Abstract
The pancreatic islets of Langerhans secrete several hormones critical for glucose homeostasis. The β-cells, the major cellular component of the pancreatic islets, secrete insulin, the only hormone capable of lowering the plasma glucose concentration. The counter-regulatory hormone glucagon is secreted by the α-cells while δ-cells secrete somatostatin that via paracrine mechanisms regulates the α- and β-cell activity. These three peptide hormones are packed into secretory granules that are released through exocytosis following a local increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. The high voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (HVCCs) occupy a central role in pancreatic hormone release both as a source of Ca(2+) required for excitation-secretion coupling as well as a scaffold for the release machinery. HVCCs are multi-protein complexes composed of the main pore-forming transmembrane α(1) and the auxiliary intracellular β, extracellular α(2)δ, and transmembrane γ subunits. Here, we review the current understanding regarding the role of all HVCC subunits expressed in pancreatic β-cell on electrical activity, excitation-secretion coupling, and β-cell mass. The evidence we review was obtained from many seminal studies employing pharmacological approaches as well as genetically modified mouse models. The significance for diabetes in humans is discussed in the context of genetic variations in the genes encoding for the HVCC subunits.