Expression, intracellular localization, and gene transcription regulation of the secretory protein 7B2 in endocrine pancreatic cell lines and human insulinomas.

7B2 is a 23-kDa protein encoded by a single gene that is expressed in a variety of neuroendocrine tissues. Although its physiological role has not yet been elucidated, its presence in secretory granules suggests a function in the secretory machinery of certain neuronal and endocrine cells in various species. The present study characterizes the expression of 7B2 in endocrine pancreatic cells. We demonstrate that: (i) 7B2 is highly expressed in human insulinomas; (ii) its ultrastructural localization, associated with secretory granules of A and B cells of the islets, suggests a participation of 7B2 in the secretion of insulin and glucagon; (iii) sequences located in the first intron of the 7B2 gene are required for its transcription in either insulinoma or glucagonoma cell lines; and (iv) in a B cell-like insulinoma cell line, the transcription of 7B2 is regulated by protein kinase A and protein kinase C activators, while in an A-like insulinoma cell line, 7B2 gene transcription seems to be constitutively activated.