Barbara Davis center for childhood diabetes, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
Barbara Davis center for childhood diabetes, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States; Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, United States.
FEBS Lett. 2014 Apr 17;588(8):1278-87. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.02.035. Epub 2014 Feb 28.
Multi-cellular systems require complex signaling mechanisms for proper tissue function, to mediate signaling between cells in close proximity and at distances. This holds true for the islets of Langerhans, which are multicellular micro-organs located in the pancreas responsible for glycemic control, through secretion of insulin and other hormones. Coupling of electrical and metabolic signaling between islet β-cells is required for proper insulin secretion and effective glycemic control. β-cell specific coupling is established through gap junctions composed of connexin36, which results in coordinated insulin release across the islet. Islet connexins have been implicated in both Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes; however a clear link remains to be determined. The goal of this review is to discuss recent discoveries regarding the role of connexins in regulating insulin secretion, the regulation of connexins within the islet, and recent studies which support a role for connexins in diabetes. Further studies which investigate the regulation of connexins in the islet and their role in diabetes may lead to novel diabetes therapies which regulate islet function and β-cell survival through modulation of gap junction coupling.
多细胞系统需要复杂的信号机制来维持组织功能正常，以介导近距离和远距离细胞之间的信号传递。胰岛就是这样一个多细胞微器官，位于胰腺中，通过分泌胰岛素和其他激素来控制血糖。胰岛β细胞之间的电信号和代谢信号的偶联对于胰岛素的正常分泌和有效的血糖控制是必需的。β细胞特异性偶联是通过由连接蛋白 36 组成的缝隙连接建立的，这导致胰岛素在胰岛中协调释放。胰岛连接蛋白与 1 型和 2 型糖尿病都有关联；然而，明确的联系仍有待确定。本综述的目的是讨论连接蛋白在调节胰岛素分泌中的作用、胰岛内连接蛋白的调节以及支持连接蛋白在糖尿病中作用的最新研究。进一步研究胰岛中连接蛋白的调节及其在糖尿病中的作用，可能会导致通过调节缝隙连接偶联来调节胰岛功能和β细胞存活的新型糖尿病治疗方法。
