Naslov
β-cells operate collectively to help maintain glucose homeostasis

Autori
Podobnik, Boris ; Korošak, Dean ; Skelin Klemen, Maša ; Stožer, Andraž ; Dolenšek, Jurij ; Slak Rupnik, Marjan ; Ivanov, Plamen Ch. ; Holme, Petter ; Jusup, Marko

Izvornik
Biophysical journal (0006-3495) 118 (2020), 10; 2588-2595

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
beta cells ; diabetes mellitus ; pancreas

Sažetak
Residing in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, beta cells contribute to glucose homeostasis by managing the body’s insulin supply. A circulating hypothesis has been that healthy beta cells heavily engage in cell-to- cell communication to perform their homeostatic function. We provide strong evidence in favor of this hypothesis in the form of (i) a dynamical network model that faithfully mimics fast calcium oscillations in response to above- threshold glucose stimulation and (ii) empirical data analysis that reveals a qualitative shift in the cross-correlation structure of measured signals below and above the threshold glucose concentration. Combined together, these results point to a glucose- induced transition in beta- cell activity thanks to increasing coordination through gapjunctional signaling and paracrine interactions. The model further suggests how the conservation of entire cell-cell conductance, observed in coupled but not uncoupled beta cells, emerges as a collective phenomenon. An overall implication is that improving the ability to monitor beta-cell signaling should offer means to better understand the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Interdisciplinarne prirodne znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA