Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction in the Islet Cells

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Tissues and Organs".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2025) | Viewed by 1655

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Clinical Sciences and Education, Sodersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, 118 83 Stockholm, Sweden
2. Department of Emergency Care and Internal Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, 752 37 Uppsala, Sweden
Interests: islets of Langerhans; pancreatic beta cells; insulin secretion; glucagon-like peptide 1; calcium signaling; TRP channels; diabetes; signal transduction in beta-cells; stimulus-secretion coupling; calcium signaling in the beta cells; calcium-induced calcium release; ryanodine receptors
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The molecular mechanisms that regulate the secretion of hormones from the islets of Langerhans are being studied by many investigators. New discoveries are advancing our understanding of the molecular events involved and forcing us to change our previous views. Many nutrients, neurotransmitters and hormones regulate secretions from the islets. Numerous receptors, signaling cascades, ion channels, genes and transcription factors participate in these processes. Many advanced methods, including advanced imaging techniques, RNA sequencing, and single cell transcriptomics, are being used to elucidate the complexities of the signaling mechanisms involved. We encourage investigators to submit original studies and review papers that deal with the signaling mechanisms regulating secretion from islet cells, their development and survival, in healthy and in pathological conditions.

Dr. Md Shahidul Islam
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • islet cells
  • islets of Langerhans
  • insulin secretion
  • signaling mechanisms
  • molecular mechanisms

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 1977 KiB  
Article
The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) Is a Novel Gene Involved in Proper Physiological Functions of Pancreatic β-Cells
by Shuhd Bin Eshaq, Jalal Taneera, Shabana Anjum, Abdul Khader Mohammed, Mohammad H. Semreen, Karem H. Alzoubi, Mohamed Eladl, Yasser Bustanji, Eman Abu-Gharbieh and Waseem El-Huneidi
Cells 2025, 14(1), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14010057 - 6 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1279
Abstract
The Kynurenine pathway is crucial in metabolizing dietary tryptophan into bioactive compounds known as kynurenines, which have been linked to glucose homeostasis. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has recently emerged as the endogenous receptor for the kynurenine metabolite, kynurenic acid (KYNA). However, the [...] Read more.
The Kynurenine pathway is crucial in metabolizing dietary tryptophan into bioactive compounds known as kynurenines, which have been linked to glucose homeostasis. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has recently emerged as the endogenous receptor for the kynurenine metabolite, kynurenic acid (KYNA). However, the specific role of AhR in pancreatic β-cells remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the expression of AhR in human pancreatic islets using publicly available RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) databases and to explore its correlations with various metabolic parameters and key β-cell markers. Additionally, functional experiments were conducted in INS-1 cells, a rat β-cell line, to elucidate the role of Ahr in β-cell biology. RNA-seq data analysis confirmed the expression of AHR in human islets, with elevated levels observed in pancreatic islets obtained from diabetic and obese donors compared to non-diabetic or lean donors. Furthermore, AHR expression showed an inverse correlation with the expression of key β-cell functional genes, including insulin, PDX-1, MAFA, KCNJ11, and GCK. Silencing Ahr expression using siRNA in INS-1 cells decreased insulin secretion, insulin content, and glucose uptake efficiency, while cell viability, apoptosis rate, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production remained unaffected. Moreover, Ahr silencing led to the downregulation of major β-cell regulator genes, Ins1, Ins2, Pdx-1, and Glut2, at both the mRNA and protein levels. In summary, this study provides novel insights into the role of AhR in maintaining proper β-cell function. These findings suggest that AhR could be a potential target for future therapeutic strategies in treating type 2 diabetes (T2D). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Signal Transduction in the Islet Cells)
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