Impaired βCell Functions Induced by Chronic Exposure of Cultured Human Pancreatic Islets to High Glucose

摘要

In type 2 diabetes, chronic hyperglycemia has been sug- gested to be detrimental to β-cell function, causing reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and dis- proportionately elevated proinsulin. In the present study, we investigated the effect on several β-cell func- tions of prolonged in vitro exposure of human pancre- atic islet cultures to high glucose concentrations. Islets exposed to high glucose levels (33 mmol/l) for 4 and 9 days showed dramatic decreases in glucose-induced insulin release and in islet insulin content, with increased proportionof proinsulin-like peptides relative to insulin.