title: Are islet cells the gatekeepers of the pancreas?
abstract: The pancreas is one of the body's most complex tissues composed of a mixture of endocrine and exocrine cell components. Although, islets comprise 1-2% of the pancreatic volume, there is some evidence that they control the function and the integrity of the pancreas and play the role of a gatekeeper. This review intends to highlight the importance of islet cells, not only for glucose metabolism, but also for their significant role in drug metabolism and diseases, especially in pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198, USA. ppour@unmc.edu
authors.forename: Parviz M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pour
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Standop
authors.forename: Surinder K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Batra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D010179:Pancreas / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*