Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Stimulates Pancreatic Islet Autophagy via Inhibition of AMPK-mTOR Signaling.

Background: Islet autophagy plays a role in glucose/lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Meanwhile, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been found to regulate insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. Whether FGF21 induces islet autophagy, remains to be elucidated.

Identification and Functional Implications of Sodium/-Inositol Cotransporter 1 in Pancreatic β-Cells and Type 2 Diabetes.

-inositol (MI), the precursor of the second messenger phosphoinositide (PI), mediates multiple cellular events. Rat islets exhibit active transport of MI, although the mechanism involved remains elusive. Here, we report, for the first time, the expression of sodium/-inositol cotransporter 1 (SMIT1) in rat islets and, specifically, β-cells.

The Effects of Empagliflozin, an SGLT2 Inhibitor, on Pancreatic β-Cell Mass and Glucose Homeostasis in Type 1 Diabetes.

The novel sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin has recently been reported to improve glycemic control in streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic rats in an insulin-independent manner, via an increase in urinary glucose output. We investigated the potential of empagliflozin to recover insulin pathways in type 1 diabetes by improving pancreatic β-cell mass. Blood glucose homeostasis was assessed by an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test.