BioScience Trends. 2017;11(1):9-15. (DOI: 10.5582/bst.2016.01226)

Role of TRPV channels in regulating various pancreatic β-cell functions: Lessons from in vitro studies.

Skrzypski M, Billert M, Mergler S, Khajavi N, Nowak KW, Strowski MZ


SUMMARY

Pancreatic β-cell functions are regulated by a variety of endogenous and exogenous factors. Calcium is one of the most potent triggers of β-cell growth, insulin production and exocytosis. Recently, others and we showed that TRPV channels are expressed in insulin producing cell lines and/or primary β-cells. These channels modulate calcium ions, insulin secretion and cell proliferation. Besides the classical roles of TRPV channels in the sensory system, there are also novel functions described in non-excitable cells such as in insulin-producing β-cells. This review summarises the current knowledge about the expression and the role of TRPV channels in controlling β-cell functions based upon studies performed in isolated primary β-cells as well as permanent β-cell models.


KEYWORDS: Apoptosis, beta cell, calcium, insulin, TRPV, proliferation

Full Text: