine cancer or islet cell carcinoma
- Present with multiple metastatic tumor deposits in the liver
Why is the removal of localized tumors usually curative?
- Most islet cell tumors are nonfunctional and often reach a large size before being discovered
- Most islet cell tumors develop in the tail of the pancreas and do not produce common duct obstruction and jaundice (common in ductal pancreatic adenocarcinomas)
How are metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors treated?
Octreotide (somatostatin analog) may ameliorate hormonal symptoms but does not cure
Insulinomas
Most common functioning pancreatic endocrine tumors
How is insulin synthesized?
- Insulin gene transcripts code for precursor protein (pre-proinsulin)
- Removal of its signal peptide in the endoplasmic reticulum of pancreatic beta-cells converts it to proinsulin
- Proinsulin is cleaved by two endopeptidases (proprotein convertases 1 and 2) that remove the internal C peptide linking the alpha and beta chains
- Equimolar amounts of insulin and C-peptide are stored in secretory granules of beta cells and both are released into portal circulation
What is used as a means of distinguishing T1DM and T2DM?
C-peptide levels in peripheral circulation (T1DM has decreased C-peptide levels and T2DM has normal or increased C-peptide levels)
Explain the process of insulin secretion.
- Insulin release is stimulated by plasma glucose concentration
1. Glucose enters beta cells via facilitated diffusion
2. Increased intracellular glucose increases the ATP/ADP ratio -> blockage of the ATP-sensitive K+ channel in the PM
3. Depolarization -> opens voltage dependent calcium channels -> increase the amplitude of free cytosolic Ca2+ levels
4. Increased intracellular calcium triggers docking and fusion of neurosecretory granules with the plasma membrane -> exocytosis of insulin into extracellular environment
Neonatal Diabetes
Mutations of components of the K(ATP) channel
Explain the process of glucose uptake.
- Insulin binds to its receptor (tyrosine kinase)
- Receptor phosphorylates insulin receptor substrates (family of cytoplasmic adaptor proteins that transmit signals from the insulin and IGF-1 receptors)
- Includes translocation of Glut-4 transporter to the plasma membrane and influx of glucose
- Glycogen synthesis, glycolysis, fatty acid synthesis
Glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4)
Insulin-regulated glucose transporter (facilitated diffusion) found primarily in adipose tissues and striated muscle (skeletal and cardiac)
What are the two types of glucose transporters?
- Glucose transporter proteins (GLUTs/ Solute Carrier Family SLC2A)
- Sodium-dependent glucose transporters (SGLTs)
Glucose transporter proteins
- Transport glucose through facilitated diffusion
- 14 expressed in the body (other substrates as well: fructose, myoinositol, urate)
- Some are insulin regulated and some are not
Sodium-dependent glucose transporters
Energy-coupled mechanism (active transport)
Fed-state metabolism (Increased glucose metabolism)
Increased plasma glucose -> stimulates beta pancreatic cells and inhibits alpha pancreatic cells -> increase insulin -> muscle, adipose, liver -> increase glucose transport, glycolysis, glycogenesis, lipogenesis -> decrease plasma glucose
Fasted-state metabolism (decreased plasma glucose)
Decreased plasma glucose -> (1) stimulate alpha cells of pancreas and (2) inhibits beta cells of pancreas
- Increases glucagon -> liver -> glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, ketones -> Increase plasma glucose -> for use by brain and peripheral tissue
- Decreased insulin -> muscle and adipose tissue -> lactate, pyruvate, amino acids, fatty acids -> liver -> (1)