title: beta-Cells at the crossroads: choosing between insulin granule production and proliferation.
abstract: Pancreatic beta-cells are the sole source of insulin, the major hormonal regulator of glycaemia. In physiological and pathological conditions with increased insulin demand, beta-cells adjust their insulin output either through increased insulin secretory granule (ISG) biogenesis and secretion, or hyperplasia. Failure of these compensatory mechanisms eventually results in hyperglycaemia and diabetes mellitus. Both of these major adaptive behaviours are positively regulated by several extrinsic factors, such as glucose, GLP-1, insulin and growth hormones (GH). Still unclear, however, it is how beta-cells in response to these stimuli opt for one or the other strategy at a given time. Here we review recent advances concerning the factors and pathways that enhance ISG biogenesis and beta-cell replication, and propose the existence of 'switch factors' that play a key role in regulating the shift between these two adaptive responses.
authors.affiliation: Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden, Dresden University of Technology, Germany.
authors.forename: Yanmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mziaut
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivanova
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solimena
mesh_terms: D049108:Cell Enlargement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1