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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

High-resolution Respirometry to Measure Mitochondrial Function of Intact Beta Cells in the Presence of Natural Compounds
12:32

High-resolution Respirometry to Measure Mitochondrial Function of Intact Beta Cells in the Presence of Natural Compounds

Published on: January 23, 2018

Pancreatic beta cells lack a low glucose and O2-inducible mitochondrial protein that augments cell survival

Jie Wang1, Yun Cao, Ying Chen

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, and The Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|July 4, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Scientists identified a mitochondrial protein, HIMP1 (Hypoglycemia/hypoxia Inducible Mitochondrial Protein), that protects pancreatic beta cells from stress-induced apoptosis. This discovery offers potential new avenues for treating diabetes and improving islet transplantation outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Endocrinology
  • Mitochondrial Biology

Background:

  • Beta cell failure is a key factor in diabetes development.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms of beta cell apoptosis is crucial for therapeutic strategies.
  • Differences in gene expression between alpha and beta cells are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify genes with differential expression between pancreatic alpha and beta cells.
  • To investigate the role of the identified gene, HIMP1, in beta cell survival and stress response.

Main Methods:

  • Cloning of HIMP1 (Hypoglycemia/hypoxia Inducible Mitochondrial Protein) from an alpha cell cDNA library.
  • Analysis of HIMP1 expression and localization in mouse tissues and pancreatic cells.
  • Ectopic expression of HIMP1 in MIN6 beta cells to assess its functional impact on apoptosis.

Main Results:

  • HIMP1, a mitochondrial inner membrane protein, is highly expressed in pancreatic alpha cells but not in beta cells.
  • Ectopic expression of HIMP1 in beta cells conferred protection against apoptosis induced by various stressors.
  • HIMP1 expression prolonged the survival of beta cells under stress conditions.

Conclusions:

  • HIMP1 plays a significant role in mitochondrial stress protective mechanisms.
  • HIMP1 may be a potential therapeutic target for enhancing beta cell survival in diabetes and improving islet transplantation success.

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