Neonatal pancreatic pericytes support β-cell proliferation
Alona Epshtein1, Eleonor Rachi1, Lina Sakhneny1
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Molecular Metabolism
|October 17, 2017
Summary
Neonatal pancreatic pericytes are essential for beta-cell proliferation. These cells support the growth of beta-cells, crucial for maintaining insulin production and potentially treating diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Beta-cell mass is critical for insulin production and is maintained by cell proliferation, primarily during the neonatal period.
- The islet microenvironment, including vascular cells, plays a role in regulating beta-cell proliferation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of pancreatic pericytes, a component of islet vasculature, in supporting neonatal beta-cell proliferation.
- To test the hypothesis that pericytes are key regulators of beta-cell growth in neonates.
Main Methods:
- In vivo studies utilized a diphtheria toxin-based transgenic mouse model to specifically deplete neonatal pancreatic pericytes.
- In vitro experiments involved culturing isolated neonatal pancreatic pericytes and using beta-cell lines and primary mouse beta-cells.
Main Results:
- Depletion of neonatal pancreatic pericytes in vivo led to impaired neonatal beta-cell proliferation.
- Conditioned medium from pericytes stimulated proliferation in cultured beta-cells, indicating pericytes are sufficient for this effect.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal pancreatic pericytes are identified as crucial regulators of neonatal beta-cell proliferation.
- These findings enhance understanding of physiological beta-cell replication and may inform strategies for cell expansion in diabetes therapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Tissue Renewal without Stem Cells
2.2K
After cellular or tissue damage, the resident stem cells present in the human body can locally repair and regenerate the damaged tissue or organ. However, even though some tissues do not have stem cells, they can repair and regenerate with the help of pre-existing cells. For example, beta cells of the pancreas and hepatocytes of the liver can divide to renew and regenerate the tissue. Here, both cell division and cell death are well regulated by homeostasis.
However, failure of such a system...
However, failure of such a system...
2.2K
01:27Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
2.7K
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...
Insulin and C-peptide are...
2.7K
01:05Insulin Secretory Vesicles
7.1K
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...
7.1K
01:22iPS Cell Differentiation
3.2K
The ability of induced pluripotent stem cells or iPSCs to differentiate into most body cell types has stimulated repair and regenerative medicine research over the past few decades. iPSC-derived blood cells, hepatocytes, beta islet cells, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and other cell types can repair injuries or regenerate damaged tissue in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.
3.2K