Rheb1 Promotes Glucose-stimulated Insulin Secretion in Human and Mouse β-cells by Upregulating GLUT Expression

Reduced β-cell mass and impaired β-cell function are primary causes of all types of diabetes. However, the intrinsic molecular mechanism that regulates β-cell growth and function remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the small GTPase Rheb1 is a critical regulator of glucose-stimulated insulin secret ion (GSIS) in β-cells. Rheb1 was highly expressed in mouse and human islets. In addition, β-cell-specific knockout of Rheb1 reduced the β-cell size and mass by suppressing β-cell proliferation and increasing β-cell apoptosis.

Source: Metabolism - Clinical and Experimental - August 7, 2021 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Yan Yang, Zixin Cai, Zhenhong Pan, Fen Liu, Dandan Li, Yujiao Ji, Jiaxin Zhong, Hairong Luo, Shanbiao Hu, Lei Song, Shaojie Yu, Ting Li, Jiequn Li, Xianhua Ma, Weiping Zhang, Zhiguang Zhou, Feng Liu, Jingjing Zhang Source Type: research