Coordinated regulation of neonatal beta-cell development in mice and humans by calcineurin/NFAT

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
To meet host metabolic demands after birth, organs like pancreatic islets increase their physiological function and mass. Compared to fetal islet development, however, little is known about mechanisms governing neonatal islet maturation and expansion. Here I demonstrate calcineurin/Nuclear Factor of Activated T-cells (Cn/NFAT) signaling regulates both [beta]-cell maturation and proliferation in neonatal mice and humans. Inactivation of the gene encoding the calcineurin phosphatase regulatory subunit, calcineurin b1 (Cnb1), in mouse islets resulted in defective dense core granule biogenesis, impaired insulin secretion, and reduced neonatal [beta]-cell proliferation and mass, culminating in lethal, early-onset diabetes. [beta]-cells lacking Cnb1 failed to express genes required for insulin storage and secretion, as well as neonatal replication. Tacrolimus, a calcineurin inhibitor and widely used immunosuppressant, reduces human [beta]-cell secretion and promotes diabetes, toxicities without a clear molecular basis. Exposure of mouse and human islets to tacrolimus reduced expression of genes encoding factors essential for insulin dense core granule formation and secretion, and neonatal [beta]-cell proliferation consistent with our genetic studies. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and other molecular studies revealed these genes as novel, direct NFAT targets in neonatal mouse and human islets. Thus, calcineurin/NFAT signaling coordinately regulates factors that govern [beta]-cell maturation and proliferation, revealing unique models for the pathogenesis and therapy of diabetes mellitus and diverse human islet diseases.

Description

Type of resource text
Form electronic; electronic resource; remote
Extent 1 online resource.
Publication date 2013
Issuance monographic
Language English

Creators/Contributors

Associated with Goodyer, William Rowland
Associated with Stanford University, Department of Developmental Biology.
Primary advisor Kim, Seung K
Thesis advisor Kim, Seung K
Thesis advisor Beachy, Philip Arden
Thesis advisor Crabtree, Gerald R
Thesis advisor Kuo, Calvin Jay
Thesis advisor Utz, Paul
Advisor Beachy, Philip Arden
Advisor Crabtree, Gerald R
Advisor Kuo, Calvin Jay
Advisor Utz, Paul

Subjects

Genre Theses

Bibliographic information

Statement of responsibility William Rowland Goodyer.
Note Submitted to the Department of Developmental Biology.
Thesis Ph.D. Stanford University 2013
Location electronic resource

Access conditions

Copyright
© 2013 by William Rowland Goodyer
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

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