Adipsin preserves beta cells in diabetic mice and associates with protection from type 2 diabetes in humans.

ABSTRACT: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance and a gradual loss of pancreatic beta cell mass and function^1,2. Currently, there are no therapies proven to prevent beta cell loss and some, namely insulin secretagogues, have been linked to accelerated beta cell failure, thereby limiting their use in type 2 diabetes^3,4. The adipokine adipsin/complement factor D controls the alternative complement pathway and generation of complement component C3a, which acts to augment beta cell insulin secretion⁵. In contrast to other insulin secretagogues, we show that chronic replenishment of adipsin in diabetic db/db mice ameliorates hyperglycemia and increases insulin levels while preserving beta cells by blocking dedifferentiation and death. Mechanistically, we

SUBMITTER: Gomez-Banoy N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7256970 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature