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Updated: May 15, 2026
14:39
A Quantitative Assay for Insulin-expressing Colony-forming Progenitors
Published on: November 28, 2011
Alpha cells come of age
Joel F Habener1, Violeta Stanojevic
1Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. jhabener@partners.org
Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism: TEM
|December 25, 2012
Summary
Alpha cells, cohabiting with beta cells, are crucial for beta cell health. In injury, they produce glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a beta cell growth factor, offering new diabetes research avenues.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Diabetes research
- Cell biology
Background:
- Alpha cells coexist with insulin-producing beta cells in pancreatic islets.
- Recent findings reveal alpha cells' critical role in maintaining beta cell health and function.
- Normally, alpha cells secrete glucagon, but this function shifts under specific conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent discoveries concerning alpha cell functions.
- To explore the dual role of alpha cells in diabetes.
- To examine strategies for modulating alpha cell function.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on alpha cell function.
- Analysis of physiological and pathological roles of alpha cells.
- Discussion of potential therapeutic approaches targeting alpha cells.
Main Results:
- Alpha cells are vital for beta cell maintenance and function.
- Under beta cell injury, alpha cells produce glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1).
- GLP-1 acts as a growth and survival factor for beta cells.
Conclusions:
- Alpha cells present a paradox: they support beta cells yet produce glucagon, which exacerbates diabetes.
- Targeting alpha cells to produce GLP-1 instead of glucagon is a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetes.
- Further research into alpha cell plasticity could unlock new diabetes treatments.
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