Amylin immunoreactivity in the rat trachea and characterization of the interaction of amylin and somatostatin on airway mucus secretion.

Amylin is a peptide containing 37 amino acids that is mainly expressed in pancreatic B-cells and cosecreted with insulin. It is the major component of the islet amyloid typically found in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The amylin mRNA is present in RNA isolated from lung, and amylin receptors have been detected in lung membranes. Recently, amylin was shown to be a potent stimulator of airway mucus secretion. In this study, we characterized the site of amylin expression in rat trachea using a highly specific antiserum and the functional interaction of amylin with somatostatin-14 in mucus secreting cells. Amylin-like immunoreactivity is present in epithelial cells of submucous gland acini. The expression pattern varies, since some acini showed strong staining while others were negative. In addition, some columnar cells of the tracheal lining epithelium are strongly stained. Amylin applied submucosally is a potent stimulator of airway mucus secretion. Somatostatin inhibits this effect. Amylin may influence airway mucus secretion by paracrine and endocrine mechanisms, and our data suggest that amylin and somatostatin belong to the increasing number of peptides that are known to influence airway function.