How male androgen receptors help pancreatic cells release insulin
Official title: Role of the Androgen Receptor in Insulin Secretion in the Male
Funded at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care · NIH-11130966 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at whether male sex hormones acting through the androgen receptor in pancreatic beta cells boost insulin release in men at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005812-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11130966 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Men with or at high risk for type 2 diabetes—especially those with low testosterone—or male tissue donors who can provide pancreatic islets are the most relevant participants.
✕Less likely to help
Women, people with type 1 diabetes, or patients whose diabetes is driven mainly by insulin resistance rather than beta-cell failure are less likely to benefit directly.
What this research studies
Researchers are studying how testosterone and its potent form dihydrotestosterone (DHT) act on the androgen receptor in insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells to increase insulin release. They use mouse models that lack the receptor specifically in beta cells and human donor islets to compare glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and cellular signaling. The team focuses on how DHT amplifies GLP-1 receptor signaling and increases cAMP production at the cell membrane and endosomes, using molecular and biochemical methods. Findings come from lab experiments on mouse and human tissue rather than direct patient treatment, but could point to therapies to improve beta-cell function in men.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new ways to boost insulin secretion or tailor diabetes treatments for men with low testosterone.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal and human islet studies, including the team's published data, have shown AR signaling can enhance insulin secretion, but translating this into treatments is still novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mauvais-Jarvis, Franck — Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care
- Study coordinator: Mauvais-Jarvis, Franck
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.