Investigation of Ephrin-A reverse signalling in pancreatic islets (B11)

• Subject Area: Developmental Biology
• Term: from 2008 to 2012
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5484824

Adhesion among beta cells leads to the formation of pancreatic islets in the course of inherent beta cell differentiation. This cell-cell adhesion adaptively increases when the glucose concentration rises, and it is essential for physiologic insulin secretion. We have recently shown that beta cells adhere and communicate with each other via ephrin-A1 and ephrin-A5 as well as various EphA receptors (Cell (2007) 129: 359-370). Here we would like to identify and characterize the components of this adaptive signaling pathway in pancreatic beta cells and study its role in type II diabetes mellitus.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 590: Inherent and Adaptive Differentiation Processes
• Applicant Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Eckhard Lammert