Insulin-induced beta cell death

What is it about?

Insulin resistance results from impaired insulin signaling in target tissues that leads to increased levels of insulin required to control plasma glucose levels. The cycle of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia eventually leads to pancreatic β cell deterioration and death by a mechanism that is not yet fully understood. In the current study, we investigated the mechanism underlying this phenomenon. We found that insulin increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accompanied by a decrease in cell viability and altered activities on elements involved in regulation of cell death.We conclude that prolonged elevated levels of insulin may prime cell death-inducing mechanisms as a result of an oxidative stress in pancreatic beta cells.

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Why is it important?

The results presented in this work support the notion that increased and sustained insulin levels may bedetrimental to pancreatic β cell survival. Hence, induction of increased insulin secretion in patients with obesity and insulin resistance that are already hyperinsulinemic may actually accelerate the deterioration of pancreatic β cells.