Induction of new pancreatic b-cell growth in response to changes in metabolic changes

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15241
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Pathological medical chemistry
• Research Institution: Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation at Kobe
• Principal Investigator: Inada Akari 公益財団法人神戸医療産業都市推進機構, その他部局等, 研究員(上席・主任研究員クラス) (50448429)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 膵臓 / 膵島 / β細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pancreatic β-cells within islets explosively increase after birth into adulthood. β-cell mass and cell volume change dynamically in response to growth, pregnancy, obesity, aging, etc., in order to maintain glucose homeostasis. The aim of this research is to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying new β-cell generation to maintain an appropriate cell mass in response to changes in metabolism. Using our hyperglycemic diabetic mouse, in which pancreatic β-cells are depleted but dramatically increases in response to changes in life stage or metabolic changes, we analyzed gene expression profile and identified key mediators of β-cell proliferation in response to changes in metabolism.

Free Research Field

生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

β細胞の増殖に関する新たな発見がもたらされた。
β細胞量の増加とそれを維持する分子機構が明らかになれば、体内で十分量のβ細胞を確保してインスリン不足を解消することができ、糖尿病の発症予防と発症後の根本的な治療となる。