Single pancreatic beta cells co-express multiple islet hormone genes in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Aims/hypothesis

It is widely accepted that production of insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide in islet cells is specific to beta, alpha, delta and pancreatic polypeptide cells, respectively. We examined whether beta cells express other genes encoding islet hormones.

Methods

Nested RT-PCR was performed on single beta cells of transgenic mice with green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by mouse insulin I promoter (MIP-GFP).

Results

Only 55% of adult beta cells expressed the insulin gene alone, while others expressed two or more islet hormone genes; 4% expressed all four hormone genes. In embryonic and neonatal cells, 60% to 80% of GFP(+) cells co-expressed pancreatic polypeptide and insulin genes in contrast to 29% in adult. To clarify cell fate, w

SUBMITTER: Katsuta H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2789931 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature