Developmental changes in immunoreactive content of novel pituitary protein 7B2 in human pancreas and its identification in pancreatic tumors.

Developmental changes in concentration of a novel pituitary protein (7B2) were studied immunochemically in the human pancreas from 20 wk of gestation to 4 mo after birth. The concentrations of 7B2 in pancreatic islet tumors and in nesidioblastosis were investigated also. Significant quantities of 7B2-like immunoreactivity (IR-7B2) were found in all developmental stages studied. The highest concentrations of IR-7B2 were found at term [215.4 +/- 40.0 vs. 28.3 +/- 4.4 pmol/g (adult levels), P less than .001]. A high incidence of elevated IR-7B2 concentration in pancreatic islet tumors and nesidioblastosis was found (10 of 12 insulinomas, 5 of 8 glucagonomas, and in all 3 pancreases with nesidioblastosis). Gel-permeation chromatography on Sephadex G-100 showed two immunoreactive peaks in all extracts studied. The main peak (Kav 0.30) of IR-7B2 corresponded to that found in the porcine pituitary gland. The high incidence of elevated IR-7B2 concentrations in pancreatic islet tumors and the increase in IR-7B2 concentrations in the term pancreas and particularly in nesidioblastosis suggest that the novel protein 7B2 may serve as an islet marker.