Cross talk between exosomes and pancreatic β-cells in diabetes

Abstract

Exosomes are a class of extracellular vesicles with a diameter of 50–100 nm secreted by various cells. They are generated through complex intracellular production mechanisms before being secreted to the extracellular environment. Due to their inclusion of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, exosomes play an important role in intercellular communication. Pancreatic β-cells play an irreplaceable role in the body’s glucose metabolism. Their dysfunction is one of the causes of diabetes. Exosomes of various cells regulate the function of β-cells by regulating autoimmunity, delivering non-coding RNAs, or directly regulating intracellular signal pathways. This communication between β-cells and other cells plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of diabetes, and has potential for clinical application. This paper reviews the biological sources and functions of exosomes, as well as intercellular crosstalk between β-cells and other cells that is involved in β-cell failure and regeneration.

Keywords:

• Exosome
• β-cell
• diabetes
• dysfunction
• regeneration

Authors’ contributions

YW reviewed literature and drafted the manuscript; SB and QH contributed to the discussion and reviewed the manuscript. SB is the guarantor of this work. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no potential conflicts of interest related to this work.

Data availability

All data used and/or analysed during the present study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ningbo Science and Technology Innovation Team Program [2014B82002 to SB]; Ningbo 3315 Program [2013A-10-G to SB]; The National Natural Science Foundation of China [81370165 to SB and 81471038 to QH]; Wu Jieping Fund of Medical Technology [PC20171002 to QH]; Fang Runhua Fund of Hong Kong; and K. C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University.