Scientists from the University of Tokyo in Japan found that loss of pancreatic islet cells is associated with the development of diabetes in the elderly. results published In the journal Digestive and Liver Disease (DLD).
Pancreatic tissue samples taken from people who died between the ages of 65 and 104 were used in the study. It was noted that the subjects did not suffer from pancreatitis or other diseases throughout their lives. Scientists focused on studying islet cells, also known as Islets of Langerhans. Cells of this group perform a hormone-producing function. They are located in the tail of the pancreas.
Microscopic examination showed that in some pancreatic tissue samples, gaps formed where islet cells accumulated. The scientists also assessed the abundance of four other common cell types (alpha, beta, delta, and PP) in the islets of Langerhans. PP cells produce pancreatic polypeptide, a high-molecular-weight chemical compound that is a chain of amino acid residues. The team of scientists also paid special attention to the number of beta cells responsible for producing the hormone insulin.
It turns out that the loss of islet cells is associated with a decrease in the number of beta cells and the subsequent development of endocrine disorders such as diabetes. Additionally, the loss of islet cells has been associated with microscopic lesions of the pancreas known as intraepithelial neoplasia of the pancreas.
The scientists suggest that their discovery may contribute to the development of new preventive treatments aimed at protecting islet cells in the elderly. Any change in their morphology or condition is a potential cause of health problems. It is also stated that the mechanisms underlying the decrease in the number of pancreatic islet cells need to be examined more carefully.
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