Increased frequency of β cells with abnormal NKX6.1 expression in type 2 diabetes but not in subjects with higher risk for type 2 diabetes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

NKX6.1 is a transcription factor for insulin, as well as a marker for β cell maturity. Abnormal NKX6.1 expression in β cells, such as translocation from the nucleus to cytoplasm or lost expression, has been shown as a marker for β cell dedifferentiation.

Methods

We obtained pancreatic sections from organ donors and immunofluorescence staining with NKX6.1 and insulin was performed to characterize NKX6.1 expression in subjects with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Results

Our results showed that cells with insulin expression but no nucleic NKX6.1 expression (NKX6.1^Nuc-Ins⁺), and cells with cytoplasmic NKX6.1 expression but no insulin expression (NKX6.1^cytIns^-) were significantly increased in T2DM subjects

SUBMITTER: Liu T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7955633 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature