Direct Effect of Cholesterol on Insulin Secretion

• DOI: 10.2337/db07-0056
• Publication Date: 2007-08-28T17:28:04Z
• Authors: Mingming Hao; W. Steven Head; Subhadra C. Gunaw...; Alyssa H. Hasty; David W. Piston
• Keywords: Hyperlipidemia; Pancreatic Islets

Type 2 diabetes is often accompanied by abnormal blood lipid and lipoprotein levels, but most studies on the link between hyperlipidemia have focused free fatty acids (FFAs). In this study, we examined relationship cholesterol insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells that independent of effects FFAs.Several methods were used to modulate levels in intact islets cultured beta-cells, including a recently developed mouse model exhibits elevated normal FFA levels. Acute metabolic alteration was done using pharmacological reagents.We found direct serum reduced secretion, with restored depletion. We further demonstrate excess inhibits downregulation metabolism through increased neuronal nitric oxide synthase dimerization.This effect beta-cell opens novel set mechanisms may contribute dysfunction onset obese patients.