Alpha cells come of age.
Trends Endocrinol Metab
; 24(3): 153-63, 2013 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23260869
ABSTRACT
The alpha cells that coinhabit the islets with the insulin-producing beta cells have recently captured the attention of diabetes researchers because of new breakthrough findings highlighting the importance of these cells in the maintenance of beta cell health and functions. In normal physiological conditions alpha cells produce glucagon but in conditions of beta cell injury they also produce glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), a growth and survival factor for beta cells. In this review we consider these new findings on the functions of alpha cells. Alpha cells remain somewhat enigmatic inasmuch as they now appear to be important in the maintenance of the health of beta cells, but their production of glucagon promotes diabetes. This circumstance prompts an examination of approaches to coax alpha cells to produce GLP-1 instead of glucagon.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Diabetes Mellitus Experimental
/
Células Secretoras de Glucagon
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Peptídeo 1 Semelhante ao Glucagon
Limite:
Animals
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2013
Tipo de documento:
Article