Pancreatic β-cell glucose toxicity in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Curr Diabetes Rev. 2015;11(1):2-6. doi: 10.2174/1573399811666141216160217.

Abstract

Pancreatic β-cells secrete insulin when blood glucose levels become high. However, when β-cells are chronically exposed to hyperglycemia, their function gradually deteriorates. Although such phenomena are called as β-cell glucose toxicity, its molecular mechanism remained unclear. This manuscript describes the possible mechanism for such β-cell dysfunction. In the diabetic state, nuclear expression levels of pancreatic transcription factors PDX-1 and MafA are decreased. In addition, incretin receptor expression in β- cells is decreased, which is likely involved in the impairment of incretin effects in diabetes. Taken together, it is likely that down-regulation of pancreatic transcription factors and/or incretin receptors are involved in β-cell dysfunction observed in type 2 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology*
  • Down-Regulation
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / metabolism
  • Hyperglycemia / physiopathology*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / physiology
  • Maf Transcription Factors, Large / metabolism*
  • Maf Transcription Factors, Large / physiology
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*

Substances

  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • MAFA protein, human
  • Maf Transcription Factors, Large
  • Trans-Activators
  • pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein
  • Glucose