[Morphologic and functional study of a human insulin-secreting cell line].

Monolayer cell cultures were obtained from a human insulinoma (HIN) after collagenase digestion. HIN cells were initially plated on extracellular matrix (ECM) secreted by bovine corneal endothelial cells. Capsular integrity from cell clusters quickly interrupted and cell began to migrate as adhesive sheets onto ECM. After 2 months on ECM cell attachment and proliferation occurred on plastic allowing cloning of cells by limiting dilution. 9 clones were successfully cultured for 7 months with 20 subsequent passages. Immunoreactivity for insulin by indirect immunofluorescence typical secretory granules by electron microscopy and stable amounts of immunoreactive insulin in culture media suggest that HIN cells are beta cell related. One clone HIN D8 when challenged for half an hour with either 30 mM glucose, 1 mM isobutyl Methylxanthine 4 mM Tolbutamide, 10(-6) M glucagon responded respectively with a 1.5, 2, 3 and 1.5 fold increase in insulin output. Population doubling time of HIN D8 was 42 hrs. Establishment of such insulin secreting cell lines provides a valuable tool for diabetes research.