Functional regulation of pancreatic islets by cell to cell communication

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461330
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Metabolomics
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: MUKAI ERI 千葉大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 講師 (60362539)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MIKI Takashi 千葉大学, 大学院医学研究院, 教授 (50302568)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 細胞間情報伝達 / インスリン分泌 / 糖代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Pancreatic beta cells form islets of Langerhans and the feature is needed for integrated insulin secretory responses. We hypothesized that gap junction between neighboring beta cells plays a role in the integrated secretory regulation and studied the mechanism of signal transduction through gap junction. By construction of analysis tools of signal transduction between beta cells, propagation of signal transduction to neighboring cells could be detected. The propagation was not strong and lasting like cardiac myocytes. Connexin 36 was shown to be responsible for secretory function, but the inhibition of its expression by present experimental system seems to be weak. Therefore, new system for regulation of the expression are needed for analysis of gap junction.

Free Research Field

基礎医学