Key result
Betatrophin increases beta cell mass in murine models but has not displayed the same activity in clinical studies, possibly reflecting profound species differences in regeneration pathways.
Why the study?
Does betatrophin stimulate beta cell replication in humans as it does in mice?
Does betatrophin stimulate beta cell replication in humans as it does in mice?
While betatrophin potently stimulates beta cell replication in mice, it has not demonstrated the same activity in clinical studies, highlighting significant species differences in beta cell regeneration.
Betatrophin effects do not translate clinically; challenges murine models and leaves open human-specific regeneration targets.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Betatrophin is a newly described hormone, which potently stimulates beta cell replication in mice. This discovery has engendered great hope that it could prove clinically important in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. RECENT FINDINGS: Betatrophin, a 198-amino acid protein secreted by liver and adipose tissue, stimulates growth of pancreatic beta cell mass in insulin-resistant mice. Betatrophin has previously been named RIFL, lipasin, and ANGPLT8, and its salutory effects on lipid metabolism have been described in mouse and human studies. Serum betatrophin levels in humans correlate with improved adipose tissue lipid storage and lower serum triglyceride levels in the fed state, but do not correlate with insulin resistance or carbohydrate tolerance in humans. Betatrophin has not yet been shown to have an effect on beta cell replication in human pancreatic islets. SUMMARY: Many endocrine and paracrine factors, of which betatrophin is the newest described, increase beta cell mass in murine models. None of these factors, including betatrophin, have displayed the same activity in clinical studies. This may reflect a profound species difference in beta cell regeneration pathways in mice and humans.
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Levitsky et al. (2014) conducted a review in Type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Betatrophin was evaluated on Pancreatic beta cell mass and replication. Betatrophin increases beta cell mass in murine models but has not displayed the same activity in clinical studies, possibly reflecting profound species differences in regeneration pathways.
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