Abstract
After birth the endocrine pancreas continues its development, a complex process that involves both the maturation of islet cells and a marked expansion of their numbers. New beta cells are formed both by duplication of pre-existing cells and by new differentiation (neogenesis) across the first postnatal weeks, with the result of beta cells of different stages of maturation even after weaning. Improving our understanding of this period of beta cell expansion could provide valuable therapeutic insights.
Keywords:
Beta cells; neogenesis; postnatal growth.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Carbonic Anhydrases / metabolism
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Proliferation
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Gene Deletion
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
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Hormones / metabolism
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Humans
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Insulin / metabolism*
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Insulin Secretion
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Insulin-Secreting Cells / cytology*
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Keratins / metabolism
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Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
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Mice
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Pancreas / growth & development*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Trans-Activators / genetics
Substances
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Hormones
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Insulin
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Trans-Activators
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pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein
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Keratins
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Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
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Mmp2 protein, mouse
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Mmp2 protein, rat
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Carbonic Anhydrases