Immunoreactivity of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in human pancreas in health and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

摘要

The role of neuron-specific enolase (glycolytic enzyme; marker of nerve fibers and Langerhans islet in human pancreas) in the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus was studied in autopsy specimens from 6 adult patients. Autopsied specimens of the pancreas from 7 subjects without carbohydrate metabolism disorders served as the control. Autopsied specimens of the pancreas from a child with the clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus, a child without carbohydrate metabolism disorders, and from 7 human fetuses of 15-40 weeks gestation were also studied. In control specimens, the neuron-specific enolase was detected in the pancreatic nerve fibers and Langerhans islets. Studies of pancreatic tissue specimens from adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus showed no immunopositive reaction to neuron-specific enolase in insulin-negative specimens. A possible mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus development is suggested.