Alpha cells secrete acetylcholine as a non-neuronal paracrine signal priming beta cell function in humans

Abstract

Acetylcholine signaling by the parasympathetic nervous system is crucial for proper insulin release. Alejandro Caicedo and his colleagues now show that such cholinergic signaling in human pancreatic islets is instead locally derived by pancreatic alpha cells--a finding that may have an impact on future drug development to treat diabetes.