Relationships among age, proinsulin conversion, and beta-cell function in nondiabetic humans.

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships among beta-cell function, proinsulin conversion to insulin, and age. We studied insulin and proinsulin secretion in nondiabetic subjects during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) using published indexes of beta-cell function (n = 379, age 16--68 years) and a modified hyperglycemic clamp (10 mmol/l, additional glucagon-like peptide [GLP-1] infusion, final arginine bolus; n = 50, age 19--68 years). Proinsulin conversion to insulin was assessed using proinsulin/insulin (PI/I) ratios immediately after an acute stimulus (OGTT, 30 min; hyperglycemic clamp, 2.5-5.0 min after glucose and arginine). There was a negative correlation between age and beta-cell function (adjusted for insulin sensitivity, BMI, and fasting glucose) in the OGTT (r = -0.21, P < 0.001) and first phase of the hyperglycemic clamp (r = -0.30, P = 0.03), but not second phase (r = -0.08, P = 0.6) or arginine-induced insulin secretion (r = 0.06, P = 0.7). There was a positive correlation between age and the PI/I ratio in the OGTT (r = 0.24, P < 0.001). Analogously, there was also a positive correlation between age and the PI/I ratio during first phase (r = 0.37, P = 0.009) and arginine stimulation (r = 0.33, P = 0.01) of the hyperglycemic clamp. First-phase insulin secretion of the hyperglycemic clamp was inversely correlated with the PI/I ratio (r = -0.60, P < 0.001). Interestingly, adjusting first-phase secretion rate for the PI/I ratio abolished the linear relationship with age (r = -0.06, P = 0.7). In conclusion, aging is associated with deteriorating beta-cell function and deteriorating proinsulin conversion to insulin. The age effect on insulin secretion appears to be attributable at least in part to an impairment of proinsulin conversion to insulin.

The prevalent Glu23Lys polymorphism in the potassium inward rectifier 6.2 (KIR6.2) gene is associated with impaired glucagon suppression in response to hyperglycemia.

Genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. The relevance to type 2 diabetes of the common polymorphism Glu23Lys in the potassium inward rectifier 6.2 (KIR6.2) gene is still controversial. The aim of this study was to assess whether this polymorphism influences beta-cell function, alpha-cell function, or insulin action. We therefore studied 298 nondiabetic subjects using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and 75 nondiabetic subjects using a hyperglycemic clamp (10 mmol/l) with additional glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and arginine stimulation. The prevalence of the Lys allele was approximately 37%, and the Lys allele was associated with higher incremental plasma glucose during the OGTT (P = 0.03, ANOVA). Neither first- nor second-phase glucose-stimulated C-peptide secretion was affected by the presence of the polymorphism; nor were maximal glucose-, GLP-1-, or arginine-induced C-peptide secretion rates; nor was insulin sensitivity (all P > 0.7). However, the relative decrease in plasma glucagon concentrations during the 10 min after the glucose challenge was reduced in carriers of the Lys allele (10 +/- 3% decrease from baseline in Lys/Lys, 18 +/- 2% in Glu/Lys, and 20 +/- 2% in Glu/Glu; P = 0.01, ANOVA). In conclusion, our findings suggest that the common Glu23Lys polymorphism in KIR6.2 is not necessarily associated with beta-cell dysfunction or insulin resistance but with diminished suppression of glucagon secretion in response to hyperglycemia. Our findings thus confirm its functional relevance for glucose metabolism in humans.

Increased insulin clearance in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 Pro12Ala.

The Pro12Ala polymorphism of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARgamma(2)) is associated with reduced risk for type 2 diabetes. Although increased insulin sensitivity of glucose disposal and lipolysis has been reported, the exact mechanism by which the risk reduction is conferred is not clear. Because the conclusion of greater insulin sensitivity hinged upon lower insulin levels in some studies, it is possible that more efficient insulin clearance is involved. We therefore estimated insulin clearance during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp (insulin infusion rate divided by steady-state insulin concentration, 229 normal glucose tolerant [NGT] subjects), an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (mean C-peptide divided by mean insulin concentrations, 406 NGT, 54 impaired glucose tolerant or mildly diabetic subjects), and a hyperglycemic clamp (120 minutes, 10 mmol/L, C-peptide divided by insulin in the steady-state, 56 NGT subjects). In the carriers of the Ala allele (prevalence approximately 24%), insulin clearance in all 3 protocols was significantly greater ( approximately 10%), than in controls. While the results from the euglycemic clamp reflect both hepatic and peripheral insulin clearance, those from the OGTT and the hyperglycemic clamp reflect mainly hepatic insulin extraction. Free fatty acids (FFA) during the steady state of the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp were significantly lower in carriers of the Ala allele (26 +/- 5 micromol/L) than in controls (46 +/- 3 micromol/L, P =.02). In conclusion, the Pro12Ala polymorphism is associated with increased insulin clearance. This could be the result of reduced FFA delivery, which has been shown to improve hepatic insulin removal and sensitivity. Because PPARgamma(2) is mainly expressed in adipose tissue, one of the main regulatory effects of the polymorphism may well be the more efficient suppression of (possibly intra-abdominal) lipolysis.