Abstract
Aims/hypothesis: Tissue-resident macrophages sense the microenvironment and respond by producing signals that act locally to maintain a stable tissue state. It is now known that pancreatic islets contain their own unique resident macrophages, which have been shown to promote proliferation of the insulin-secreting beta cell. However, it is unclear how beta cells communicate with islet-resident macrophages. Here we hypothesised that islet macrophages sense changes in islet activity by detecting signals derived from beta cells. Methods: To investigate how islet-resident macrophages respond to cues from the microenvironment, we generated mice expressing a genetically encoded Ca2+ indicator in myeloid cells. We produced living pancreatic slices from these mice and used them to monitor macrophage responses to stimulation of acinar, neural and endocrine cells. Results: Islet-resident macrophages expressed functional purinergic receptors, making them exquisite sensors of interstitial ATP levels. Indeed, islet-resident macrophages responded selectively to ATP released locally from beta cells that were physiologically activated with high levels of glucose. Because ATP is co-released with insulin and is exclusively secreted by beta cells, the activation of purinergic receptors on resident macrophages facilitates their awareness of beta cell secretory activity. Conclusions/interpretation: Our results indicate that islet macrophages detect ATP as a proxy signal for the activation state of beta cells. Sensing beta cell activity may allow macrophages to adjust the secretion of factors to promote a stable islet composition and size.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 182-192 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Diabetologia |
Volume | 61 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2018 |
Keywords
- ATP
- Beta cell
- Calcium imaging
- Macrophage
- Pancreas
- Purinergic
- Tissue slice
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Internal Medicine
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism