α Cell Function and Gene Expression Are Compromised in Type 1 Diabetes

• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.02.032
• Publication Date: 2018-03-06T20:38:18Z
• Authors: Marcela Brissova; Rachana Haliyur; Diane Saunders; Shristi Shrestha; Chunhua Dai; David M. Blodgett; Rita Bottino; Martha Campbell-T...; Radhika Aramandla; Gregory Poffenberger; Jill Lindner; Fong Cheng Pan; Matthias G. von H...; Dale L. Greiner; Leonard D. Shultz; May Sanyoura; Louis H. Philipson; Mark Atkinson; David M. Harlan; Shawn E. Levy; Nripesh Prasad; Roland Stein; Alvin C. Powers
• Keywords: Enteroendocrine cell; Cell type

Many patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have residual β cells producing small amounts of C-peptide long after disease onset but develop an inadequate glucagon response to hypoglycemia following T1D diagnosis. The features these and α in the islet endocrine compartment are largely unknown, due difficulty comprehensive investigation. By studying pancreas isolated islets, we show that remnant appeared maintain several aspects regulated insulin secretion. However, function was markedly reduced, had alterations transcription factors constituting cell identity. In native placing islets into a non-autoimmune, normoglycemic vivo environment, there no evidence α-to-β conversion. These results suggest explanation for disordered counterregulatory hypoglycemia.