1. Ultrafast multicellular calcium imaging of calcium spikes in mouse beta cells in tissue slicesJurij Dolenšek, Viljem Pohorec, Maša Skelin, Marko Gosak, Andraž Stožer, 2025, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Background: The crucial steps in beta cell stimulus-secretion coupling upon stimulation with glucose are oscillatory changes in metabolism, membrane potential, intracellular calcium concentration, and exocytosis. The changes in membrane potential consist of bursts of spikes, with silent phases between them being dominated by membrane repolarization and absence of spikes. Assessing intra- and intercellular coupling at the multicellular level is possible with ever-increasing detail, but our current ability to simultaneously resolve spikes from many beta cells remains limited to double-impalement electrophysiological recordings. Methods: Since multicellular calcium imaging of spikes would enable a better understanding of coupling between changes in membrane potential and calcium concentration in beta cell collectives, we set out to design an appropriate methodological approach. Results: Combining the acute tissue slice method with ultrafast calcium imaging, we were able to resolve and quantify individual spikes within bursts at a temporal resolution of >150 Hz over prolonged periods, as well as describe their glucose-dependent properties. In addition, by simultaneous patch-clamp recordings we were able to show that calcium spikes closely follow membrane potential changes. Both bursts and spikes coordinate across islets in the form of intercellular waves, with bursts typically displaying global and spikes more local patterns. Conclusions: This method and the associated findings provide additional insight into the complex signaling within beta cell networks. Once extended to tissue from diabetic animals and human donors, this approach could help us better understand the mechanistic basis of diabetes and find new molecular targets. Ključne besede: beta cell, calcium imaging, calcium oscillations, calcium spikes, physiology Objavljeno v DKUM: 24.01.2025; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 7
Celotno besedilo (9,70 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
2. From isles of Königsberg to islets of Langerhans: examining the function of the endocrine pancreas through network scienceAndraž Stožer, Marko Šterk, Eva Paradiž, Rene Markovič, Maša Skelin, Cara E. Ellis, Lidija Križančić Bombek, Jurij Dolenšek, Patrick E. MacDonald, Marko Gosak, 2022, pregledni znanstveni članek Opis: Islets of Langerhans are multicellular microorgans located in the pancreas that play a central role in whole-body energy homeostasis. Through secretion of insulin and other hormones they regulate postprandial storage and interprandial usage of energy-rich nutrients. In these clusters of hormone-secreting endocrine cells, intricate cell-cell communication is essential for proper function. Electrical coupling between the insulin-secreting beta cells through gap junctions composed of connexin36 is particularly important, as it provides the required, most important, basis for coordinated responses of the beta cell population. The increasing evidence that gap-junctional communication and its modulation are vital to well-regulated secretion of insulin has stimulated immense interest in how subpopulations of heterogeneous beta cells are functionally arranged throughout the islets and how they mediate intercellular signals. In the last decade, several novel techniques have been proposed to assess cooperation between cells in islets, including the prosperous combination of multicellular imaging and network science. In the present contribution, we review recent advances related to the application of complex network approaches to uncover the functional connectivity patterns among cells within the islets. We first provide an accessible introduction to the basic principles of network theory, enumerating the measures characterizing the intercellular interactions and quantifying the functional integration and segregation of a multicellular system. Then we describe methodological approaches to construct functional beta cell networks, point out possible pitfalls, and specify the functional implications of beta cell network examinations. We continue by highlighting the recent findings obtained through advanced multicellular imaging techniques supported by network-based analyses, giving special emphasis to the current developments in both mouse and human islets, as well as outlining challenges offered by the multilayer network formalism in exploring the collective activity of islet cell populations. Finally, we emphasize that the combination of these imaging techniques and network-based analyses does not only represent an innovative concept that can be used to describe and interpret the physiology of islets, but also provides fertile ground for delineating normal from pathological function and for quantifying the changes in islet communication networks associated with the development of diabetes mellitus. Ključne besede: pancreatic islets, beta cells, calcium imaging, intercellular communication, functional networks, multilayer networks Objavljeno v DKUM: 20.12.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 5
Celotno besedilo (14,78 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
3. Network representation of multicellular activity in pancreatic islets : Technical considerations for functional connectivity analysisMarko Šterk, Yaowen Zhang, Viljem Pohorec, Eva Paradiž, Jurij Dolenšek, Richard K. P. Benninger, Andraž Stožer, Vira Kravets, Marko Gosak, 2024, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Within the islets of Langerhans, beta cells orchestrate synchronized insulin secretion, a pivotal aspect of metabolic homeostasis. Despite the inherent heterogeneity and multimodal activity of individual cells, intercellular coupling acts as a homogenizing force, enabling coordinated responses through the propagation of intercellular waves. Disruptions in this coordination are implicated in irregular insulin secretion, a hallmark of diabetes. Recently, innovative approaches, such as integrating multicellular calcium imaging with network analysis, have emerged for a quantitative assessment of the cellular activity in islets. However, different groups use distinct experimental preparations, microscopic techniques, apply different methods to process the measured signals and use various methods to derive functional connectivity patterns. This makes comparisons between findings and their integration into a bigger picture difficult and has led to disputes in functional connectivity interpretations. To address these issues, we present here a systematic analysis of how different approaches influence the network representation of islet activity. Our findings show that the choice of methods used to construct networks is not crucial, although care is needed when combining data from different islets. Conversely, the conclusions drawn from network analysis can be heavily affected by the pre-processing of the time series, the type of the oscillatory component in the signals, and by the experimental preparation. Our tutorial-like investigation aims to resolve interpretational issues, reconcile conflicting views, advance functional implications, and encourage researchers to adopt connectivity analysis. As we conclude, we outline challenges for future research, emphasizing the broader applicability of our conclusions to other tissues exhibiting complex multicellular dynamics. Ključne besede: islets of Langerhans, beta cells, calcium signaling, intercellular communication, functional networks, myosin model Objavljeno v DKUM: 09.12.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 4
Celotno besedilo (4,48 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
4. The role of cAMP in beta cell stimulus-secretion and intercellular couplingAndraž Stožer, Eva Paradiž, Viljem Pohorec, Jurij Dolenšek, Lidija Križančić Bombek, Marko Gosak, Maša Skelin, 2021, pregledni znanstveni članek Opis: Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin in response to stimulation with glucose and other nutrients, and impaired insulin secretion plays a central role in development of diabetes mellitus. Pharmacological management of diabetes includes various antidiabetic drugs, including incretins. The incretin hormones, glucagon-like peptide-1 and gastric inhibitory polypeptide, potentiate glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by binding to G protein-coupled receptors, resulting in stimulation of adenylate cyclase and production of the secondary messenger cAMP, which exerts its intracellular effects through activation of protein kinase A or the guanine nucleotide exchange protein 2A. The molecular mechanisms behind these two downstream signaling arms are still not fully elucidated and involve many steps in the stimulus-secretion coupling cascade, ranging from the proximal regulation of ion channel activity to the central Ca2+ signal and the most distal exocytosis. In addition to modifying intracellular coupling, the effect of cAMP on insulin secretion could also be at least partly explained by the impact on intercellular coupling. In this review, we systematically describe the possible roles of cAMP at these intra- and inter-cellular signaling nodes, keeping in mind the relevance for the whole organism and translation to humans. Ključne besede: cAMP, beta cells, stimulus-secretion coupling, intercellular coupling, PKA, Epac2A Objavljeno v DKUM: 16.10.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 4
Celotno besedilo (19,95 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
5. Glucose-dependent activation, activity, and deactivation of beta cell networks in acute mouse pancreas tissue slicesAndraž Stožer, Maša Skelin, Marko Gosak, Lidija Križančić Bombek, Viljem Pohorec, Marjan Rupnik, Jurij Dolenšek, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Many details of glucose-stimulated intracellular calcium changes in [beta] cells during activation, activity, and deactivation, as well as their concentration-dependence, remain to be analyzed. Classical physiological experiments indicated that in islets, functional differences between individual cells are largely attenuated, but recent findings suggest considerable intercellular heterogeneity, with some cells possibly coordinating the collective responses. To address the above with an emphasis on heterogeneity and describing the relations between classical physiological and functional network properties, we performed functional multicellular calcium imaging in mouse pancreas tissue slices over a wide range of glucose concentrations. During activation, delays to activation of cells and any-cell-to-first-responder delays are shortened, and the sizes of simultaneously responding clusters increased with increasing glucose concentrations. Exactly the opposite characterized deactivation. The frequency of fast calcium oscillations during activity increased with increasing glucose up to 12 mM glucose concentration, beyond which oscillation duration became longer, resulting in a homogenous increase in active time. In terms of functional connectivity, islets progressed from a very segregated network to a single large functional unit with increasing glucose concentration. A comparison between classical physiological and network parameters revealed that the first-responders during activation had longer active times during plateau and the most active cells during the plateau tended to deactivate later. Cells with the most functional connections tended to activate sooner, have longer active times, and deactivate later. Our findings provide a common ground for recent differing views on [beta] cell heterogeneity and an important baseline for future studies of stimulus-secretion and intercellular coupling.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY: We assessed concentration-dependence in coupled [beta] cells, degree of functional heterogeneity, and uncovered possible specialized subpopulations during the different phases of the response to glucose at the level of many individual cells. To this aim, we combined acute mouse pancreas tissue slices with functional multicellular calcium imaging over a wide range from threshold (7 mM) and physiological (8 and 9 mM) to supraphysiological (12 and 16 mM) glucose concentrations, classical physiological, and advanced network analyses. Ključne besede: beta cells, calcium imaging, glucose-dependence, network analysis Objavljeno v DKUM: 15.10.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 17
Celotno besedilo (4,37 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
6. Application of transmission electron microscopy to detect changes in pancreas physiologyMaša Skelin, Jurij Dolenšek, Ismael Valladolid-Acebes, Andraž Stožer, Saška Lipovšek Delakorda, 2022, samostojni znanstveni sestavek ali poglavje v monografski publikaciji Ključne besede: pancreas physiology, exocrine cells, endocrine cells, ultrastructure, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, western diet Objavljeno v DKUM: 24.09.2024; Ogledov: 0; Prenosov: 7
Celotno besedilo (5,05 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
7. Modelling of dysregulated glucagon secretion in type 2 diabetes by considering mitochondrial alterations in pancreatic ▫$\alpha$▫-cellsVladimir Grubelnik, Rene Markovič, Saška Lipovšek Delakorda, Gerd Leitinger, Marko Gosak, Jurij Dolenšek, Ismael Valladolid-Acebes, Per-Olof Berggren, Andraž Stožer, Matjaž Perc, Marko Marhl, 2020, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been associated with insulin resistance and the failure of β-cells to produce and secrete enough insulin as the disease progresses. However, clinical treatments based solely on insulin secretion and action have had limited success. The focus is therefore shifting towards α-cells, in particular to the dysregulated secretion of glucagon. Our qualitative electron-microscopy-based observations gave an indication that mitochondria in α-cells are altered in Western-diet-induced T2DM. In particular, α-cells extracted from mouse pancreatic tissue showed a lower density of mitochondria, a less expressed matrix and a lower number of
cristae. These deformities in mitochondrial ultrastructure imply a decreased efficiency in mitochondrial ATP production, which prompted us to theoretically explore and clarify one of the most challenging problems associated with T2DM, namely the lack of glucagon secretion in hypoglycaemia and its oversecretion at high blood glucose concentrations. To this purpose, we constructed a novel computational model that links α-cell metabolism with their electrical activity and glucagon secretion. Our results show that defective mitochondrial metabolism in α-cells can
account for dysregulated glucagon secretion in T2DM, thus improving our understanding of T2DM pathophysiology and indicating possibilities for new clinical treatments.
Ključne besede: diabetes, pancreatic alpha cells, glucagon, mitochondrial dysfunction, free fatty acid Objavljeno v DKUM: 03.09.2024; Ogledov: 49; Prenosov: 6
Celotno besedilo (1,60 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
8. Mechanisms of post-pancreatitis diabetes mellitus and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes: a review of preclinical studiesEleonóra Gál, Jurij Dolenšek, Andraž Stožer, László Czakó, Attila Ébert, Viktória Venglovecz, 2021, pregledni znanstveni članek Opis: Anatomical proximity and functional correlations between the exocrine and endocrine pancreas warrant reciprocal effects between the two parts. Inflammatory diseases of the exocrine pancreas, such as acute or chronic pancreatitis, or the presence of cystic fibrosis disrupt endocrine function, resulting in diabetes of the exocrine pancreas. Although novel mechanisms are being increasingly identified, the intra- and intercellular pathways regulating exocrine-endocrine interactions are still not fully understood, making the development of new and more effective therapies difficult. Therefore, this review sought to accumulate current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis of diabetes in acute and chronic pancreatitis, as well as cystic fibrosis. Ključne besede: diabetes of the exocrine pancreas, acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, cystic fibrosis, interaction Objavljeno v DKUM: 14.08.2024; Ogledov: 65; Prenosov: 6
Celotno besedilo (955,04 KB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
9. Glucose-stimulated calcium dynamics in beta cells from male C57BL/6J, C57BL/6N, and NMRI mice : a comparison of activation, activity, and deactivation properties in tissue slicesViljem Pohorec, Lidija Križančić Bombek, Maša Skelin, Jurij Dolenšek, Andraž Stožer, 2022, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Although mice are a very instrumental model in islet beta cell research, possible phenotypic differences between strains and substrains are largely neglected in the scientific community. In this study, we show important phenotypic differences in beta cell responses to glucose between C57BL/6J, C57BL/6N, and NMRI mice, i.e., the three most commonly used strains. High-resolution multicellular confocal imaging of beta cells in acute pancreas tissue slices was used to measure and quantitatively compare the calcium dynamics in response to a wide range of glucose concentrations. Strain- and substrain-specific features were found in all three phases of beta cell responses to glucose: a shift in the dose-response curve characterizing the delay to activation and deactivation in response to stimulus onset and termination, respectively, and distinct concentration-encoding principles during the plateau phase in terms of frequency, duration, and active time changes with increasing glucose concentrations. Our results underline the significance of carefully choosing and reporting the strain to enable comparison and increase reproducibility, emphasize the importance of analyzing a number of different beta cell physiological parameters characterizing the response to glucose, and provide a valuable standard for future studies on beta cell calcium dynamics in health and disease in tissue slices. Ključne besede: beta cell, mouse models, calcium imaging, glucose-dependence, tissue slice Objavljeno v DKUM: 15.07.2024; Ogledov: 148; Prenosov: 22
Celotno besedilo (4,45 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |
10. Assessing different temporal scales of calcium dynamics in networks of beta cell populationsJan Zmazek, Maša Skelin, Rene Markovič, Jurij Dolenšek, Marko Marhl, Andraž Stožer, Marko Gosak, 2021, izvirni znanstveni članek Opis: Beta cells within the pancreatic islets of Langerhans respond to stimulation with coherent oscillations of membrane potential and intracellular calcium concentration that presumably drive the pulsatile exocytosis of insulin. Their rhythmic activity is multimodal, resulting from networked feedback interactions of various oscillatory subsystems, such as the glycolytic, mitochondrial, and electrical/calcium components.How these oscillatory modules interact and affect the collective cellular activity, which is a prerequisite for proper hormone release, is incompletely understood. In the present work, we combined advanced confocal Ca2+ imaging in fresh mouse pancreas tissue
slices with time series analysis and network science approaches to unveil the glucosedependent characteristics of different oscillatory components on both the intra- and inter-cellular level. Our results reveal an interrelationship between the metabolically driven low-frequency component and the electrically driven high-frequency component, with the latter exhibiting the highest bursting rates around the peaks of the slow
component and the lowest around the nadirs. Moreover, the activity, as well as the average synchronicity of the fast component, considerably increased with increasing stimulatory glucose concentration, whereas the stimulation level did not affect any of these parameters in the slow component domain. Remarkably, in both dynamical components, the average correlation decreased similarly with intercellular distance, which implies that intercellular communication affects the synchronicity of both types of oscillations. To explore the intra-islet synchronization patterns in more detail, we constructed functional connectivity maps. The subsequent comparison of network characteristics of different oscillatory components showed more locally clustered and segregated networks of fast oscillatory activity, while the slow oscillations were more global, resulting in several long-range connections and a more cohesive structure. Besides the structural differences, we found a relatively weak relationship between the fast and slow network layer, which suggests that different synchronization mechanisms
shape the collective cellular activity in islets, a finding which has to be kept in mind in future studies employing different oscillations for constructing networks. Ključne besede: islets of Langerhans, beta cell network, calcium oscillations, multimodal activity analysis, confocal imaging, functional connectivity, multiplex network Objavljeno v DKUM: 06.06.2024; Ogledov: 171; Prenosov: 6
Celotno besedilo (9,40 MB) Gradivo ima več datotek! Več... |