(Journal Article): Gastrin stimulates beta-cell neogenesis and increases islet mass from transdifferentiated but not from normal exocrine pancreas tissue.
 
Rooman I, Lardon J, Bouwens L (Cell Differentiation Group, Diabetes Research Center, Free University of Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.)
 
IN: Diabetes 2002; 51(3):686-690
Impact Factor(s) of Diabetes: 8.848 (2004), 8.298 (2003), 8.256 (2002), 7.7 (2001)

ABSTRACT: It is still unclear which factors regulate pancreatic regeneration and beta-cell neogenesis and which precursor cells are involved. We evaluated the role of intravenously infused gastrin in regenerating pancreas of duct-ligated rats. The ligation of exocrine ducts draining the splenic half of the pancreas resulted in acinoductal transdifferentiation within the ligated part but not in the unligated part. We found that infusion of gastrin from day 7 to 10 postligation resulted in a doubling of the beta-cell mass in the ligated part as measured by morphometry. This increase in insulin-expressing cells was not associated with increased proliferation, hypertrophy, or reduced cell death of the beta-cells. Furthermore, we found an increased percentage of single, extra-insular beta-cells and small beta-cell clusters induced by gastrin infusion. These changes occurred only in the ligated part of the pancreas, where transdifferentiation of the exocrine acinar cells to ductlike cells (metaplasia) had occurred, and was not found in the normal unaffected pancreatic tissue. In conclusion, we demonstrate that administration of gastrin stimulates beta-cell neogenesis and expansion of the beta-cell mass from transdifferentiated exocrine pancreas.

TYPE OF PUBLICATION: Original article

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• Street CN, Lakey JR, Rajotte RV, Shapiro AM, Kieffer TJ, Lyon JG, Kin T, Korbutt GS. Enriched Human Pancreatic Ductal Cultures Obtained from Selective Death of Acinar Cells Express Pancreatic and Duodenal Homeobox Gene-1 Age-Dependently. Rev Diabetic Stud 2004. 1: 66-79.
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