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Virgin Beta Cells Persist throughout Life at a Neogenic Niche within Pancreatic Islets.

ABSTRACT: Postnatal maintenance or regeneration of pancreatic beta cells is considered to occur exclusively via the replication of existing beta cells, but clinically meaningful restoration of human beta cell mass by proliferation has never been achieved. We discovered a population of immature beta cells that is present throughout life and forms from non-beta precursors at a specialized micro-environment or "neogenic niche" at the islet periphery. These cells express insulin, but lack other key beta cell markers, and are transcriptionally immature, incapable of sensing glucose, and unable to support calcium influx. They constitute an intermediate stage in the transdifferentiation of alpha cells to cells that are functionally indistinguishable from conventional beta cells. We thus identified a lifelong source of new beta cells at a specialized site within healthy islets. By comparing co-existing immature and mature beta cells within healthy islets, we stand to learn how to mature insulin-expressing cells into functional beta cells.

SUBMITTER: van der Meulen T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8586897 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Virgin Beta Cells Persist throughout Life at a Neogenic Niche within Pancreatic Islets.

van der Meulen Talitha T Mawla Alex M AM DiGruccio Michael R MR Adams Michael W MW Nies Vera V Dólleman Sophie S Liu Siming S Ackermann Amanda M AM Cáceres Elena E Hunter Anna E AE Kaestner Klaus H KH Donaldson Cynthia J CJ Huising Mark O MO

Cell metabolism 20170401 4

Postnatal maintenance or regeneration of pancreatic beta cells is considered to occur exclusively via the replication of existing beta cells, but clinically meaningful restoration of human beta cell mass by proliferation has never been achieved. We discovered a population of immature beta cells that is present throughout life and forms from non-beta precursors at a specialized micro-environment or "neogenic niche" at the islet periphery. These cells express insulin, but lack other key beta cell ...[more]

PMID: 28380380

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Project description:microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in pancreatic development and adult ?-cell physiology. Our hypothesis is based on the assumption that each islet cell type has a specific pattern of miRNA expression. We sought to determine the profile of miRNA expression in ?-and ?-cells, the main components of pancreatic islets, because this analysis may lead to a better understanding of islet gene regulatory pathways. Highly enriched (>98%) subsets of human ?-and ?-cells were obtained by flow cytometric sorting after intracellular staining with c-peptide and glucagon antibody. The method of sorting based on intracellular staining is possible because miRNAs are stable after fixation. MiRNA expression levels were determined by quantitative high throughput PCR-based miRNA array platform screening. Most of the miRNAs were preferentially expressed in ?-cells. From the total of 667 miRNAs screened, the Significant Analysis of Microarray identified 141 miRNAs, of which only 7 were expressed more in ?-cells (?-miRNAs) and 134 were expressed more in ?-cells (?-miRNAs). Bioinformatic analysis identified potential targets of ?-miRNAs analyzing the Beta Cell Gene Atlas, described in the T1Dbase, the web platform, supporting the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community. cMaf, a transcription factor regulating glucagon expression expressed selectively in ?-cells (TF?) is targeted by ?-miRNAs; miR-200c, miR-125b and miR-182. Min6 cells treated with inhibitors of these miRNAs show an increased expression of cMaf RNA. Conversely, over expression of miR-200c, miR-125b or miR-182 in the mouse alpha cell line ?TC6 decreases the level of cMAF mRNA and protein. MiR-200c also inhibits the expression of Zfpm2, a TF? that inhibits the PI3K signaling pathway, at both RNA and protein levels.In conclusion, we identified miRNAs differentially expressed in pancreatic ?- and ?-cells and their potential transcription factor targets that could add new insights into different aspects of islet biology and pathophysiology.

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Dataset Information

Virgin Beta Cells Persist throughout Life at a Neogenic Niche within Pancreatic Islets.

Publications

Virgin Beta Cells Persist throughout Life at a Neogenic Niche within Pancreatic Islets.

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