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Updated: May 20, 2026
Observing Islet Function and Islet-Immune Cell Interactions in Live Pancreatic Tissue Slices
Published on: April 12, 2021
Expression of NADPH oxidase in human pancreatic islets
Eduardo Rebelato1, Thiago R Mares-Guia, Maria Fernanda R Graciano
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. rebelato@icb.usp.br
Aims:
NADPH oxidase (NOX) is a known source of superoxide anions in phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. In this study, the presence of this enzyme in human pancreatic islets and the importance of NADPH oxidase in human β-cell function were investigated.
Main Methods And Key Findings:
In isolated human pancreatic islets, the expression of NADPH oxidase components was evidenced by real-time PCR (p22(PHOX), p47(PHOX) and p67(PHOX)), Western blotting (p47(PHOX) and p67(PHOX)) and immunohistochemistry (p47(PHOX), p67(PHOX) and gp91(PHOX)). Immunohistochemistry experiments showed co-localization of p47(PHOX), p67(PHOX) and gp91(PHOX) (isoform 2 of NADPH oxidase-NOX2) with insulin secreting cells. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase activity impaired glucose metabolism and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.
Significance:
These findings demonstrate the presence of the main intrinsic components of NADPH oxidase comprising the NOX2 isoform in human pancreatic islets, whose activity also contributes to human β-cell function.
