Investigation of Ephrin-A reverse signalling in pancreatic islets (B11)

β细胞之间的粘附导致在固有β细胞分化过程中胰岛的形成。当葡萄糖浓度升高时，这种细胞-细胞粘附自适应地增加，并且它对于生理性胰岛素分泌是必需的。我们最近已经表明，β细胞通过肝配蛋白-A1和肝配蛋白-A5以及各种EphA受体彼此粘附和通信（Cell（2007）129：359-370）。在这里，我们想确定和表征胰腺β细胞中这种适应性信号通路的组成部分，并研究其在II型糖尿病中的作用。

Adhesion among beta cells leads to the formation of pancreatic islets in the course of inherent beta cell differentiation. This cell-cell adhesion adaptively increases when the glucose concentration rises, and it is essential for physiologic insulin secretion. We have recently shown that beta cells adhere and communicate with each other via ephrin-A1 and ephrin-A5 as well as various EphA receptors (Cell (2007) 129: 359-370). Here we would like to identify and characterize the components of this adaptive signaling pathway in pancreatic beta cells and study its role in type II diabetes mellitus.