Open AccessIntegrating the inputs that shape pancreatic islet hormone release
Author(s) -
Glyn M. Noguchi,
Mark O. Huising
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
nature metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.834
H-Index - 22
ISSN - 2522-5812
DOI - 10.1038/s42255-019-0148-2
Subject(s) - paracrine signalling , islet , glucose homeostasis , enteroendocrine cell , endocrine system , glucagon , delta cell , homeostasis , somatostatin , biology , hormone , alpha cell , endocrinology , pancreatic islets , cell type , blood sugar regulation , medicine , cell , insulin , beta cell , receptor , insulin resistance , biochemistry
The pancreatic islet is a complex mini organ composed of a variety of endocrine cells and their support cells, which together tightly control blood glucose homeostasis. Changes in glucose concentration are commonly regarded as the chief signal controlling insulin-secreting beta cells, glucagon-secreting alpha cells and somatostatin-secreting delta cells. However, each of these cell types is highly responsive to a multitude of endocrine, paracrine, nutritional and neural inputs, which collectively shape the final endocrine output of the islet. Here, we review the principal inputs for each islet-cell type and the physiological circumstances in which these signals arise, through the prism of the insights generated by the transcriptomes of each of the major endocrine-cell types. A comprehensive integration of the factors that influence blood glucose homeostasis is essential to successfully improve therapeutic strategies for better diabetes management.