Pancreatic β-cell expansion and functional maturation during the birth-to-weaning period plays an essential role in the adaptation of plasma insulin levels to metabolic needs. These events are driven by epigenetic programs triggered by growth factors, hormones, and nutrients. These mechanisms operating in the neonatal period can be at least in part reactivated in adult life to increase the functional β-cell mass and face conditions of increased insulin demand such as obesity or pregnancy. In this review, we will highlight the importance of studying these signaling pathways and epigenetic programs to understand the causes of different forms of diabetes and to permit the design of novel therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat this metabolic disorder affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

出生至断奶期间的胰腺 β 细胞扩增和功能成熟在血浆胰岛素水平适应代谢需求方面起着至关重要的作用。这些事件是由生长因子、激素和营养物质触发的表观遗传程序驱动的。这些在新生儿期发挥作用的机制在成年期至少可以部分重新激活，以增加功能性 β 细胞量并面临胰岛素需求增加的情况，例如肥胖或怀孕。在这篇综述中，我们将强调研究这些信号通路和表观遗传程序的重要性，以了解不同形式糖尿病的原因，并允许设计新的治疗策略来预防和治疗这种影响全球数亿人的代谢紊乱。