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Mouse pancreatic islet macrophages use locally released ATP to monitor beta cell activity.


AUTHORS

Weitz JR , Makhmutova M , AlmaƧa J , Stertmann J , Aamodt K , Brissova M , Speier S , Rodriguez-Diaz R , Caicedo A , . Diabetologia. 2018 1 ; 61(1). 182-192

ABSTRACT

Tissue-resident macrophages sense the microenvironment and respond by producing signals that act locally to maintain a stable tissue state. It is now known that pancreatic islets contain their own unique resident macrophages, which have been shown to promote proliferation of the insulin-secreting beta cell. However, it is unclear how beta cells communicate with islet-resident macrophages. Here we hypothesised that islet macrophages sense changes in islet activity by detecting signals derived from beta cells.


Tissue-resident macrophages sense the microenvironment and respond by producing signals that act locally to maintain a stable tissue state. It is now known that pancreatic islets contain their own unique resident macrophages, which have been shown to promote proliferation of the insulin-secreting beta cell. However, it is unclear how beta cells communicate with islet-resident macrophages. Here we hypothesised that islet macrophages sense changes in islet activity by detecting signals derived from beta cells.


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