Protein Kinase R Is Constitutively Expressed in the Human Pancreas

• Published in: The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry Vol. 67; no. 2; pp. 99 - 105
• Main Authors: Jonsson, Alexander, Yngve, Erik, Karlsson, Marie, Ingvast, Sofie, Skog, Oskar, Korsgren, Olle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-02-2019
• Subjects: Cell and Molecular Biology; Cell Biology; Cell- och molekylärbiologi; cells; eIF-2 Kinase - genetics; eIF-2 Kinase - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Humans; immunohistochemistry; induction; innate immunity; interferon action; islets; Islets of Langerhans - enzymology; mechanism; pancreas; Pancreas - enzymology; PCR; pkr; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; type 1 diabetes; viral; viral footprints; viral sensors; vp1; type 1 diabetes; innate immunity; pancreas; viral sensors; immunohistochemistry; viral footprints; PCR
• ISSN: 0022-1554; 1551-5044; 1551-5044
• DOI: 10.1369/0022155418802838

Summary
Viral infection of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas has been proposed in the etiology of type 1 diabetes. Protein kinase R (PKR) is a cytoplasmic protein activated through phosphorylation in response to cellular stress and particularly viral infection. As PKR expression in pancreatic beta-cells has been interpreted as a viral footprint, this cross-sectional study aimed at characterizing the PKR expression in non-diabetic human pancreases. PKR expression was evaluated in pancreas tissue from 16 non-diabetic organ donors, using immunohistochemistry, qPCR, and western blot. Immunohistochemistry and western blot showed readily detectable PKR expression in the pancreatic parenchyma. The qPCR detected PKR mRNA in both endocrine and exocrine samples, with a slightly higher expression in the islets. In conclusion, PKR is constitutively expressed in both endocrine and exocrine parts of the pancreas and its expression should not be interpreted as a viral footprint in pancreatic beta cells.