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Endocrine Cell Differentiation and Function

Head: Isabella Artner, PI

Introduction

Diabetes results from loss or dysfunction of insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas. Despite insulin injection treatment, diabetic patients suffer from
long-term complications, such as blindness and kidney failure. Therefore, a central goal of diabetes research is to regenerate pancreatic beta cells or produce large numbers of functional beta cells for transplantation into diabetic patients. The successful generation of beta cells in vitro and regeneration of pancreatic beta cells in vivo will require a thorough understanding of the molecular networks that direct the normal development and function of these cells.

Goal

The objective of our research is to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that control beta cell maturation and function in the embryonic and adult pancreas. Our research employs genetic engineering in mice as well as biochemical methods.

Impact

Understanding the mechanisms underlying beta cell development and function will be a prerequisite for cell replacement therapy in diabetes.

 

MAF

Highlights

MafA-Controlled Nicotinic Receptor Expression Is Essential for Insulin Secretion and Is Impaired in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Ganic E, Singh T, Luan C, Fadista J, Johansson JK, Cyphert HA, Bennet H, Storm P, Prost G, Ahlenius H, Renström E, Stein R, Groop L, Fex M, Artner I.
Cell Rep. 2016 Feb 17. pii: S2211-1247(16)30069-9. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2016.02.002. [Epub ahead of print]

 

Serotonin (5-HT) receptor 2b activation augments glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in human and mouse islets of Langerhans.

Bennet H, Mollet IG, Balhuizen A, Medina A, Nagorny C, Bagge A, Fadista J, Ottosson-Laakso E, Vikman P, Dekker-Nitert M, Eliasson L, Wierup N, Artner I, Fex M.
Diabetologia. 2016 Jan 6. [Epub ahead of print]

 

Islet-specific monoamine oxidase A and B expression depends on MafA transcriptional activity and is compromised in type 2 diabetes.

Ganic E, Johansson JK, Bennet H, Fex M, Artner I.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2015 Dec 25;468(4):629-35. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.11.002. Epub 2015 Nov 10.

7 Mar 2021