title: Neurotransmitters act as paracrine signals to regulate insulin secretion from the human pancreatic islet.
abstract: In this symposium review we discuss the role of neurotransmitters as paracrine signals that regulate pancreatic islet function. A large number of neurotransmitters and their receptors has been identified in the islet, but relatively little is known about their involvement in islet biology. Interestingly, neurotransmitters initially thought to be present in autonomic axons innervating the islet are also present in endocrine cells of the human islet. These neurotransmitters can thus be released as paracrine signals to help control hormone release. Here we propose that the role of neurotransmitters may extend beyond controlling endocrine cell function to work as signals modulating vascular flow and immune responses within the islet.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, SE-17177, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rayner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Diaz
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
authors.forename: Danusa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Menegaz
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA acaicedo@med.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caicedo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D019899:Paracrine Communication
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents