The main focus of our research is to better understand the characteristics that define an endocrine cell type within the islet. Traditionally, each islet cell type is classified by the metabolic hormone it produces—for instance, beta cells secrete insulin, while alpha cells secrete glucagon. However, the identity of these endocrine cell types is not fixed and can be reshaped by external stimuli.
Impact
Understanding islet cell plasticity can provide insight into what cues drive these transitions and how mature islet cells can be redirected towards a more desirable phenotype. Such knowledge, for instance, could help improve glycemic control in patients and provide strategies to promote stem cell differentiation into insulin-producing beta cells.
reNEW research
Our results demonstrate that islet cell identity undergoes rapid changes in response to specific metabolites. These findings suggest that carefully tailored dietary interventions for patients, as well as optimized culture media for stem cells, may hold therapeutic potentials.
Image description
Alpha cells are in green (glucagon) and beta cells in red (C-peptide). Notice that there are some cells co-positive for glucagon and C-peptide (yellow). Those are bihormonal cells that may shed some light on islet cell plasticity.
Credits
Yun Suk Chae, PhD Candidate, Islet Lab (De Koning lab), reNEW Leiden.
