Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 3 of 3
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Determining If C-Fos Protects Β-Cells From Apoptosis, Kyle Kener, Jeffery Tessem
Determining If C-Fos Protects Β-Cells From Apoptosis, Kyle Kener, Jeffery Tessem
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Diabetes, a disease characterized by the inability of the body to maintain a normal blood glucose level, continues to affect the lives of many. In both Type I and Type II diabetes, eventual β-cell destruction results in decreased β-cell mass. Regeneration of functional β-cells and protection of such, could help reverse the effects of this disease and could possibly lead to a cure. Many studies have been done to increase functioning β-cell mass, but protecting regenerated β-cells from further apoptotic insults could greatly increase the effectiveness of β-cell transplants and other future treatments of the disease.
Determining If C-Fos Regulates Glucose Stimulated Insulin, Benjamin Bitner, Jeffery Tessem
Determining If C-Fos Regulates Glucose Stimulated Insulin, Benjamin Bitner, Jeffery Tessem
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Increasing a patient’s functional β-cell mass may provide a cure for both types of diabetes. Previous studies have shown that overexpression of the homeodomain transcription factor Nkx6.1 stimulates β-cell proliferation, increases glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and decreases apoptosis1. Functional β-cell mass is defined by the number of β-cells, which is dependent on proliferation and apoptosis rates, multiplied by the ability to secrete insulin. Increasing β-cell proliferation or insulin secretion while decreasing apoptosis could be used as a treatment to produce β-cells for islet transplantation, a potential cure for diabetes.
C-Fos Enhances Functional Β-Cell Mass, Jason Ray, Jeffery Tessem
C-Fos Enhances Functional Β-Cell Mass, Jason Ray, Jeffery Tessem
Journal of Undergraduate Research
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are major global health concerns. Both types of diabetes result in loss of functional β-cell mass, which is defined as the β-cell number multiplied by insulin secretion rate. The number of β-cells is derived from the cellular proliferation and death rates. Increasing functional β-cell mass could cure diabetes through pancreatic islet transplants or by strengthening endogenous cells. Various groups have shown that the β-cells proliferation rate is extremely low after adolescence in the majority of the population. However, β-cell proliferation has been shown to increase during physiological conditions such as pregnancy and obesity (1). …