Pancreatic islet inflammation in type 2 diabetes: From α and β cell compensation to dysfunction

Abstract

Evidence in support of the concept of local pancreatic islet inflammation as a mechanism of β cell failure in type 2 diabetes is accumulating. Observations in human islets from type 2 diabetic patients and rodent models of the disease indicate the increased presence of IL-1 driven cytokines and chemokines in pancreatic islets, concomitant with immune cell infiltration. Inflammation is the body’s protective response to harmful stimuli and tissue damage. However, under chronic stress (e.g. metabolic stress in obesity and type 2 diabetes) the body’s own defensive response may become deleterious to tissue function. Here, we summarize the current evidence that islet inflammation is a feature of type 2 diabetes, and discuss its role with respect to α and β cell compensation and eventual β cell failure.

Keywords::

• Insulitis
• interleukin-1beta
• interleukin-6
• prediabetes
• obesity

Acknowledgements

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest.