The pancreatic beta-cell: birth, life and death.
Defective insulin secretion is a hallmark of all forms of diabetes. Whereas Type 1 diabetes has long been known to result from the immune-mediated destruction of beta-cells, Type 2 diabetes appears to involve both loss of beta-cell mass and glucose sensitivity in the face of extrapancreatic insulin resistance. We summarize here the proceedings of a Biochemical Society Focused Meeting, held at the St Thomas campus of King's College London in December 2007, which highlighted recent research advances targeting the beta-cell.
Rutter
Guy A
GA
Department of Cell Biology, Division of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK. g.rutter@imperial.ac.uk
Wong
F Susan
FS
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice