Cell Reports (Jun 2024)

Impaired islet function and normal exocrine enzyme secretion occur with low inter-regional variation in type 1 diabetes

  • Denise M. Drotar,
  • Ana Karen Mojica-Avila,
  • Drew T. Bloss,
  • Christian M. Cohrs,
  • Cameron T. Manson,
  • Amanda L. Posgai,
  • MacKenzie D. Williams,
  • Maigan A. Brusko,
  • Edward A. Phelps,
  • Clive H. Wasserfall,
  • Stephan Speier,
  • Mark A. Atkinson

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 43, no. 6
p. 114346

Abstract

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Summary: Histopathological heterogeneity in the human pancreas is well documented; however, functional evidence at the tissue level is scarce. Herein, we investigate in situ glucose-stimulated islet and carbachol-stimulated acinar cell secretion across the pancreas head (PH), body (PB), and tail (PT) regions in donors without diabetes (ND; n = 15), positive for one islet autoantibody (1AAb+; n = 7), and with type 1 diabetes (T1D; <14 months duration, n = 5). Insulin, glucagon, pancreatic amylase, lipase, and trypsinogen secretion along with 3D tissue morphometrical features are comparable across regions in ND. In T1D, insulin secretion and beta-cell volume are significantly reduced within all regions, while glucagon and enzymes are unaltered. Beta-cell volume is lower despite normal insulin secretion in 1AAb+, resulting in increased volume-adjusted insulin secretion versus ND. Islet and acinar cell secretion in 1AAb+ are consistent across the PH, PB, and PT. This study supports low inter-regional variation in pancreas slice function and, potentially, increased metabolic demand in 1AAb+.

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