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Dual Effect of Rosuvastatin on Glucose Homeostasis Through Improved Insulin Sensitivity and Reduced Insulin Secretion

Vishal A Salunkhe1, Inês G Mollet1, Jones K Ofori1

  • 1Unit of Islet Cell Exocytosis, Dept Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University Diabetes Centre, Lund University CRC 91-11, SUS Malmö, Jan Waldenströms gata 35, 205 02 Malmö, Sweden.

Ebiomedicine
|July 26, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Statins like rosuvastatin improve insulin sensitivity but impair pancreatic beta cell function, potentially increasing diabetes risk. Further research is needed to understand these dual effects on glucose homeostasis.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Statins are widely used for cardiovascular disease (CVD) management.
  • A known side effect of statin therapy is an increased incidence of new-onset diabetes.
  • The precise cellular mechanisms underlying statin-induced diabetes remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cellular mechanisms by which rosuvastatin affects glucose homeostasis.
  • To examine the impact of rosuvastatin on insulin sensitivity and beta cell function in mice on normal and high-fat diets.

Main Methods:

  • Mice on normal diet (ND) and high-fat diet (HFD) were treated with rosuvastatin.
  • In vitro studies assessed rosuvastatin's effects on pancreatic islets and beta cell function.
  • Measurements included blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, glucose uptake, insulin secretion, and beta cell calcium signaling.

Main Results:

  • Rosuvastatin improved insulin sensitivity and increased glucose uptake in adipose tissue under ND conditions.
  • In vitro, rosuvastatin impaired beta cell insulin secretion and insulin content, affecting calcium signaling and granule density.
  • In HFD mice, rosuvastatin reduced compensatory insulin secretion while enhancing glucose uptake, despite pre-existing insulin resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Rosuvastatin exhibits dual effects on glucose homeostasis: it enhances insulin sensitivity but impairs pancreatic beta cell function.
  • These findings highlight a potential mechanism for statin-associated diabetes, emphasizing the need for careful patient monitoring.
Keywords:
Adipose tissueBeta cellCa(2+) measurementsGlucose homeostasisGlucose uptakeInsulin secretionIsletMuscleOGTTStatinTransmission electron microscopy

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