Signal transduction crosstalk in the endocrine system: pancreatic beta-cells and the glucose competence concept

Crosstalk between intracellular signalling systems is recognized as the principal means by which a cell orchestrates coordinate responses to stimulation by neurotransmitters, hormones or growth factors. The functional consequences of crosstalk are evident at multiple levels within a given signalling cascade, including the regulation of receptor-ligand interactions, guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, enzyme activities, ion channel function and gene expression. Here we focus on the pancreatic beta-cells of the islets of Langerhans to illustrate the important role crosstalk plays in the regulation of glucose-induced insulin secretion. Recent studies indicating a synergistic interaction in beta-cells between the glucose-regulated ATP-dependent signalling system and the hormonally regulated cAMP-dependent signalling system are emphasized. This interaction gives beta-cells the ability to match the ambient concentration of glucose to an appropriate insulin secretory response, a process we refer to as the induction of glucose competence. The glucose competence concept may provide new insights into the etiology and treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type II diabetes).