The mechanism of glucose-induced biphasic insulin release is unknown. We used total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) imaging analysis to reveal the process of first- and second-phase insulin exocytosis in pancreatic β cells. This analysis showed that previously docked insulin granules fused at the site of syntaxin (Synt)1A clusters during the first phase; however, the newcomers fused during the second phase external to the Synt1A clusters. To reveal the function of Synt1A in phasic insulin exocytosis, we generated Synt1A-knockout (Synt1A−/−) mice. Synt1A−/− β cells showed fewer previously docked granules with no fusion during the first phase; second-phase fusion from newcomers was preserved. Rescue experiments restoring Synt1A expression demonstrated restoration of granule docking status and fusion events. Inhibition of other syntaxins, Synt3 and Synt4, did not affect second-phase insulin exocytosis. We conclude that the first phase is Synt1A dependent but the second phase is not. This indicates that the two phases of insulin exocytosis differ spatially and mechanistically.

Background-Adrenomedullin (AM) is a vasodilating peptide involved in the regulation of circulatory homeostasis and in the pathophysiology of certain cardiovascular diseases. Levels of AM are markedly increased in the fetoplacental circulation during pregnancy, although its function there remains unknown. To clarify the physiological functions of AM, we chose a gene-targeting strategy in mice. Methods and Results-Targeted null mutation of the AM gene is lethal in utero: the mortality rate among AM Ϫ/Ϫ embryos was Ͼ80% at E13.5. The most apparent abnormality in surviving AM Ϫ/Ϫ embryos at E13.5 to E14.0 was severe hemorrhage, readily observable under the skin and in visceral organs. Hemorrhage was not detectable at E12.5 to E13.0, although the yolk sac lacked well-developed vessels. Electron microscopic examination showed endothelial cells to be partially detached from the basement structure at E12.5 in vitelline vessels and hepatic capillaries, which allowed efflux of protoerythrocytes through the disrupted barrier. The basement membrane was not clearly recognizable in the aorta and cervical artery, and the endothelial cells stood out from the wall of the lumen, only partially adhering to the basement structure. AM ϩ/Ϫ mice survived to adulthood but exhibited elevated blood pressures with diminished nitric oxide production. Conclusions-AM is indispensable for the vascular morphogenesis during embryonic development and for postnatal regulation of blood pressure by stimulating nitric oxide production.

During the last decade, a novel mechanism of protein release has been recognized that involves small (30-100 nm) membrane vesicles termed exosomes. [1][2][3] Exosomal vesicles are secreted following the fusion of multivesicular late endosomes with the plasma membrane. While the range of exosomal proteins depends on cell type, these vesicles commonly carry cell-surface proteins and cytoskeletal proteins. Several physiologic roles have been assigned to exosomes, including the expulsion of obsolete membrane constituents, exchange of cellular material and intercellular communication. Exosome production has been observed in a variety of cell types in vitro, including reticulocytes, 4) cytotoxic T lymphocytes, 5)B lymphocytes, 6) dendritic cells 7) and neoplastic intestinal epithelial cells.8) Recent studies have reported that such vesicles are present in some physiological fluids, such as bronchoalveolar lavage 9) or urine. 10) However, there is still little evidence of whether exosomes are produced in vivo.Saliva is considered to provide the first line of oral cavity defense against bacterial and viral attack. Human whole saliva contains a potent mixture of diverse components such as mucin, immunoglobulin A (IgA), proline-rich proteins and defensins, which are produced in three major paired salivary glands (parotid, submadibular and sublingual) and several minor glands. Although comprehensive proteome analyses of whole saliva have been reported recently, 12,13) the protein constituents of saliva are not fully understood.The membrane-associated serine protease dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV), which is identical to the lymphocyte surface glycoprotein CD26, cleaves dipeptides from the N-terminus of peptides with a proline or alanine residue in the penultimate position.14) CD26/DPP IV is highly expressed on fibroblasts, epithelial and endothelial cells, and specific leukocyte subsets. The extracellular protease domain of CD26/DPP IV, which is produced by proteolytic cleavage of the membrane-bound form of CD26/DPP IV, also exists in a soluble form in plasma.15) Recently, it was reported that DPP IV is released from intestinal epithelial cells into the extracellular milieu as a constituent of exosome-like vesicles. 8)More recently, our previous report revealed that DPP IV is released into snake venom in an unprocessed form, 16) suggesting that the DPP IV is associated with membrane. In addition, we have found exosome-like vesicles that carry DPP IV in snake venom.17) DPP IV activity has been found in human saliva, 18) but the mechanism of its release has not been elucidated. Snake venom is highly modified saliva that is produced by special glands of certain species of snakes. Therefore, we hypothesized that exosome-like vesicles carrying DPP IV could be present in human saliva. We demonstrate for the first time a population of vesicles in human whole saliva similar in size to the previously described exosomes. We found that these vesicles contain DPP IV, galectin-3 and IgA. MATERIALS AND METHODS MaterialsGly-Pro-4-methyl...