The parathyroid hormone-like peptide gene is expressed in the normal and neoplastic human endocrine pancreas

PTH-like peptide (PLP) is produced by a number of tumors commonly associated with the development of hypercalcemia. Analysis of the expression of the PLP gene has demonstrated that a variety of non-neoplastic endocrine and nonendocrine tissues contain PLP mRNA transcripts. Using a combination of Northern blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, and RIAs, we have demonstrated that the PLP gene is expressed in normal human and rat fetal and adult islets of Langerhans. PLP gene expression was not confined to cells containing a single pancreatic islet hormone, but was found in cells of all four major endocrine subtypes. PLP mRNA transcripts were also detected in RNA prepared from isolated rat islets, and small amounts of PLP immunoreactivity were secreted by cultured rat islets. Fifteen human pancreatic endocrine tumors not associated with hypercalcemia were analyzed and PLP-immunopositive tumor cells were found in 13. These observations demonstrate that the PLP gene is expressed in the normal and neoplastic islets of Langerhans, and suggests a possible role for this peptide in the growth or function of the endocrine pancreas.