Table 1.

Function and reported effects of compounds tested on human islet cells

Compound	Function	Reported Effects	Ref. No.*
DYRK family
Harmine	Dyrk1a inhibitor	Increases β-cell proliferation (mouse, rat, human)	31, 43
		Decreases β-cell development (mouse)
Neurotransmitters
GABA	Inhibitory neurotransmitter	Increases β-cell proliferation (mouse, human)	30, 35, 38
Serotonin	Monoamine neurotransmitter	Regulates pregnancy-related β-cell expansion (mouse)	23
Adenosine signaling/metabolism
NECA	Adenosine receptor agonist	Increases β-cell proliferation (zebrafish, mouse)	1
UK-432097	Selective A2A adenosine receptor agonist	Decreases inflammation and promotes wound healing	26, 46
A-134974	Selective adenosine kinase inhibitor	Increases β-cell proliferation (zebrafish)	1
Hormones/growth factors
Prolactin	Lactogenic hormone	Regulates pregnancy-related β-cell expansion (rat, mouse)	4, 19
PDGF	Cell growth and division	Regulates age-dependent β-cell proliferation (mouse, human)	8
Erythropoietin	Erythropoiesis and angiogenesis	Increases β-cell proliferation (mouse)	10
Exendin-4	GLP-1R agonist	Regulates β-cell mass (rat)	29, 40, 47
		Increases β-cell proliferation (rat)
TGF-β superfamily
Myostatin	Growth differentiation factor	Regulates islet development and insulin sensitivity (mouse)	6
Activin A	Signaling and regulation of reproduction, development, and homeostasis	Regulates islet development and insulin secretion (mouse)	6, 7
		Increases β-cell proliferation (rat)

GABA, γ-aminobutyric acid; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor; NECA, 5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine; GLP-1R glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor.

^*Because of space limitations, only selected publications evaluating these compounds are noted.