Speaker: Carla Perego, Lab of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Dept of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences,Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

Title: Tuning pancreatic beta-cell function through mechanobiology

Host: Enming Zhang

Pancreatic beta-cells, by releasing insulin, play a key role in the control of glucose homeostasis and their dysfunction, dedifferentiation and death underlie diabetes mellitus development. Using substrates reproducing the complex nanotopographic features of the extracellular matrix, we have shown that these cells are mechanosensitive and use mechanotransductive pathways to control their fate and function. In the seminar, I will describe how nanotopography can affect pancreatic beta-cells differentiation and geometry to ultimately recreate the islet-like cluster organization which is crucial for the proper functioning of these cells. By dissecting and interfering with these events we expect to develop innovative strategies to address diabetes mellitus and other pancreatic-cell-related diseases.