Pancreatic beta-cell subgroups and their connectivity

Glucose homeostasis across species is maintained by pancreatic islet beta cells, which, show significant heterogeneity, and require connectivity across a hierarchical network for normal insulin release.

In this discuss the authors discuss the intra-islet connectivity, cellular hierarchies and potential “controlling” beta-cell populations.

The authors deliberate the methodologies for cell preparations and imaging technologies used in human and rodent islet preparations.

They also discuss the live-cell data analysis and hierarchical cell groups involved in Ca2+ dynamics and the mechanisms by which this hierarchy is achieved, its physiological relevance and how its loss may contribute to islet failure in diabetes mellitus are also considered.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-024-01097-6

https://sciencemission.com/Exploring-pancreatic-beta-cell-subgroups-and-their-connectivity