Beta cell

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Beta cells are a type of cell in the pancreas in areas called the islets of Langerhans. Beta cells make and release insulin, a hormone that controls the level of glucose in the blood.

Beta cell is usually spelled beta-cell or even more common β-cell (β is the greek letter beta).

There is a baseline level of insulin maintained by the pancreas, but it can respond quickly to spikes in blood glucose by releasing stored insulin while simultaneously producing more. The response time is fairly quick, taking approximately 10 minutes.

Destruction or dysfunction of beta cells is the cause of diabetes mellitus type 1. In Diabetes mellitus type 2 beta cells decline gradually over time, and insulin resistance plays at least as large a role in the disease ^[1]^[2].

Apart from insulin, beta cells release C-peptide, a byproduct of insulin production, into the bloodstream in equimolar quantities. Measuring the levels of C-peptide can give a practitioner an idea of the viable beta cell mass.

β-cells also produce amylin, also known as IAPP, islet amyloid polypeptide, a protein with unknown function.

A rare tumor (usually benign) derived from beta cells is called insulinoma. It results in recurrent and prolonged attacks of hypoglycemia.

[edit] Research

Much research is being done in the field of beta-cell physiology and pathology. One major research topic is its effects on diabetes. Many researchers are trying to find ways to use these beta-cells to help control or prevent diabetes. A major topic is the replication of adult beta-cells and the application of these to diabetes. The University of Pennsylvania Beta Cell Physiology and Pathology is a leading research center in the field, within the Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center.

A team science effort also exists, known as the Beta Cell Biology Consortium (BCBC). The BCBC is responsible for facilitating interdisciplinary approaches that will advance the understanding of pancreatic islet development and function. The long-term goal of the BCBC is to develop a cell-based therapy for insulin delivery.

[edit] References

^ UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group (1995) Overview of 6 years therapy of type II diabetes: a progressive disease. Diabetes 44:1249-1258
^ Rudenski et al. (1991) Understanding 'insulin resistance': Both glucose resistance and insulin resistance are required to model human diabetes. Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental 40: 908-917.