The cover picture shows a photomicrograph of a pancreatic islet from a Vervet monkey that spontaneously developed diabetes. The acellular hyaline material separating the beta cells (stained pink) is composed of islet amyloid, and is a characteristic of type 2 diabetes. The islet amyloid precursor, islet amyloid polypeptide, is released from beta cells together with insulin but only becomes toxic when it spontaneously aggregates to form fibrils. In the present issue of Diabetologia (51:2252-2262), Casas et al report that a mechanosensitive ion channel, TRPV4, provides a link between amyloid fibrils and elevated calcium levels in beta cells-a process that ultimately leads to beta cell apoptosis
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Cover credit: TATYANA GURLO, LARRY HILLBLOM ISLET RESEARCH CENTER, UCLA