TGF-β signalling prevents pancreatic beta cell death after proliferation

Objectives Maintenance of functional beta cell mass is critical for prevention of diabetes. The transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β) receptor signalling pathway plays an essential role in pancreatic development. However, its involvement in control of post‐natal beta cell growth has only been recently reported. Materials and methods Here, we studied the role of TGF‐β receptor signalling in beta cell proliferation after 50% partial pancreatectomy (PPx), using beta cell‐specific TGF‐β receptor II (TBR2)‐mutated mice. Results Consistent with previous reports, we found that inhibition of TGF‐β receptor signalling in beta cells resulted in slightly higher beta cell mass 1 week after PPx, due to greater beta cell proliferation. However, beta cell mass in these beta cell‐specific TBR2‐mutated mice significantly decreased by 12 weeks after PPx, resulting from increase in beta cell apoptosis. Conclusions Our data thus suggest that TGF‐β receptor signalling may be required for prevention of beta cell death after proliferation, and highlight this pathway as an essential regulator during post‐natal beta cell homoeostasis.