Pancreatic and cells: Best enemies or partners for life?

Diabetes are major metabolic diseases constantly increasing in the population, caused by reduced secretion and action of insulin, the only hormone lowering efficiently the glycaemia. Insulin is secreted by beta cells within the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. The islet micro-organs also contain 15 to 35% of alpha cells, well-known for their opposite effects on glycaemia. Considered until now as potentially harmful in diabetes, alpha cells are emerging as potent enhancers of beta cell activity when studied in physiological nutritional setting and should therefore be reconsidered in a therapeutic point of view. This review summarizes the latest concepts regarding beta cell function in physiological states and the involvement of dynamic functional interactions between alpha and beta cells for the regulation of nutrient homeostasis.