Beta cell

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Beta cells are a type of cell in the pancreas in areas called the islets of Langerhans. Beta cells make and release insulin, a hormone that controls the level of glucose in the blood.

Beta cell is usually spelled beta-cell or even more common β-cell.

There is a baseline level of insulin maintained by the pancreas, but it can respond quickly to spikes in blood glucose by releasing stored insulin while simultaneously producing more. The response time is fairly quick, taking approximately 10 minutes.

Destruction or dysfunction of beta cells (combined with other factors) is the cause of diabetes mellitus type 1 and diabetes mellitus type 2 respectively.

Apart from insulin, beta cells release C-peptide, a byproduct of insulin production, into the bloodstream in equimolar quantities. Measuring the levels of C-peptide can give a practitioner an idea of the viable beta cell mass.

β-cells also produce IAPP, islet amyloid polypeptide, a protein with unknown function. IAPP migh be involved in type 2 diabetes causing fibrill formation similar to amyloid fibrills in Alzheimer's disease.

A rare tumor (usually benign) derived from beta cells is called insulinoma. It results in recurrent and prolonged attacks of hypoglycemia.

Beta cell

See also