The Influence of Cholesterol on β-cell Function

Abstract

Strong evidence that statin medication is linked to type II diabetes raises questions about the role of cholesterol in insulin secretion and pancreatic β-cell function. Experimentally induced changes in cellular cholesterol content attenuated insulin secretion robustly stimulated by both nutrient and therapeutic secretagogues in β-cell models. The mechanisms of these adverse effects were investigated, including aspects of cellular metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, and effects on strategic proteins involved in glucose sensing, exocytosis and cholesterol transport.