Fatty acid-induced β cell apoptosis: A link between obesity and diabetes

Like obese humans, Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats exhibit early beta cell compensation for insulin resistance (4-fold beta cell hyperplasia) followed by decompensation (>50% loss of beta cells). In prediabetic and diabetic ZDF islets, apoptosis measured by DNA laddering is increased 3- and >7-fold, respectively, compared with lean ZDF controls. Ceramide, a fatty acid-containing messenger in cytokine-induced apoptosis, was significantly...