Anionic transporters and channels in pancreatic islet cells

Abstract

After a brief description of the so-called consensus hypothesis for the mechanism of stimulus-secretion coupling in the process of glucose-induced insulin release, the present chapter, which deals with anionic transporters and channels in pancreatic islet cells, concerns mainly a second modality for the control of insulin secretion by the hexose. In such a perspective, it draws attention to the NBCe1 Na + /HCO3 − cotransporters, the volume-regulated anion channel hypothesis, the experimental model of extracellular hypotonicity, the possible role of NAD(P)H oxidase-derived H2O2 in the activation of volume-regulated anion channels in β-cells exposed to a hypotonic medium, the identity of the anions concerned by the volume-regulated anion channel hypothesis, the expression and function of anoctamin 1 in rodent and human pancreatic islet cells, the possible role of bicarbonate-activated soluble adenylyl cyclase, the identity and role of aquaporins in insulin-producing cells, and a proposed role for volume-regulated anion channels in glucagon secretion.