The 15th Anniversary of Life—Recent Advances in Pancreatic Beta Cell Physiology

Dear Colleagues,

Pancreatic β-cells play a central role in metabolic regulation through the precisely controlled secretion of insulin, a hormone essential not only for maintaining glucose homeostasis but also for coordinating nutrient storage and whole-body energy balance. In recent years, major conceptual and technological advances have transformed our understanding of β-cell physiology, revealing new molecular, metabolic, and biophysical mechanisms that shape β-cell function under both physiological and pathological conditions. These discoveries have profound implications for basic metabolic research and clinical practice, particularly in the context of the metabolic syndrome, β-cell compensation, failure, and type 2 diabetes.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge contributions from researchers working across the spectrum of β-cell science. We welcome studies that uncover novel mechanisms of β-cell metabolic regulation, including paracrine, oxidative, reductive, and anaplerotic pathways; GABA-shunt-driven anaplerosis and related cataplerotic cycles; lipid-derived amplifying pathways such as the glycerol–FFA cycle; and the interplay between mitochondrial function, redox signalling, and ROS/H₂O₂ dynamics. Contributions addressing ATP generation and compartmentalization in bulk and microdomains, triggering and amplifying pathways of insulin secretion, ion-channel behaviour, and intracellular communication are particularly encouraged. We also welcome studies linking these mechanisms to physiological and pathophysiological β-cell responses, including nutrient sensing, β-cell stress adaptation, and dysfunction in metabolic disease.

Submissions integrating theoretical and computational modelling with experimental approaches are highly encouraged, as are studies exploring multicellular and islet-level interactions, such as β-cell network dynamics, β–α–δ cell crosstalk, and tissue-level regulation investigated through advanced multicellular imaging techniques.

We invite the contribution of both original research articles and comprehensive reviews that advance our understanding of β-cell biology at the molecular, cellular, multicellular, and systemic levels. By bridging experimental and theoretical perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to highlight transformative developments in β-cell physiology and pathophysiology and to support the development of improved therapeutic strategies for diabetes.

Prof. Dr. Marko Marhl
Prof. Dr. Marko Gosak
Prof. Dr. Andraz Stozer
Dr. Lydie Plecita
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Life is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• β-cell physiology
• insulin secretion
• triggering and amplifying pathways
• mitochondrial metabolism (oxidative, reductive, anaplerotic)
• GABA shunt and anaplerosis
• cataplerotic cycles
• ATP microdomains and bioenergetics
• redox signalling and ROS/H₂O₂ dynamics
• glycerol–FFA cycle and lipid signalling
• ion-channel behaviour
• intracellular communication
• β-cell network dynamics
• islet connectivity
• islet multicellular imaging
• computational and mathematical modelling