Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

4.1K
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
4.1K
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype

4.7K
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
4.7K
Carbohydrate Metabolism01:36

Carbohydrate Metabolism

13.4K
Carbohydrates are polymers composed of molecules containing atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. One gram of carbohydrate can provide four kilo-calories of energy, which makes it the most efficient instant energy source.
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
13.4K
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion01:27

Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion

1.9K
The pancreatic islets comprising only 1%-2% of the volume are highly vascularized and innervated mini-organs. They contain five endocrine cell types, including β cells that secrete insulin, which is synthesized as a single polypeptide chain, preproinsulin, processed to proinsulin, and finally to insulin and C-peptide. This process is complex and regulated, involving the Golgi complex, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the secretory granules of the β cell.
Insulin and C-peptide are...
1.9K
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

2.9K
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
2.9K
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

16.1K
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
16.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Epigenetic landscapes in human pancreatic islets reveal distinct drivers for adaptation to age and type 2 diabetes.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

From pancreas and islet resources to diabetes insights.

Diabetologia·2026
Same author

From bats to humans: uncovering <i>ISG15</i> as a new resistance factor in type 1 diabetes.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Beyond bystanders: How β cell stress shapes the autoimmune response in T1D.

Science translational medicine·2026
Same author

The diabetes-associated K<sup>+</sup> channel TALK-2 controls human beta cell endoplasmic reticulum Ca<sup>2+</sup> handling, which promotes basal insulin release and limits glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.

Diabetologia·2026
Same author

Iron deficiency induces maturation-dependent loss of pancreatic β-cells.

Nature communications·2026

Related Experiment Videos

Mining genes in type 2 diabetic islets and finding gold.

Decio L Eizirik1, Miriam Cnop

  • 1Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Medical Faculty, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. deizirik@ulb.ac.be

Cell Metabolism
|November 13, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Pancreatic beta cell failure drives type 2 diabetes (T2D). Researchers identified SFRP4 as an early factor causing beta cell dysfunction in T2D patients, offering new insights into disease mechanisms.

Related Experiment Videos

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Pancreatic beta cell dysfunction is a key factor in type 2 diabetes (T2D) pathogenesis.
  • The precise molecular mechanisms underlying beta cell failure in T2D remain largely unknown.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective T2D therapies.

Discussion:

  • Mahdi and colleagues utilized gene expression profiling and coexpression network analysis.
  • This approach was applied to human islets obtained from individuals with T2D.
  • The study aimed to uncover early molecular events contributing to beta cell dysfunction.

Key Insights:

  • Secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) was identified as a significant mediator.
  • SFRP4 appears to play an early role in the development of beta cell dysfunction in T2D.
  • This finding provides a novel molecular target for T2D research.

Outlook:

  • Further investigation into SFRP4's role in beta cell function is warranted.
  • SFRP4 modulation could represent a potential therapeutic strategy for T2D.
  • This research opens new avenues for understanding and treating diabetes.