Featured Image
Why is it important?
The islet beta cells in this patient were not able to secrete (release) insulin due to the effects of the mutation in the subunit of the KATP channel. Therefore, looking at the histology gives insight into beta cell function and survival in the rare circumstance of when the beta cell is able to produce insulin but cannot release it.
Perspectives
This patient faced a very difficult disease and despite the tragedy of her death, her family hoped that we could learn as much as we could from her. Although there was significant loss of insulin-positive beta-cells, it is almost more fascinating that so many beta-cells were still present even when they were not able to do their main function of producing insulin.
Siri Atma W Greeley
University of Chicago
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Case Report: Preservation of Reduced Numbers of Insulin-Positive Cells in Sulfonylurea-Unresponsive KCNJ11-related Diabetes, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, November 2016, Endocrine Society,
DOI: 10.1210/jc.2016-2826.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
