Steven Chessler

Picture of Steven Chessler
Associate Professor, Division of Endocrinology, Medicine
School of Medicine
Associate Professor (joint appointment), Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
School of Medicine
M.D., Ph.D.
Phone: (949) 824-3578
Email: s.chessler@uci.edu
University of California, Irvine
Gillespie Facility
Mail Code: 4086
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
diabetes, beta cells, insulin secretion, islets, biomarkers
Websites
Research Abstract
My laboratory is interested in the cell and molecular biology of the insulin-producing pancreatic islets, in how insulin secretion is controlled, in the cellular events that cause islet damage and dysfunction in diabetes, and in identification of therapeutic targets for the treatment of the disease. Our research focuses on a set of proteins and structural features shared by islets and neuronal synapses in the brain. Among these proteins are the major autoantigens in type 1 diabetes. We are investigating the role in pancreatic islet function and in the pathogenesis of diabetes of a group of islet proteins and cellular structures that, in the central nervous system, play key roles neurotransmission. Additionally, we are exploring the potential of some of these proteins to serve as circulating markers of islet damage and have published the first report of a serum biomarker of islet injury. We are investigating three families of neuronal cell-surface proteins that we have found to be expressed in beta cells. These proteins play key roles in inhibitory synapse formation in the central nervous system, and we have shown that they are important for normal insulin secretion. Our work is revealing the importance for islet function and normal insulin secretion of cell-surface proteins and extracellular protein interactions.
Available Technologies
Graduate Programs
Cellular and Molecular Biosciences
Last updated
01/13/2020