Localization of α-endosulphine in pancreatic somatostatin δ cells and expression during rat pancreas development

alpha-Endosulphine, a protein that belongs to the cAMP-regulated-phosphoprotein family, has been reported to modulate insulin secretion in vitro through interaction with the pancreatic beta-cell ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channel. In this study, we analysed the tissue distribution of alpha-endosulphine and determined its pancreatic cellular localization. Quantitative tissue distribution of alpha-endosulphine was studied by RIA on tissue extracts and cellular/subcellular localization was done using immunocytochemistry, morphometry and western blot analysis. alpha-Endosulphine and somatostatin release from RINT-3 somatostatin-secreting cells was quantified by RIA. alpha-Endosulphine, concentrated particularly in the central nervous system, was also detected in a wide variety of tissues including the pancreas. Immunohistochemistry analysis of adult rat pancreatic sections showed that alpha-endosulphine localized in somatostatin delta cells, where its expression increased during post-natal development. Immunoreactive cells were detected from foetal age E19, and the number of somatostatin cells co-expressing alpha-endosulphine increased with developmental age from E19 until adult. alpha-Endosulphine, highly expressed in the cytoplasm of RINT3 somatostatin-secreting cell line, was recovered in the particulate fraction of RINT3 cell extracts but was not co-secreted with somatostatin. alpha-Endosulphine is expressed in all tissues tested including pancreas and is also detected in plasma. Pancreatic alpha-endosulphine is specifically localized in somatostatin delta cells. This cytosolic protein is not co-secreted with somatostatin and could be physically associated with particulate components of the cells. These findings are not in favour of an endocrine/paracrine effect of alpha-endosulphine on the beta-cell K(ATP) channel.