Apolipoprotein CIII links islet insulin resistance to β-cell failure in diabetes
In a study published in the May 2015 issue of PNAS, it was demonstrated that apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII) can serve as a link between insulin resistance and β-cell failure in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Preventing insulin resistance at the islet level is thus crucial to preserve β-cell mass, especially during the late phase of T2DM, where β cells are progressively lost. If results are confirmed in human islets from T2DM patients, local islet production of apoCIII may become a drugable target and thereby form the basis for a novel diabetes treatment regimen. It is of interest to note that there are human data from subjects with a genetic mutation in the apoCIII gene and thereby life-long reduced levels of apoCIII, demonstrating that these persons are overall healthier and have increased insulin sensitivity.