Islet Amyloid, Islet-Amyloid Polypeptide, and Diabetes Mellitus

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Abstract
A PREVIOUSLY undescribed protein, called insulinoma- or islet-amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), was recently identified as the principal constituent of amyloid deposits in a human insulin-producing tumor (insulinoma).1 This same protein was subsequently found to be the principal constituent of amyloid isolated from the pancreatic tissue of patients with Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus and of adult cats with diabetes.2 , 3 Although these IAPP-derived amyloid deposits (Fig. 1) are the most characteristic morphologic abnormality of islets from patients with Type II diabetes mellitus4 5 6 7 and adult diabetic cats,8 , 9 the relation of islet amyloid to diabetes mellitus has often been discounted and remains controversial. This . . .