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Metabolism

Waxy lipids and waning insulin secretion

In type 2 diabetes, altered lipid metabolism causes a defect in insulin secretion. A study now shows how reduced very long-chain sphingolipids in β cells may impair the export of insulin-processing enzymes from the endoplasmic reticulum. The resulting defect in insulin production causes increased blood glucose concentrations.

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Fig. 1: Diabetes-associated lipotoxicity in pancreatic β cells may be characterized by a selective reduction in specific VLSL species, which results in impaired processing of proinsulin to produce insulin.

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Correspondence to Jonathan S. Bogan.

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Bogan, J.S. Waxy lipids and waning insulin secretion. Nat Cell Biol 25, 7–8 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-022-01036-1

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