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Cell–cell interactions in the endocrine pancreas
Author(s) -
Jain R.,
Lammert E.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
diabetes, obesity and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.445
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1463-1326
pISSN - 1462-8902
DOI - 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2009.01102.x
Subject(s) - enteroendocrine cell , microbiology and biotechnology , islet , cell adhesion , cell adhesion molecule , extracellular matrix , paracrine signalling , biology , secretion , pancreas , cell , receptor , hormone , endocrine system , cell–cell interaction , delta cell , cadherin , neural cell adhesion molecule , alpha cell , cell type , endocrinology , beta cell , insulin , biochemistry
Cell–cell communication within any given tissue is an important aspect of correct organ function. The islets of Langerhans forming the endocrine pancreas are composed of α‐, β‐, δ‐, ε‐ and PP‐cells, and interactions between these cells are required for fine‐tuning glucose homeostasis of the body. The endocrine cells communicate through homotypic or heterotypic cell‐cell adhesion, or in a paracrine fashion, and this communication is involved in the regulated secretion of islet hormones. This review discusses how islet hormones, secreted molecules and ions influence the endocrine cells and how cell adhesion molecules such as neural cell adhesion molecule, cadherins, connexin‐36, Eph receptors and ephrin ligands, as well as extracellular matrix proteins, modulate pancreatic islet function.