High-molecular-weight aggregates of therapeutic insulin: in vitro measurements of receptor binding and bioactivity

• Published in: Diabetes (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 56 - 59
• Main Authors: ROBBINS, D. C, HIRSHMAN, M, WARDZALA, L. J, HORTON, E. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria, VA American Diabetes Association 1988
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - drug effects; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon Dioxide - metabolism; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Glucose - metabolism; Insulin - metabolism; Insulin - pharmacology; Macromolecular Substances; Male; Management. Various non-drug treatments. Langerhans islet grafts; Medical sciences; Radioimmunoassay; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptor, Insulin - metabolism; Triglycerides - metabolism; Endocrinopathy; Human; Protein hormone; Molecular form; Immunoreactive form; Insulin dependent diabetes; Aggregate; Insulin; Biological activity; Comparative study; Hormonal receptor
• ISSN: 0012-1797; 1939-327X
• DOI: 10.2337/diab.37.1.56

On the basis of a monomeric insulin standard, approximately 28% of total circulating immunoreactive insulin in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a covalent aggregate of insulin. This aggregate probably originates in therapeutic insulin preparations. In this study, the activity of these aggregates was compared with that of monomeric insulin with regard to behavior in the radioimmunoassay, binding to insulin receptors, and biologic activity in isolated rat adipose cells. Molar activity of the aggregate in the insulin radioimmunoassay was approximately twice (240%) that of monomeric insulin, whereas the log-logit slope produced by the aggregate was indistinguishable from that of monomeric insulin. Insulin-receptor binding was determined by displacement of 125I-labeled A14-insulin by insulin or insulin aggregate (10(-10)-10(-5) M). The free-insulin and aggregate concentrations required for half-maximal displacement of 125I-insulin were 4.0 x 10(-10) and 2.25 x 10(-9) M, respectively. [1-14C]glucose incorporation into 14CO2, glyceride-glycerol, and fatty acids was measured over a wide range of insulin monomer and aggregate concentrations (0-8 nM). In the bioassay, the maximal rates of glucose metabolism were equal (normal responsiveness). However, the concentration of insulin aggregates producing half-maximal stimulation of glucose metabolism was threefold greater than that of insulin (140 vs. 46 pM, respectively), indicating decreased sensitivity of the adipose cells to the aggregates. This was associated with a sixfold decrease in the Kd for binding of aggregates to adipose cell insulin receptors compared with binding of monomeric insulin.