A New Way for Beta Cell Neogenesis: Transdifferentiation from Alpha Cells Induced by Glucagon-Like Peptide 1

Figure 1

GLP1 reversed STZ-induced compromised β cell identity by inducing α cell transdifferentiation into β cells. Diabetic groups received an intravenous injection with STZ (35 mg/kg). Where indicated, GLP1 (50, 100, or 200 μg/kg per rat) was also administered. (a–g) Confocal images of pancreatic islet sections double-labeled via immunofluorescence for insulin and glucagon. Insulin⁺ cells’ immunoreactivity was distinguished by green fluorescence, while glucagon⁺ cells were identified using FITC immunofluorescence (red) in the same slices. Scale  μm. (h) Ratio of insulin⁺-glucagon⁺ cells to insulin⁺-glucagon^- cells. Data are presented as the ( rats per group), , one-way ANOVA. GLP1, glucagon-like peptide 1; STZ, streptozotocin; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; SEM, standard error of the mean; ANOVA, analysis of variance; NC, negative control; DM, diabetes mellitus.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

(g)

(h)