Increased mast cell number is associated with a decrease in beta-cell mass and regeneration in type 2 diabetic rats

Abstract

The role of mast cells (MCs)in type 2 diabetes (T2D)is not thoroughly studied as much as in T1D. Therefore in the current study we investigated correlation between these cells and various parameters of islets of Langerhans (IOL)in rats which were equally divided (n = 40)into; control and diabetic groups. We detected a significantly increased (p < 0.05)MC count (MCC)in the diabetic IOL compared to the control, together with a noticeable intra-islet seeding of these cells which displayed a tryptase positive immunostaining. A significant positive correlation (p < 0.05)between MCC and the % of glucagon cells per islet was detected in DM, unlike mass of the islets, mass of β-cells, and % of β-cells per islet which were negatively correlated with MCC. Similarly, there was a negative correlation between MCC with β-cell proliferation and neogenesis frequency in DM. This highlights the potential association between the increased MC number and the diminished islet‘s mass as well as regeneration which may fasten the progression of T2D.