Alterations In Secretion And Gene Expression In Pancreatic Beta Cells Exposed To Lipid.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,250.00
Summary
The project is aimed at a better understanding of the way in which fats control gene expression in the pancreatic beta cells of the islets of Langerhans. Because changes in gene expression are to likely to explain why exposure of these cells to fat disrupts their ability to release insulin, identification of these genes could explain why only some obese people develop Type 2 diabetes.
Mechanisms Of Fatty-acid Mediated Destruction Of Pancreatic Beta Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$510,476.00
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity, but not all obese individuals develop the disease. Non-diabetic obese subjects are able to compensate for diminished sensitivity to insulin (a general feature of obesity) by enhanced output of insulin from the pancreatic beta-cells of the islet of Langerhans. In diabetics this compensatory mechanism is disrupted. Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are also associated with elevated levels of fatty acids (FAs) in the bloodstream. These can be taken up by the be ....Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity, but not all obese individuals develop the disease. Non-diabetic obese subjects are able to compensate for diminished sensitivity to insulin (a general feature of obesity) by enhanced output of insulin from the pancreatic beta-cells of the islet of Langerhans. In diabetics this compensatory mechanism is disrupted. Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are also associated with elevated levels of fatty acids (FAs) in the bloodstream. These can be taken up by the beta-cells where they exert both short and long-term effects. In the longer term FAs can be toxic to beta-cells and this is thought to be important in the failure of beta-cell compensation. The project is aimed at a better understanding of the manner by which different types of FAs influence the susceptibility of beta-cells to destruction. It builds on our preliminary results suggesting that the capacity of the beta-cell to convert saturated FAs to unsaturated FAs helps protect them from destruction. Our aim is to examine the mechanisms underlying this protection.Read moreRead less