Using animal models to decipher the role of polyamines in the pancreas and β Cell

Pancreatic islet β cells are insulin-secreting cells that are responsible for sensing blood glucose levels and maintaining normoglycemia. Polyamines are vital to supporting the transcriptional and translational demands placed on secretory cells such as the β cell; however, recent evidence suggests the polyamine pathway may also be detrimental to normal β cell function. β cell dysfunction instigated by inflammation is common to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and notably, interventions that target the polyamine pathway may offer therapeutic benefits. The objective of this review is to synthesize the roles of polyamine metabolism in the pancreas and to frame this pathway as a link between nutrient status, immune activation, and β cell stress in diabetes. This review summarizes key findings from animal models used to study the polyamine pathway in pancreatic islet growth, development, and function. It also explores the prospects of polyamine inhibition to modify diabetes pathogenesis and improve β cell health.