Beta cell dysfunction occurs independently of insulitis in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT: The loss of insulin secretory function associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is attributed to the immune-mediated destruction of beta cells. Yet, at onset of T1D, patients often have a significant beta cell mass remaining while T cell infiltration of pancreatic islets is sporadic. Thus, we investigated the hypothesis that the remaining beta cells in T1D are largely dysfunctional using live human pancreas tissue slices prepared from organ donors with recently diagnosed T1D. Beta cells in slices from donors with T1D had significantly diminished Ca²⁺ mobilization and insulin secretion responses to glucose. Beta cell function was equally impaired in T cell-infiltrated and non-infiltrated islets. Fixed tissue staining and gene expression profiling of laser-capture microdissected isle

SUBMITTER: Huber MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11703223 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature