Beta-cell-specific C3 deficiency exacerbates metabolic dysregulation and insulin resistance in obesity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

C3 is highly expressed in human and rodent pancreatic islets, which secrete insulin to regulate blood glucose homeostasis. We have previously shown that cytosolic C3 protects pancreatic beta-cells from stress, by allowing cytoprotective autophagy, and that the same intracellular pool of C3 also protects beta-cells from cytokine-induced apoptosis.

Methods

We now generated a beta-cell specific C3 knockout mouse (beta-C3-KO) to test whether cell-intrinsic C3 is required for beta-cell function in a whole animal model. These mice were placed on high-fat diet (HFD), blood glucose and insulin measurements taken over time, and tissues examined at endpoint by qPCR and immunofluorescence.

Results

While no differences were found between in baseline metabolic performan

SUBMITTER: King BC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12808594 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature