Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) in Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer disease

Sammanfattning: The misfolding and aggregation of the beta cell hormone islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) into amyloid fibrils is the main pathological finding in islets of Langerhans in type 2 diabetes. Pathological assemblies of IAPP are cytotoxic and believed to contribute to the loss of insulin-producing beta cells. Changes in the microenvironment that could trigger the aggregation of IAPP are largely unknown. So is the possibility that islet amyloid can spread within or between tissues. The present thesis have explored the roles of glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS) and the novel anti-amyloid chaperone Bri2 BRICHOS domain in the assembly of IAPP amyloid and cytotoxic IAPP aggregates. Furthermore, cross-seeding as a molecular interaction between the observed connection of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer disease has been examined.The N-terminal region of IAPP was required for binding to HS structures and induction of binding promoted amyloid formation. Interference in the HS-IAPP interaction by heparanase degradation of HS or by introducing short, soluble HS-structure fragments reduced amyloid deposition in cultured islets. Cytotoxicity induced by extracellular, aggregating IAPP was mediated via interactions with cell-surface HS. This suggests that HS plays an important role in islet amyloid deposition and associated toxicity.BRICHOS domain containing protein Bri2 was highly expressed in human beta cells and colocalized with IAPP intracellularly and in islet amyloid deposits. The BRICHOS domain effectively attenuated both IAPP amyloid formation and IAPP-induced cytotoxicity. These results propose Bri2 BRICHOS as a novel chaperone preventing IAPP aggregation in beta cells.The intravenous injection of IAPP, proIAPP or amyloid-β (Aβ) fibrils enhanced islet amyloidosis in transgenic human IAPP mice, demonstrating that both homologous- and heterologous seeding of islet amyloid can occur in vivo. IAPP colocalized with Aβ in brain amyloid from AD patients, and AD patients diagnosed with T2D displayed increased proportions of neuritic plaques, the more pathogenic plaque subtype.In conclusion, both IAPP amyloid formation and the cytotoxic effects of IAPP is dependent on interactions with HS whereas interactions with Bri2 BRICHOS is protective. Cross-seeding between Aβ and IAPP can occur in vivo and the two peptides colocalize in brain amyloid in AD patients.