Biological Properties of Islets-Activating Protein (IAP) Purified from the Culture Medium of Bordetella pertussis

The biological activities were studied of a new protein, islets-activating protein (IAP), purified from the culture medium of Bordetella pertussis. Rats injected intravenously with 1 microgram of purified IAP exhibited markedly enhanced insulin secretory responses to glucose, glucagon, epinephrine, and sulfonylureas over a period from 3 to 10 days after the injection. The degree and duration of the enhancement were proportional to the dose of IAP; the maximal effect induced by 1-2 microgram of IAP persisted for as long as 2 months. There was a highly significant correlation between the enhancement of insulin secretion and suppression of epinephrine hyperglycemia over a wide range of doses of IAP, indicating that suppression of epinephrine hyperglycemia resulted from hypoglycemic action of insulin secreted in response to epinephrine challenge. Additional actions of IAP were observed in mice; mice treated with higher doses of IAP showed symptoms were observed when lower doses of IAP were injected into mice. Thus, it is concluded that IAP is a protein primarily possessing a unique action to potentiate insulin secretory responses of experimental animals to nutritional and hormonal stimuli.