Genetic Control of β -Cell Mass Homeostasis

摘要

Control of β-cell function and mass is tightly linked to glucose homeostasis. Failing β-cells inevitably lead todiabetes. Recently, several contradictory studies have been published arguing against or in favor of various mechanismscontrolling β-cell mass regulation. Here we review the literature on control of adult β-cell mass and aim to reconcilethereby the contradictions. We discuss the role of β-cell proliferation and neogenesis, both in mice and man. We alsodiscuss the influence of genetic predisposition on β-cell mass control. We conclude that β-cell generation in the adulthuman and mouse likely depends on many paths to assure sufficient numbers of β-cells at any given time, therebybalancing mechanisms for negative regulation of β-cell numbers. A simple model with only one pathway does not fit thecurrent literature.