Authors: Jan A. Ehses,; Sophie Calderari,; Jean-Claude Irminger,; Patricia Serradas,; Marie-Helene Giroix,; Anja Egli,; Bernard Portha,; Marc Y. Donath,; Francoise Homo-Delarche,

Source: Current Immunology Reviews, Volume 3, Number 3, August 2007 , pp. 216-232(17)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Activation of the innate immune system has been recognized as being associated with T2D patients and those being at increased disease risk. Here we show that inflammation takes place in pancreatic islets both in various T2D animal models and in patients, as reflected by the presence of immune cells and various cytokines and chemokines. Under situations of metabolic stress particularly, islet endocrine cells are a source of cytokine and chemokine production, but other pancreatic islet cells such as immune, endothelial and neuronal cells may also be involved. Notably, in various T2D animal models (and probably in humans too), a process of microangiopathy with subsequent fibrosis takes place that results in islet blood flow alterations and eventually leads to a loss of islet architecture. Taking into account that the microvasculature plays an integral role in islet function and that cytokines are deleterious for β-cells, we suggest that endothelial- islet inflammation might contribute to β-cell impairment in T2D. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that treatments that preserve islet architecture and ameliorate endothelial dysfunction, improve β-cell function. Better understanding of the mechanisms involved in early β-cell failure should lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of T2D.

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes; GK rat; inflammation; cytokines; chemokines; macrophages

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2007-08-01

More about this publication?

• Current Immunology Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances in clinical immunology. The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to clinical research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians in clinical immunology.

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