The (ProB27, ThrB28) human insulin analogue is more potent and more rapidly absorbed from subcutis than human insulin.

OBJECTIVE To test the physiological properties of human insulin in which the amino acids Thr (B27) and Pro (B28) are interchanged (PT insulin). This was hypothesised to prevent dimerisation and accelerate the absorption from s.c. tissue without altering the affinity for the insulin receptor. DESIGN PT insulin was expressed in Pichia pastoris and processed in vitro. The purified compound was used for physiological investigations. METHODS Receptor binding activity to insulin and IGF receptors was evaluated in a competition assay using iodinated PT insulin and recombinant receptors while growth induction properties were evaluated by thymidine incorporation. Absorption kinetics from pig subcutis was investigated by measuring the disappearance of iodinated PT insulin. The potency was evaluated by measuring the blood glucose lowering activity in mice. RESULTS The absorption of PT insulin was accelerated compared with human insulin, although still slower than Asp (B28) insulin. Human and PT insulin had similar affinities for the human insulin receptor (K(d)=3.6 x 10(-12) vs 5.2 x 10(-12) mol/l) while the affinity for the IGF receptor was four times higher for PT insulin than for human insulin (K(d)=3.4 x 10(-8) vs 1.3 x 10(-7) mol/l). This resulted in a slightly higher DNA synthesis when assayed in intermediary insulin concentrations. The blood glucose lowering effect in mice exceeded the effect of human insulin (integral 0-60 min: 61.4+/-7 vs 30+/-4, n=6, P=0.046). CONCLUSIONS PT insulin is absorbed faster and is more potent than human insulin. Although PT insulin stimulates growth more than human insulin, this will not prevent its use in the clinic, but the main interest will probably focus on investigations to clarify the paradox of full biological activity in connection with the recently described lack of structure in the B-chain.