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Related Concept Videos

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion01:27

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion

The pancreatic islets comprising only 1%-2% of the volume are highly vascularized and innervated mini-organs. They contain five endocrine cell types, including β cells that secrete insulin, which is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain, preproinsulin, processed to proinsulin, and finally to insulin and C-peptide. This process is complex and regulated, involving the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the secretory granules of the β cell.
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...
Production of Pharmaceuticals01:30

Production of Pharmaceuticals

Industrial insulin production uses genetically engineered E. coli expressing a proinsulin gene controlled by a tryptophan promoter and containing a methionine linker for later cleavage. The cells also carry ampicillin resistance for selective growth. Seed cultures are stored at −80 °C and production begins by thawing a small amount to inoculate starter cultures, which are progressively scaled to a 50,000-L bioreactor. In the bioreactor, E. coli grow in nutrient-rich media under sterile, tightly...
Insulin Secretory Vesicles01:05

Insulin Secretory Vesicles

Insulin secretory vesicles release insulin to stimulate blood glucose uptake and regulate carbohydrate metabolism. When the blood glucose levels increase, glucose enters the pancreatic β-islet cells through glucose transporters. Once inside, glucose is metabolized through glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and the electron transport chain, producing ATP. This increase in ATP concentration closes ATP-sensitive potassium channels, leading to depolarization of the membrane and the opening of...
Insulin Formulations: Types and Delivery01:27

Insulin Formulations: Types and Delivery

Insulin preparations are categorized by their duration of action into short-acting and long-acting types. Two strategies are used to modify insulin's absorption and pharmacokinetic profile: slowing the absorption post-subcutaneous injection, or altering human insulin's amino acid sequence or protein structure. These changes retain the insulin's ability to bind to the insulin receptor, but alter its behavior in solution or after injection.
Short-acting insulins are divided into rapid-acting...
Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation01:25

Insulin: Biosynthesis, Chemistry, and Preparation

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of pancreatic β-cells synthesizes preproinsulin, which consists of a signal peptide, A and B chains, and a C-peptide. Preproinsulin is then cleaved and folded into proinsulin, which translocates to the Golgi apparatus for sorting and packaging into secretory granules. In these granules, enzymatic clipping generates insulin and C-peptide.
Damage or functional impairment of β-cells inhibits insulin production, leading to diabetes. Diabetes treatment primarily uses...
Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas01:16

Cells and Secretions of the Pancreas

The pancreas, a vital organ within the abdominal cavity, plays dual roles in the digestive and endocrine systems, collaborating with exocrine and endocrine cells to maintain optimal digestion and blood sugar levels.
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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters
08:41

Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters

Published on: June 23, 2023

Functional differences between aggregated and dispersed insulin-producing cells.

A Chowdhury1, O Dyachok, A Tengholm

  • 1Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Box 571, 75123, Uppsala, Sweden. azazul.chowdhury@mcb.uu.se

Diabetologia
|April 23, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Islet architecture enhances beta cell function by improving mitochondrial metabolism and insulin signaling. This structure is crucial for regulating insulin secretion beyond calcium levels, impacting glucose response.

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Differentiation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells into Insulin-Producing Islet Clusters
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Optimized Protocol for Generating Functional Pancreatic Insulin-secreting Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cell Biology
  • Metabolism

Background:

  • Beta cells within pancreatic islets exhibit higher glucose responsiveness than isolated cells.
  • Understanding the structural basis of this difference is key to metabolic research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms behind the enhanced glucose response of aggregated beta cells (pseudoislets) compared to single cells.
  • To compare pseudoislets with native mouse and human islets.

Main Methods:

  • MIN6 pseudoislets and monolayers, along with mouse and human islets, were stimulated with glucose and other metabolites.
  • Insulin secretion, calcium signaling, glucose oxidation, gene expression, and protein phosphorylation were analyzed.
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors were used to probe signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Pseudoislets showed higher insulin secretion and upregulated mitochondrial metabolism genes compared to monolayers.
  • IRS-1 phosphorylation at inhibitory sites was lower in pseudoislets and intact islets.
  • PI3K inhibition significantly reduced insulin secretion in pseudoislets and intact islets, but not glucose-induced calcium responses.

Conclusions:

  • Islet architecture is essential for optimal beta cell mitochondrial function and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) signaling.
  • PI3K plays a critical role in regulating insulin secretion downstream of calcium elevation.