Review
Physiology
Anuradha Ratnaparkhi, Jyothish Sudhakaran
Summary: Nutrient sensing and metabolic homeostasis are crucial for the growth, development, and reproduction of organisms. The brain receives and integrates signals related to nutritional and metabolic status to maintain homeostasis. In Drosophila, the fat body serves as a key organ for energy and nutrient sensing, storage, and utilization, and it regulates metabolism by modulating the synthesis and release of insulin-like peptides.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Christopher H. Emfinger, Eleonora de Klerk, Kathryn L. Schueler, Mary E. Rabaglia, Donnie S. Stapleton, Shane P. Simonett, Kelly A. Mitok, Ziyue Wang, Xinyue Liu, Joao A. Paulo, Qinq Yu, Rebecca L. Cardone, Hannah R. Foster, Sophie L. Lewandowski, Jose C. Perales, Christina M. Kendziorski, Steven P. Gygi, Richard G. Kibbey, Mark P. Keller, Matthias Hebrok, Matthew J. Merrins, Alan D. Attie
Summary: The deletion of the Zfp148 gene improves glucose and amino acid sensitivity as well as insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. Understanding the pathways controlled by ZFP148 may offer promising strategies for enhancing beta cell function.
Article
Cell Biology
Daniel Simoes de Jesus, Paula Bargi-Souza, Vinicius Cruzat, Vijay Yechoor, Angelo Rafael Carpinelli, Rodrigo Antonio Peliciari-Garcia
Summary: The pancreatic beta cells circadian clock and NADPH oxidase (NOX) family play important roles in glucose metabolism. Absence of BMAL1 may trigger an increase in NOX2-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) in pancreatic beta cells, leading to inhibition of insulin secretion.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jun Shirakawa
Summary: Insulin and insulin receptor-mediated signaling pathways are important in regulating compensatory beta-cell proliferation, but whether insulin receptor is required remains controversial. Recent research suggests that the interaction between islets and adipose tissue through humoral factors is also involved in adaptive beta-cell proliferation. Therefore, understanding these signaling pathways is crucial for diabetes treatment.
JOURNAL OF DIABETES INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Urvi M. Parmar, Manjiri P. Jalgaonkar, Yogesh A. Kulkarni, Manisha J. Oza
Summary: The incidence of diabetes is increasing globally, and it is associated with hyperglycemia and disrupted metabolic pathways. Autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis, but disrupted autophagy contributes to metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Nutrient-sensing pathways, including SIRT1, mTOR, and AMPK, regulate autophagy and they could be potential therapeutic targets for reducing diabetic complications.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Suzanne Bennett-Keki, Emily K. Fowler, Leighton Folkes, Simon Moxon, Tracey Chapman
Summary: Differences in lifespan between males and females are influenced by differential responses to diet, with females showing higher dietary sensitivity. This is mediated by higher and more dynamic expression in nutrient-sensing pathways in females. These findings highlight the importance of sex-specific dietary responses on health and lifespan.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jae-Su Moon, Matthew Riopel, Jong Bae Seo, Vicente Herrero-Aguayo, Roi Isaac, Yun Sok Lee
Summary: Increased metabolic stress in obesity leads to mitochondrial damage and beta-cell dysfunction. Beta-cells initially exhibit enhanced insulin secretion to compensate for insulin resistance. Research shows that beta-cells can upregulate antioxidant gene expression through hypoxia inducible factor 2 alpha, protecting against mitochondrial damage caused by reactive oxygen species.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Tamadher A. Alghamdi, Nicole A. J. Krentz, Nancy Smith, Aliya F. Spigelman, Varsha Rajesh, Alokkumar Jha, Mourad Ferdaoussi, Kunimasa Suzuki, Jing Yang, Jocelyn E. Manning Fox, Han Sun, Zijie Sun, Anna L. Gloyn, Patrick E. MacDonald
Summary: The Zmiz1 gene in beta cells is essential for maintaining normal glucose homeostasis. Genetic variations at the ZMIZ1 locus may affect the risk of type 2 diabetes by reducing the expansion of beta cell mass and the ability to maintain a mature beta cell state under metabolic stress.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Lina Sakhneny, Laura Mueller, Anat Schonblum, Sivan Azaria, Guzel Burganova, Alona Epshtein, Abigail Isaacson, Heather Wilson, Francesca M. Spagnoli, Limor Landsman
Summary: Glucose homeostasis in the body depends on insulin secretion from mature pancreatic beta cells. This study identifies BMP4 as a critical component in regulating beta cell function, with pericytes as the primary source of BMP4 in the pancreatic microenvironment. The timely production of BMP4 in the islet niche promotes beta cell functional maturation.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Janelle M. Tobias, Gabriela Rajic, Alexander E. G. Viray, David Icka-Araki, James A. Frank
Summary: Fatty acid amides (FAAs) are lipids that target cannabinoid receptors and regulate insulin secretion. The Optically-Cleavable Targeted (OCT)-ligand approach was developed to investigate the mechanisms by which FAAs regulate beta-cell excitability, showing potential for new experimental possibilities in targeted pharmacology.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Nirav Florian Chhabra, Anna-Lena Amend, Aimee Bastidas-Ponce, Sibylle Sabrautzki, Marta Tarquis-Medina, Stephan Sachs, Marina Rubey, Bettina Lorenz-Depiereux, Annette Feuchtinger, Mostafa Bakhti, Heiko Lickert, Gerhard K. H. Przemeck, Martin Hrabe de Angelis
Summary: This study investigated the consequences of a point mutation in the Pdia6 gene on β-cell development and function in mice. The mutation led to hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia in adult mice, attributed to loss of β-cell function and identity. It was observed that mutant mice displayed reduced insulin-expressing β-cells and altered expression of key markers.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hanna Deguchi-Horiuchi, Sawako Suzuki, Eun Young Lee, Takashi Miki, Noriko Yamanaka, Ichiro Manabe, Tomoaki Tanaka, Koutaro Yokote
Summary: This study reveals the important regulatory roles of GLS2 in pancreatic β-cells, showing that its deficiency leads to diabetes, insulin resistance, and elevated glucagon levels under a high-fat diet. Furthermore, the study identifies the underlying mechanisms associated with GLS2 and suggests its role in maintaining glucose homeostasis in pancreatic β-cells under hyperglycemic conditions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Fabio Azzarello, Luca Pesce, Valentina De Lorenzi, Gianmarco Ferri, Marta Tesi, Silvia Del Guerra, Piero Marchetti, Francesco Cardarelli
Summary: By combining live imaging with immunofluorescence, this research reveals the relationship between metabolic shifts in islet cells and cell types, and discovers an inverse correlation between tissue metabolic responses and insulin secretion power.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huixia Ren, Yanjun Li, Chengsheng Han, Yi Yu, Bowen Shi, Xiaohong Peng, Shufang Wu, Xiaojing Yang, Sneppen Kim, Liangyi Chen, Chao Tang, Tianming Zhang
Summary: The Ca2+ modulated pulsatile glucagon and insulin secretions by pancreatic alpha and beta cells play a crucial role in glucose homeostasis. However, the coordination between alpha and beta cells in producing different Ca2+ oscillation patterns is still unclear. This study used a microfluidic device and transgenic mice to record Ca2+ signals from islet alpha and beta cells and observed heterogeneous Ca2+ oscillation patterns intrinsic to each islet. The results showed that after glucose stimulation, the oscillations of alpha and beta cells were globally phase-locked, with a fixed time delay in the activation of alpha cells compared to beta cells and a tunable period in the activation of beta cells. The number of islet alpha cells was also found to be correlated with oscillation frequency. A mathematical model incorporating paracrine interactions was built and quantitatively agreed with the experimental data, highlighting the importance of cell-cell interaction in generating stable but tunable islet oscillation patterns.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Moriah Eustice, Daniel Konzman, Jeff M. Reece, Salil Ghosh, Jhullian Alston, Tyler Hansen, Andy Golden, Michelle R. Bond, Lara K. Abramowitz, John A. Hanover
Summary: Genetic and environmental manipulations can improve health span and lifespan, but the underlying mechanisms of diet-associated pro-longevity are not well understood. In a model organism, ARD is regulated by fatty acid metabolism, energy sensing, stress response, and insulin-like signaling, uncovering conserved genetic pathways required for ARD entry and recovery.