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Both PAX4 and MAFA are expressed in a substantial proportion of normal human pancreatic alpha cells and deregulated in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Authors :
Bonnavion R
Jaafar R
Kerr-Conte J
Assade F
van Stralen E
Leteurtre E
Pouponnot C
Gargani S
Pattou F
Bertolino P
Cordier-Bussat M
Lu J
Zhang CX
Source :
PloS one [PLoS One] 2013 Aug 27; Vol. 8 (8), pp. e72194. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Aug 27 (Print Publication: 2013).
Publication Year :
2013

Abstract

Pax4 and MafA (v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A) are two transcription factors crucial for normal functions of islet beta cells in the mouse. Intriguingly, recent studies indicate the existence of notable difference between human and rodent islet in terms of gene expression and functions. To better understand the biological role of human PAX4 and MAFA, we investigated their expression in normal and diseased human islets, using validated antibodies. PAX4 was detected in 43.0±5.0% and 39.1±4.0% of normal human alpha and beta cells respectively. We found that MAFA, detected in 88.3±6.3% insulin(+)cells as in the mouse, turned out to be also expressed in 61.2±6.4% of human glucagons(+) cells with less intensity than in insulin(+) cells, whereas MAFB expression was found not only in the majority of glucagon(+) cells (67.2±7.6%), but also in 53.6±10.5% of human insulin(+) cells. Interestingly, MAFA nuclear expression in both alpha and beta cells, and the percentage of alpha cells expressing PAX4 were found altered in a substantial proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes. Both MAFA and PAX4 display, therefore, a distinct expression pattern in human islet cells, suggesting more potential plasticity of human islets as compared with rodent islets.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1932-6203
Volume :
8
Issue :
8
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
PloS one
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
24013263
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0072194