Beta-cell expansion for therapeutic compensation of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.
Insulin resistance is the primary cause of type 2 diabetes. However, if compensated by increased insulin production, insulin resistance by itself does not lead to overt disease. Type 2 diabetes develops when this compensation is insufficient, due to defects in beta-cell function and in regulation of the beta-cell mass. beta-Cell transplantation, as well as approaches that replenish or preserve the endogenous beta-cell mass, may facilitate the treatment of type 2 diabetes in patients requiring exogenous insulin.
Efrat
Shimon
S
Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. sefrat@post.tau.ac.il
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000503:physiopathology*