How pancreatic delta cells affect insulin and glucagon balance
Molecular Mechanisms Regulating Pancreatic Delta Cell Function and Dysfunction
This work will find out how pancreatic delta cells control somatostatin release and hormone balance in people with type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11291783 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will measure how calcium is handled inside pancreatic delta cells and how that controls release of the hormone somatostatin. They will study a cell channel called TALK-1 and the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) using lab experiments and mouse models of type 2 diabetes, and will compare results to diabetic tissue data. The team will test how changing TALK-1 or CaSR activity affects somatostatin secretion and the balance of insulin and glucagon. The goal is to identify broken steps in diabetes that could be targeted to restore normal hormone control.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes, particularly those willing to donate tissue samples or travel to Vanderbilt for related research, would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without type 2 diabetes or those with unrelated conditions (for example, classic type 1 diabetes) are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to restore hormone balance and improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: This builds on novel preliminary lab findings about TALK-1 and CaSR in delta cells, and similar targeted treatments have not yet been translated to patients.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jacobson, David Aaron — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Jacobson, David Aaron
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.