Islet amyloid polypeptide-like immunoreactivity in human tissue and endocrine tumors.

We have detected islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP)-like immunoreactivity (-LI) in human pancreas and in a range of endocrine tumors, including oat cell carcinoma of the lung and pancreatic tumours producing insulin, gastrin, glucagon, and vasoactive intestinal peptide. Gel permeation chromatography of the IAPP-LI revealed that, except in the carcinoid, more than 80% coeluted with synthetic human IAPP. The remaining immunoreactivity consisted of variable amounts of larger and smaller molecular forms. The concentration of IAPP-LI in the circulation of patients with diagnosed pancreatic endocrine tumors was not significantly elevated above normal fasting levels. IAPP is, therefore, produced by a range of endocrine tumors and may relate to the deposition of endocrine amyloid.