Contribution of a non-β-cell source to β-cell mass during pregnancy.

β-cell mass in the pancreas increases significantly during pregnancy as an adaptation to maternal insulin resistance. Lineage tracing studies in rodents have presented conflicting evidence on the role of cell duplication in the formation of new β-cells during gestation, while recent human data sugge...

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Main Authors: Chiara Toselli, Colin M Hyslop, Martha Hughes, David R Natale, Pere Santamaria, Carol T L Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4062500?pdf=render
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author Chiara Toselli
Colin M Hyslop
Martha Hughes
David R Natale
Pere Santamaria
Carol T L Huang
author_facet Chiara Toselli
Colin M Hyslop
Martha Hughes
David R Natale
Pere Santamaria
Carol T L Huang
author_sort Chiara Toselli
collection DOAJ
description β-cell mass in the pancreas increases significantly during pregnancy as an adaptation to maternal insulin resistance. Lineage tracing studies in rodents have presented conflicting evidence on the role of cell duplication in the formation of new β-cells during gestation, while recent human data suggest that new islets are a major contributor to increased β-cell mass in pregnancy. Here, we aim to: 1) determine whether a non-β-cell source contributes to the appearance of new β-cells during pregnancy and 2) investigate whether recapitulation of the embryonic developmental pathway involving high expression of neurogenin 3 (Ngn3) plays a role in the up-regulation of β-cell mass during pregnancy. Using a mouse β-cell lineage-tracing model, which labels insulin-producing β-cells with red fluorescent protein (RFP), we found that the percentage of labeled β-cells dropped from 97% prior to pregnancy to 87% at mid-pregnancy. This suggests contribution of a non-β-cell source to the increase in total β-cell numbers during pregnancy. In addition, we observed a population of hormone-negative, Ngn3-positive cells in islets of both non-pregnant and pregnant mice, and this population dropped from 12% of all islets cells in the non-pregnant mice to 5% by day 8 of pregnancy. Concomitantly, a decrease in expression of Ngn3 and changes in its upstream regulatory network (Sox9 and Hes-1) as well as downstream targets (NeuroD, Nkx2.2, Rfx6 and IA1) were also observed during pregnancy. Our results show that duplication of pre-existing β-cells is not the sole source of new β-cells during pregnancy and that Ngn3 may be involved in this process.
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spelling doaj.art-7132268699ba4e13b4c08e8143e929762022-12-21T19:48:51ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0196e10039810.1371/journal.pone.0100398Contribution of a non-β-cell source to β-cell mass during pregnancy.Chiara ToselliColin M HyslopMartha HughesDavid R NatalePere SantamariaCarol T L Huangβ-cell mass in the pancreas increases significantly during pregnancy as an adaptation to maternal insulin resistance. Lineage tracing studies in rodents have presented conflicting evidence on the role of cell duplication in the formation of new β-cells during gestation, while recent human data suggest that new islets are a major contributor to increased β-cell mass in pregnancy. Here, we aim to: 1) determine whether a non-β-cell source contributes to the appearance of new β-cells during pregnancy and 2) investigate whether recapitulation of the embryonic developmental pathway involving high expression of neurogenin 3 (Ngn3) plays a role in the up-regulation of β-cell mass during pregnancy. Using a mouse β-cell lineage-tracing model, which labels insulin-producing β-cells with red fluorescent protein (RFP), we found that the percentage of labeled β-cells dropped from 97% prior to pregnancy to 87% at mid-pregnancy. This suggests contribution of a non-β-cell source to the increase in total β-cell numbers during pregnancy. In addition, we observed a population of hormone-negative, Ngn3-positive cells in islets of both non-pregnant and pregnant mice, and this population dropped from 12% of all islets cells in the non-pregnant mice to 5% by day 8 of pregnancy. Concomitantly, a decrease in expression of Ngn3 and changes in its upstream regulatory network (Sox9 and Hes-1) as well as downstream targets (NeuroD, Nkx2.2, Rfx6 and IA1) were also observed during pregnancy. Our results show that duplication of pre-existing β-cells is not the sole source of new β-cells during pregnancy and that Ngn3 may be involved in this process.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4062500?pdf=render
spellingShingle Chiara Toselli
Colin M Hyslop
Martha Hughes
David R Natale
Pere Santamaria
Carol T L Huang
Contribution of a non-β-cell source to β-cell mass during pregnancy.
PLoS ONE
title Contribution of a non-β-cell source to β-cell mass during pregnancy.
title_full Contribution of a non-β-cell source to β-cell mass during pregnancy.
title_fullStr Contribution of a non-β-cell source to β-cell mass during pregnancy.
title_full_unstemmed Contribution of a non-β-cell source to β-cell mass during pregnancy.
title_short Contribution of a non-β-cell source to β-cell mass during pregnancy.
title_sort contribution of a non β cell source to β cell mass during pregnancy
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4062500?pdf=render
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