Abstract
AbstractThe islet of Langerhans is a complex endocrine micro-organ consisting of a multitude of endocrine and non-endocrine cell types. The two most abundant and prominent endocrine cell types, the beta and the alpha cells, are essential for the maintenance of blood glucose homeostasis. While the beta cell produces insulin, the only blood glucose-lowering hormone of the body, the alpha cell releases glucagon, which elevates blood glucose. Under physiological conditions, these two cell types affect each other in a paracrine manner. While the release products of the beta cell inhibit alpha cell function, the alpha cell releases factors that are stimulatory for beta cell function and increase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent research into the regulation of beta cell function by alpha cells, focusing on the effect of alpha cell-secreted factors, such as glucagon and acetylcholine. The consequences of differences in islet architecture between species on the interplay between alpha and beta cells is also discussed. Finally, we give a perspective on the possibility of using an in vivo imaging approach to study the interactions between human alpha and beta cells under in vivo conditions.
Funder
ERC: European Research Council
Scandia Insuranec Company Limited
Novo Nordisk Fonden
Karolinska Institutet
Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse
Insamlingsstiftelsen Diabetes Wellness Network Sverige
Stiftelsen för Strategisk Forskning
Stichting af Jochnick Foundation
Family Erling-Persson Foundation
Strategic Research Program in Diabetes at Karolinska Institutet
Diabetesförbundet
Swedish Research Council
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism,Internal Medicine
Cited by
57 articles.
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