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Cholesterol in β-cell Dysfunction: The Emerging Connection Between HDL Cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes

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Abstract

β-cell dysfunction is a critical step in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. The mechanisms responsible for β-cell death and dysfunction remain incompletely understood, but include glucolipotoxicity, the deleterious metabolic milieu created by high plasma concentrations of glucose and lipid species. Recently, an important role has emerged for cholesterol in this process. In this article, we review recent advances in our understanding of the role of ABCA1 and cholesterol metabolism in β-cell function, with particular attention to insights gained from human studies.

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Disclosure

This work was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to Drs. Verchere and Hayden. Dr. Verchere is an Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Senior Scholar. Dr. Hayden holds a Canada Research Chair in Human Genetics and is a University Killam Professor. No other potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child and Family Research Institute, 980 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada

    Liam R. Brunham, Janine K. Kruit, Michael R. Hayden & C. Bruce Verchere

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  1. Liam R. Brunham
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  2. Janine K. Kruit
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  3. Michael R. Hayden
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  4. C. Bruce Verchere
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Correspondence to C. Bruce Verchere.

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Brunham, L.R., Kruit, J.K., Hayden, M.R. et al. Cholesterol in β-cell Dysfunction: The Emerging Connection Between HDL Cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes. Curr Diab Rep 10, 55–60 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-009-0090-x

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