title: The pancreatic beta cells in human type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Bell-cell (beta-cell) impairment is central to the development and progression of human diabetes, as a result of the combined effects of genetic and acquired factors. Reduced islet number and/or reduced beta cells amount in the pancreas of individuals with Type 2 diabetes have been consistently reported. This is mainly due to increased beta cell death, not adequately compensated for by regeneration. In addition, several quantitative and/or qualitative defects of insulin secretion have been observed in Type 2 diabetes, both in vivo and ex vivo with isolated islets. All this is associated with modifications of islet cell gene and protein expression. With the identification of several susceptible Type 2 diabetes loci, the role of genotype in affecting beta-cell function and survival has been addressed in a few studies and the relationships between genotype and beta-cell phenotype investigated. Among acquired factors, the importance of metabolic insults (in particular glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity) in the natural history of beta-cell damage has been widely underlined. Continuous improvements in our knowledge of the beta cells in human Type 2 diabetes will lead to more targeted and effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
authors: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. piero.marchetti@med.unipi.it
authors: Piero
authors: P
authors: Marchetti
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Bugliani
authors: Ugo
authors: U
authors: Boggi
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: Masini
authors: Lorella
authors: L
authors: Marselli
mesh_terms: D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin