How arginine controls pancreatic alpha cells
Arginine regulation of alpha cell proliferation and function
This work looks at how the amino acid arginine changes the growth and hormone release of pancreatic alpha cells that affect blood sugar in diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258925 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are studying why alpha cells (which make the hormone glucagon) grow too much and release too much hormone when glucagon signaling is blocked. They focus on the amino acid arginine and a transporter protein called CAT2 that moves arginine into alpha cells. Using genetic mouse models that remove CAT2 globally or only in alpha cells, the team will measure alpha cell growth, glucagon secretion, and the molecular signals that depend on arginine. The goal is to map the pathways linking liver amino acid handling to alpha cell behavior to point toward new ways to manage abnormal glucagon in diabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes—especially those with signs of excess glucagon or altered amino acid metabolism—would be the most relevant group for any future patient-focused work stemming from this research.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or whose blood-sugar problems are not driven by excess glucagon are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify new targets to prevent harmful alpha cell overgrowth and abnormal glucagon release that worsen blood sugar control in diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work has already shown that high amino acid levels drive alpha cell proliferation and that deleting CAT2 alters glucagon secretion, so this project builds on promising animal findings.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dean, Erika Danielle — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Dean, Erika Danielle
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.