Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion - insights from modelling

• Insulin is secreted by the pancreatic β-cells in response to a raised blood glucose concentration. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) is pulsatile and correlated with bursting electrical activity. We review the current understanding of pancreatic p-cell GSIS from a mathematical modelling perspective. We discuss the glycolysis and the mitochondrial metabolism and metabolic modelling thereof. In particular, we describe the theoretical basis for the hypothesis of an oscillatory glycolysis, which may be the cause of the pulsatile secretion. We also discuss the electrophysiology of the P-cell and present insights gained from mathematical modelling in this context. There are important causal connections between β-cell metabolism and electrophysiology. This brings about an unusual challenge for theoretical and computational biologists.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Pancreatic hormone

Mathematical model

Electrophysiology

Review

Stimulation

Secretion

Insulin

Glucose

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)