Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Isolating and Analyzing Cells of the Pancreas Mesenchyme by Flow Cytometry
Published on: January 28, 2017
Nephrin is expressed in the pancreatic beta cells
1Haartman Institute, Division of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, and Helsinki University Central Hospital Helsinki, Finland.
Aims/Hypothesis:
The NPHS1 gene product, nephrin, is a crucial component of the glomerular filtration barrier preventing proteinuria and previously assumed to be kidney-specific. The aim of this study was to describe the expression of nephrin mRNA and protein in human pancreas as well as identify the nephrin-expressing cell types.
Methods:
RNA dot blot, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, sequencing, immunoblotting and dual immunofluorescence were used for the characterisation of nephrin in the pancreas.
Results:
Except for the kidney, the pancreas was found to be the only tissue expressing nephrin as screened with a human tissue RNA dot blot. The expression was verified with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and by sequencing nephrin from a human pancreatic complementary DNA library. Nephrin antibody in immunoblot detected a 165,000 M(r) protein in the pancreas. Dual immunofluorescence showed that nephrin was specifically localised in the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. There was no overlap with glucagon, somatostatin, or the ductal cell marker cytokeratin 19.
Conclusion/Interpretation:
These data show that nephrin is a novel molecule of pancreatic beta cells.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cell Specific Gene Expression
Insulin Secretory Vesicles
Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas
Exocrine function is carried out by acinar cells, organized into clusters known as acini. These cells contribute to digestion by releasing substantial quantities of enzyme-rich, alkaline digestive juices.
Concurrently, the dispersed clusters of endocrine cells throughout the...
Nephrons
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...
Diabetic Nephropathy

