Neurotrophin and neurotrophin receptors in islet cells

A large number of proteins are found specifically in insulin-producing cells and in neuronal cells. The function of neurotrophins in beta cells and the molecular mechanism leading to their expression include the expression of functional receptors for different neurotrophins. Studies of islet neogenesis also suggest that neurotrophins may be important to beta cell maturation. Finally, neuronal markers are often detected in beta cells perhaps due to the absence of negative regulators of neuron-specific genes.