New role for the bile acid-sensitive ion channel (BASIC) in α-cells of the pancreas discovered

The bile acid-sensitive ion channel BASIC is probably the least well understood member of the DEG/ENaC ion channel family in terms of its physiological function. In our latest study (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00424-026-03199-4), published in Pflügers Archiv – European Journal of Physiology, we demonstrate for the first time that BASIC is expressed in the glucagon-producing α-cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, where it plays an important role in α-cell function. Loss of BASIC results in a reduced number of α-cells, impaired glucagon secretion, and alterations in gene expression and islet architecture. Our findings identify BASIC as a previously unrecognized regulator of α-cell homeostasis and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms that may contribute to the maintenance of glucose homeostasis.