Integration of ATAC-seq and RNA-seq identifies human alpha cell and beta cell signature genes.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Although glucagon-secreting α-cells and insulin-secreting β-cells have opposing functions in regulating plasma glucose levels, the two cell types share a common developmental origin and exhibit overlapping transcriptomes and epigenomes. Notably, destruction of β-cells can stimulate repopulation via transdifferentiation of α-cells, at least in mice, suggesting plasticity between these cell fates. Furthermore, dysfunction of both α- and β-cells contributes to the pathophysiology of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and β-cell de-differentiation has been proposed to contribute to type 2 diabetes. Our objective was to delineate the molecular properties that maintain islet cell type specification yet allow for cellular plasticity. We hypothesized that correlating cell type-specific

SUBMITTER: Ackermann AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4770267 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature