A Local Counter-Regulatory Motif Modulates the Global Phase of Hormonal Oscillations

作者：Park Dong Ho; Song Taegeun; Hoang Danh Tai; Xu Jin; Jo Junghyo^*

来源：Scientific Reports, 2017, 7(1): 1602.

DOI：10.1038/s41598-017-01806-0

Counter-regulatory elements maintain dynamic equilibrium ubiquitously in living systems. The most prominent example, which is critical to mammalian survival, is that of pancreatic alpha and beta cells producing glucagon and insulin for glucose homeostasis. These cells are not found in a single gland but are dispersed in multiple micro-organs known as the islets of Langerhans. Within an islet, these two reciprocal cell types interact with each other and with an additional cell type: the delta cell. By testing all possible motifs governing the interactions of these three cell types, we found that a unique set of positive/negative intra-islet interactions between different islet cell types functions not only to reduce the superficially wasteful zero-sum action of glucagon and insulin but also to enhance/suppress the synchronization of hormone secretions between islets under high/normal glucose conditions. This antisymmetric interaction motif confers effective controllability for network (de) synchronization.

• 出版日期2017-5-9
• 单位NIH