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- Title
Beta-cell replication is the primary mechanism subserving the postnatal expansion of beta-cell mass in humans.
- Authors
Meier JJ; Butler AE; Saisho Y; Monchamp T; Galasso R; Bhushan A; Rizza RA; Butler PC; Meier, Juris J; Butler, Alexandra E; Saisho, Yoshifumi; Monchamp, Travis; Galasso, Ryan; Bhushan, Anil; Rizza, Robert A; Butler, Peter C
- Abstract
<bold>Objective: </bold>Little is known about the capacity, mechanisms, or timing of growth in beta-cell mass in humans. We sought to establish if the predominant expansion of beta-cell mass in humans occurs in early childhood and if, as in rodents, this coincides with relatively abundant beta-cell replication. We also sought to establish if there is a secondary growth in beta-cell mass coincident with the accelerated somatic growth in adolescence.<bold>Research Design and Methods: </bold>To address these questions, pancreas volume was determined from abdominal computer tomographies in 135 children aged 4 weeks to 20 years, and morphometric analyses were performed in human pancreatic tissue obtained at autopsy from 46 children aged 2 weeks to 21 years.<bold>Results: </bold>We report that 1) beta-cell mass expands by severalfold from birth to adulthood, 2) islets grow in size rather than in number during this transition, 3) the relative rate of beta-cell growth is highest in infancy and gradually declines thereafter to adulthood with no secondary accelerated growth phase during adolescence, 4) beta-cell mass (and presumably growth) is highly variable between individuals, and 5) a high rate of beta-cell replication is coincident with the major postnatal expansion of beta-cell mass.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>These data imply that regulation of beta-cell replication during infancy plays a major role in beta-cell mass in adult humans.
- Subjects
AGING; ANTHROPOMETRY; CELL physiology; ISLANDS of Langerhans; PANCREAS; RESEARCH funding
- Publication
Diabetes, 2008, Vol 57, Issue 6, p1584
- ISSN
0012-1797
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.2337/db07-1369