A survival Kit for pancreatic beta cells: stem cell factor and c-Kit receptor tyrosine kinase

Authors

Zhi Chao Feng, Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON
Matthew Riopel, Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON
Alex Popell, Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON
Rennian Wang, Children's Health Research Institute, London, ONFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-6-2015

Journal

Diabetologia

Volume

58

Issue

4

First Page

654

Last Page

665

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1007/s00125-015-3504-0

Abstract

The interactions between c-Kit and its ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), play an important role in haematopoiesis, pigmentation and gametogenesis. c-Kit is also found in the pancreas, and recent studies have revealed that c-Kit marks a subpopulation of highly proliferative pancreatic endocrine cells that may harbour islet precursors. c-Kit governs and maintains pancreatic endocrine cell maturation and function via multiple signalling pathways. In this review we address the importance of c-Kit signalling within the pancreas, including its profound role in islet morphogenesis, islet vascularisation, and beta cell survival and function. We also discuss the impact of c-Kit signalling in pancreatic disease and the use of c-Kit as a potential target for the development of cell-based and novel drug therapies in the treatment of diabetes.