Pancreatic
beta cell mass as a pharmacological target in diabetes.
Sustained
beta cell apoptosis in patients with long-standing type 1 diabetes: indirect evidence for islet regeneration?
Transgenic expression of dominant-negative Fas-associated death domain protein in
beta cells protects against Fas ligand- induced apoptosis and reduces spontaneous diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice.
All
beta cells contribute equally to islet growth and maintenance.
Sections of the pancreases were stained for the endocrine
beta cells with a guinea pig antiswine insulin antibody (Dako Co., Glostrup, Denmark) [11], Pdx1, and Ki67 (Abcam, California, CA).
Beta cell cytoplasm stained bluish while alpha cell cytoplasm stained pinkish andthe nuclei stained violet.
The decline in
beta cell function in type 2 diabetes is in directly associated with impaired action of the incretin hormones, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and GLP-1.
Disruption of Tsc2 in pancreatic
beta cells induces
beta cell mass expansion and improved glucose tolerance in a TORC1-dependent manner.
Team leader Dr Terry Strom said: "It would appear by altering the inflammatory state that surrounds this disease, you create an environment that enables expansion of the
beta cell mass."
Dr Iain Frame, Diabetes UK's research manager, said: "This research demonstrates that there may have been a substantial improvement in
beta cell function.
GLP-1 stimulates pancreatic
beta cells to increase the secretion of insulin, so GLP-1 has the potential to improve
beta cell function itself.