Pancreatic α cells are required for nutrient homeostasis by regulating dynamic β cell networks in islets
Abstract
Pancreatic islets contain α, β, γ, and δ cells as sensors and actuators regulating glucose homeostasis. Despite the known importance of α cells, they are seemingly required for glucose tolerance only under metabolic stress. In an inducible model of α cell ablation in mice (GluDTR), glucose tolerance was considerably decreased by the addition of amino acids mimicking meals. Analysis of islet β cell secretion and electrical activities using microelectrode arrays (MEAs) detected only minor differences in GluDTR mice for glucose but revealed a major reduction upon addition of amino acids. Analysis of functional islet β cell networks by high-density MEA revealed leader regions in different locations, a high degree of synchrony, and the activation of large cell clusters. The characteristics of leading regions were preserved in GluDTR islets, but synchrony, cluster size, and signal propagation speed were largely reduced. Thus, even without metabolic stress, α cells are required for nutrient homeostasis by regulating the dynamics of β cell networks.
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BibTeX
@article{lallouet2026pancreatic,
title = {{Pancreatic α cells are required for nutrient homeostasis by regulating dynamic β cell networks in islets}},
author = {Marie Lallouet and Manon Jaffredo and Antoine Pirog and Karen Leal-Fischer and Julien Gaitan and Daniel Meier and Sylvie Renaud and Matthieu Raoux and Jochen Lang},
journal = {Science Advances},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1126/sciadv.aea9045},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05797548v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Pancreatic α cells are required for nutrient homeostasis by regulating dynamic β cell networks in islets
AU - Marie Lallouet
AU - Manon Jaffredo
AU - Antoine Pirog
AU - Karen Leal-Fischer
AU - Julien Gaitan
AU - Daniel Meier
AU - Sylvie Renaud
AU - Matthieu Raoux
AU - Jochen Lang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/03
JO - Science Advances
DO - 10.1126/sciadv.aea9045
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05797548v1
AB - Pancreatic islets contain α, β, γ, and δ cells as sensors and actuators regulating glucose homeostasis. Despite the known importance of α cells, they are seemingly required for glucose tolerance only under metabolic stress. In an inducible model of α cell ablation in mice (GluDTR), glucose tolerance was considerably decreased by the addition of amino acids mimicking meals. Analysis of islet β cell secretion and electrical activities using microelectrode arrays (MEAs) detected only minor differences in GluDTR mice for glucose but revealed a major reduction upon addition of amino acids. Analysis of functional islet β cell networks by high-density MEA revealed leader regions in different locations, a high degree of synchrony, and the activation of large cell clusters. The characteristics of leading regions were preserved in GluDTR islets, but synchrony, cluster size, and signal propagation speed were largely reduced. Thus, even without metabolic stress, α cells are required for nutrient homeostasis by regulating the dynamics of β cell networks.
SN - 2375-2548
ER -