title: Betatrophin: a hormone that controls pancreatic β cell proliferation.
abstract: Replenishing insulin-producing pancreatic β cell mass will benefit both type I and type II diabetics. In adults, pancreatic β cells are generated primarily by self-duplication. We report on a mouse model of insulin resistance that induces dramatic pancreatic β cell proliferation and β cell mass expansion. Using this model, we identify a hormone, betatrophin, that is primarily expressed in liver and fat. Expression of betatrophin correlates with β cell proliferation in other mouse models of insulin resistance and during gestation. Transient expression of betatrophin in mouse liver significantly and specifically promotes pancreatic β cell proliferation, expands β cell mass, and improves glucose tolerance. Thus, betatrophin treatment could augment or replace insulin injections by increasing the number of endogenous insulin-producing cells in diabetics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Ji-Sun
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Melton
mesh_terms: D052436:Adipose Tissue, White / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000091306:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 8; D000075802:Angiopoietin-like Proteins; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010179:Pancreas / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: C576683:ANGPTL8 protein, human; C000595899:ANGPTL8 protein, mouse; D000091306:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 8; D000075802:Angiopoietin-like Proteins; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D010455:Peptides; C532752:S961 peptide; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D005947:Glucose