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Dickkopf-3 is expressed in a subset of adult human pancreatic beta cells

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Abstract

The Dickkopf (Dkk) gene family of secretory modulators of canonical Wnt/beta catenin signals is involved in the control of stem cell proliferation, homeostasis and differentiation. Bioinformatic data on dkk-1/3 gene expression, indicating high expression levels in the human pancreas, led us to analyze these two proteins in adult human pancreatic tissue. Dkk-1/3 mRNA levels and protein distribution were analyzed in isolated human islets vs. the exocrine/ductal pancreatic cells and in paraffin sections of adult human pancreata. Using real time PCR only lowest amounts of dkk-1 mRNA were detectable in the endocrine fractions. Immunohistochemistry did not reveal any Dkk-1 protein in adult human pancreatic tissue. Interestingly, Dkk-3 mRNA and protein were clearly present in adult human pancreatic islets. Messenger RNA levels for Dkk-3 were significantly higher in isolated islets as compared to the exocrine/ductal fraction. Co-staining with an antibody against insulin identified the beta cells of the pancreas as the Dkk-3-positive cells. Notably, only a subset of beta cells contained Dkk-3. As shown by western blot analysis Dkk-3 seems to be proteolytically processed in beta cells. To our knowledge, this is the first study describing a molecule with which the pool of pancreatic beta cells can be further subdivided. Future studies will show whether this sub-classification of beta cells translates into functional differences.

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Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge the support provided by Allianz Elementar Versicherungs-AG.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. KMT Laboratory, Innsbruck Medical University, Innrain 66, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    M. Hermann, D. Pirkebner & A. Draxl

  2. Institute for Biomedical Aging Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Innsbruck, Austria

    P. Berger

  3. Laboratory of Tumor Biology and Angiogenesis, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

    G. Untergasser

  4. Department of General and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

    R. Margreiter & P. Hengster

Authors
  1. M. Hermann
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  2. D. Pirkebner
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  3. A. Draxl
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  4. P. Berger
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  5. G. Untergasser
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  6. R. Margreiter
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  7. P. Hengster
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Correspondence to M. Hermann.

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Hermann, M., Pirkebner, D., Draxl, A. et al. Dickkopf-3 is expressed in a subset of adult human pancreatic beta cells. Histochem Cell Biol 127, 513–521 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-007-0278-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-007-0278-6

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