Studies on the biologic actions of biosynthetic human insulin in vitro and in diabetic man.

Abstract

This preliminary study was designed to determine whether biologic action of biosynthetic human insulin (BHI) in vitro and its antigenicity in man equals that of various insulins of pancreatic origin. Testing the biologic action of BHI, pancreatic human insulin (PHI), and pancreatic pork insulin (PCPI) on glucose uptake by the rat hemidiaphragm and adipose tissue, identical efficacy for the insulins on a unit per unit basis was observed. Furthermore, a comparable impairment of insulin action was seen under the detrimental conditions of a hyperosmolal state. In an insulin-dependent diabetic female patient with cutaneous insulin hypersensitivity, BHI displayed the same antigenicity as PHI and PCPI. From these data we conclude tht BHI, both in vitro and in vivo, exhibits the same biologic properties as pancreatic insulin, and that it is reasonable to continue extensive testing of BHI in man, since identical metabolic effects and immunologic reactions are to be anticipated as with purified pancreatic insulin preparations of human or animal origin.