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Pancreas

ERα signalling drives β-cell formation and replication

Nature Reviews Endocrinology volume 11, page 445 (2015)Cite this article

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In mice, the formation of pancreatic β cells during embryonic development and regeneration after injury in adulthood is controlled by estrogen receptor α (ERα) signalling, according to new research. The findings, published in Diabetes, identify ERα as a possible therapeutic target to restore β-cell mass and thereby control glucose homeostasis in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The researchers performed partial duct ligation (PDL) surgery on adult mice to mimic severe pancreatic injury and loss of β-cell mass. PDL-treated mice had increased 17β-estradiol (E2) levels, ERα activity, Esr1 (which encodes ERα) transcript levels and nuclear localization of ERα in β cells, in concert with increased β-cell proliferation. These responses were abrogated when ERα signalling was attenuated either chemically (by use of tamoxifen) or genetically (in ERα−/− mice); conversely, in situ delivery of E2 induced β-cell formation. ERα signalling during embryogenesis of the endocrine pancreas resulted in similar effects to those seen in pancreata of PDL-treated adult mice.

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References

  1. Yuchi, Y. et al. Estrogen receptor α regulates beta cell formation during pancreas development and following injury. Diabetes 10.2337/db14-1798

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  1. David Holmes
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Holmes, D. ERα signalling drives β-cell formation and replication. Nat Rev Endocrinol 11, 445 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2015.96

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