2069-P: Distribution of Vimentin in the Human Pancreatic Islets in Type 2 Diabetes

As it was recently shown, vimentin is expressed in some epithelial and endocrine cells of the pancreas during its development, regeneration and in type 2 diabetes (DM2). It is suggested, that activation of vimentin expression may occurs during the neogenesis of β-cells from epithelial progenitors or during dedifferentiation of β-cells and their reprogramming into α-cells. Our aim was to study the distribution of vimentin in the endocrine pancreas in DM2. The study was performed on pancreatic autopsies from 13 persons with DM2 (DM 2 group) and 9 persons without carbohydrate metabolism disorders (control group) using double immunohistochemistry and immunofluoresence with antibodies to vimentin and either insulin or glucagon, morphometric methods and statistical analysis. Vimentin+ cells, some of which simultaneously contain insulin or glucagon, were observed in the pancreatic islets both in DM2 and control groups. In the DM2 group, all the parameters reflecting the amount of vimentin+ cells were significantly higher than in control group (Table 1). In the DM2 group, we also found characteristic changes in the endocrine pancreas - an increase in α-cell density and a decrease in the β- to α-cell ratio (Table 1). We assume that an increase in the amount of vimentin+ cells in the pancreatic islets may reflect alterations in the endocrine cell mass, and vimentin may be used as a marker of endocrine pancreas disorders. Disclosure Y. Krivova: None. A. Proshchina: None. D. Otlyga: None. S. Saveliev: None.