Characterization of the promoter of the mouse prohormone convertase PC2 gene.

Prohormone convertase 2 (PC2) is a member of a family of mammalian subtilisin-like endoproteases that are involved in the processing of prohormones, neuropeptides and many other precursor derived proteins. The expression of PC2 is restricted to neuroendocrine tissues such as pancreatic islets, the pituitary and the brain. To understand the regulation of the PC2 gene, we cloned and characterized the promoter region of the mouse PC2 gene.

Organization of the human carboxypeptidase E gene and molecular scanning for mutations in Japanese subjects with NIDDM or obesity.

Insulin is synthesized in the pancreatic beta cell as a larger precursor molecule proinsulin which is converted to insulin and C-peptide by the concerted action of prohormone convertase 2 (PC2), prohormone convertase 3 (PC3) and carboxypeptidase E (CPE). One of the features of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is an elevation in the proinsulin level and/or proinsulin/insulin molar ratio suggesting that mutations in these three proinsulin processing enzymes might contribute to the development of NIDDM. The identification of a mutation in the CPE gene of the fat/fat mouse which leads to marked hyperproinsulinaemia and late-onset obesity and diabetes is consistent with a possible role for mutations in CPE in the development of diabetes and obesity in humans.

A case of Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy-like syndrome complicated by several endocrinopathies: normal Gs alpha gene and chromosome 2q37.

We report a sporadic case of Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO)-like syndrome with several endocrinopathies. A 37-yr-old woman had an appearance of AHO but did not have renal PTH resistance. Her case was complicated by non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with severe insulin resistance, central diabetes insipidus, and hyposecretion of GH.

[Acute abdomina pain as a presenting symptom of varicella-zoster virus infection in an allogeneic bone marrow transplant].

A 26-year old man was admitted because of acute abdominal pain. He had received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) for aplastic anemia 6 months before. All physical, laboratory, roentgenographic, and ultrasonographic studies were performed but nondiagnostic.