Regulation of pancreatic beta-cell number and function by adipocyte-released hormones, free fatty acids and ghrelin.

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/338501

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

The disease diabetes mellitus comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders all characterised by high blood glucose levels. Beta-cells in the pancreas, which secrete insulin, are central to the pathophysiology of the disease. Type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus results from an absolute deficiency of insulin due to auto immunological destruction of the pancreatic beta cell, and accounts for 5-10% of total diabetes mellitus. In the more common type 2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, liver, muscle and fat cells are resistant to the action of insulin and compensatory mechanisms that are activated in the beta-cell to increase insulin secretion are not sufficient to maintain normal blood glucose levels. In Western countries including Australia, type 2 diabetes currently affects around 2% of the whole population and about 6% of adults (10% of over 60-y) and continues to grow at around 6% per annum. Type 2 diabetes often occurs in obese patients and a direct link between obesity and type 2 diabetes has been strongly suggested by research to date. It has also been found that a progressive loss of beta-cell function throughout the course of the disease results in the reduction of insulin secretion. The contribution of excessive fat tissue in obese patients to the progress of type 2 diabetes is not clear. Certain hormones from fat cells, metabolic regulatory hormone, and fatty acids have been demonstrated to influence the function of beta-cells in previous studies, including our own. We now aim to investigate in detail the effect of these on cultured beta-cells with molecular and cell biology techniques. We expect to identify a factor or factors which stimulate or inhibit the progress of beta-cell dysfunction, with the potential to identify therapeutic targets in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2005

End Date: 01-01-2007

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $256,500.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Cell Physiology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

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Other Keywords

Diabetes (type 2) | Diabetes mellitus | Insulin | Insulin resistance | Obesity | cell biology | fatty acids | hormones

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