Pancreatic beta-cell mass in European subjects with type 2 diabetes.
(2008) Diabetes, obesity & metabolism — Vol. 10 Suppl 4, p. 32-42 (2008)
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- Decreases in both beta-cell function and number can contribute to insulin deficiency in type 2 diabetes. Here, we quantified the beta-cell mass in pancreas obtained at autopsy of 57 type 2 diabetic (T2D) and 52 non-diabetic subjects of European origin. Sections from the body and tail were immunostained for insulin. The beta-cell mass was calculated from the volume density of beta-cells (measured by point-counting methods) and the weight of the pancreas. The pancreatic insulin concentration was measured in some of the subjects. beta-cell mass increased only slightly with body mass index (BMI). After matching for BMI, the beta-cell mass was 41% (BMI < 25) and 38% (BMI 26-40) lower in T2D compared with non-diabetic subjects, and neither gender nor type of treatment influenced these differences. beta-cell mass did not correlate with age at diagnosis but decreased with duration of clinical diabetes (24 and 54% lower than controls in subjects with <5 and >15 years of overt diabetes respectively). Pancreatic insulin concentration was 30% lower in patients. In conclusion, the average beta-cell mass is about 39% lower in T2D subjects compared with matched controls. Its decrease with duration of the disease could be a consequence of diabetes that, with further impairment of insulin secretion, contributes to the progressive deterioration of glucose homeostasis. We do not believe that the small difference in beta-cell mass observed within 5 years of onset could cause diabetes in the absence of beta-cell dysfunction.
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Rahier, J., Guiot, Y., Goebbels, R. M., Sempoux, C., & Henquin, J.-C. (2008). Pancreatic beta-cell mass in European subjects with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism, 10 Suppl 4, 32-42. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-1326.2008.00969.x (Original work published 2008)