Lipotoxicity and B cell maintenance in obesity and type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Obesity and diabetes are often associated with lipotoxic conditions in multiple tissues. The insulin-producing b cells are susceptible to elevated lipid levels and the ensuing lipotoxicity. The preservation of b cell mass and function is one of the main goals of diabetes management under these metabolically stressful conditions. However, the adverse effects from the adaptive signaling pathways that b cells use to counteract lipotoxic stress have secondary negative effects in their own right. Antilipotoxic signaling cascades in b cells can contribute to their eventual failure. Such dual roles are seen for many other biological adaptive processes as well.