Lipotoxicity and Cell Maintenance in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.

Obesity and diabetes are often associated with lipotoxic conditions in multiple tissues. The insulin-producing cells are susceptible to elevated lipid levels and the ensuing lipotoxicity. The preservation of cell mass and function is one of the main goals of diabetes management under these metabolically stressful conditions. However, the adverse effects from the adaptive signaling pathways that cells use to counteract lipotoxic stress have secondary negative effects in their own right. Antilipotoxic signaling cascades in cells can contribute to their eventual failure. Such dual roles are seen for many other biological adaptive processes as well.