The pathology of islets from patients with Type 2 diabetes displays an inflammatory process characterized by the presence of immune cell infiltration, cytokines, apoptotic cells, amyloid deposits and, eventually, fibrosis. Indeed, analysis of β-cells from patients with Type 2 diabetes displays increased IL-1β (interleukin 1β) expression. Furthermore, increased islet-associated macrophages are observed in human Type 2 diabetic patients and in most animal models of diabetes. Importantly, increased numbers of macrophages are detectable very early in high-fat-fed mice islets, before the onset of diabetes. These immune cells are probably attracted by islet-derived chemokines, produced in response to metabolic stress, and under the control of IL-1β. It follows that modulation of intra-islet inflammatory mediators, particularly interleukin-1β, may prevent islet inflammation in Type 2 diabetes and therefore presents itself as a promising therapeutic approach.
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June 2008
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Conference Article|
May 21 2008
Macrophages, cytokines and β-cell death in Type 2 diabetes
Jan A. Ehses;
Jan A. Ehses
1Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and Centre for Integrated Human Physiology, University Hospital of Zurich, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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Marianne Böni-Schnetzler;
Marianne Böni-Schnetzler
1Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and Centre for Integrated Human Physiology, University Hospital of Zurich, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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Mirjam Faulenbach;
Mirjam Faulenbach
1Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and Centre for Integrated Human Physiology, University Hospital of Zurich, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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Marc Y. Donath
Marc Y. Donath
1
1Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and Centre for Integrated Human Physiology, University Hospital of Zurich, CH-8091 Zurich, Switzerland
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (email marc.donath@usz.ch).
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
January 02 2008
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2008 Biochemical Society
2008
Biochem Soc Trans (2008) 36 (3): 340–342.
Article history
Received:
January 02 2008
Citation
Jan A. Ehses, Marianne Böni-Schnetzler, Mirjam Faulenbach, Marc Y. Donath; Macrophages, cytokines and β-cell death in Type 2 diabetes. Biochem Soc Trans 1 June 2008; 36 (3): 340–342. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST0360340
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