New insights into the mechanisms causing diabetes

Researchers show that a molecule called T-cadherin can be secreted in a soluble form. Soluble T-cadherin interacts with pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells via the Notch signaling pathway to promote their proliferation and increase the production of insulin. Recombinant T-cadherin stimulated Notch signaling in isolated mouse pancreatic islets, which contain beta cells, indicating that T-cadherin may have therapeutic potential for diabetes.