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Updated: Dec 28, 2025

Leprdb Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes: Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Live-cell 2-Photon Imaging Of Intact Islets
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Vitamin D Receptor Overexpression in β-Cells Ameliorates Diabetes in Mice

Meritxell Morró1,2,3, Laia Vilà1,3, Sylvie Franckhauser1,3

  • 1Center of Animal Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.

Diabetes
|February 23, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a crucial role in pancreatic beta-cells, protecting against diabetes. Maintaining VDR levels in beta-cells preserves their mass and function, offering protection from diabetes.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Metabolic Diseases

Background:

  • Vitamin D deficiency is linked to increased diabetes incidence in humans and animal models.
  • Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are associated with diabetes, but its specific role in pancreatic beta-cells remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in pancreatic beta-cells concerning the pathophysiology of diabetes.
  • To elucidate the impact of VDR modulation on beta-cell function and diabetes development.

Main Methods:

  • Studied VDR expression in pancreatic islets from healthy and diabetic mouse models (type 1 and type 2 diabetes).
  • Utilized transgenic mice overexpressing VDR specifically in beta-cells.
  • Assessed protection against streptozotocin-induced diabetes, beta-cell mass, and islet inflammation.

Main Results:

  • VDR expression in islets was modulated by glucose and decreased in diabetic mouse models.
  • Overexpression of VDR in beta-cells protected mice against streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
  • VDR overexpression preserved beta-cell mass and reduced islet inflammation.

Conclusions:

  • Sustained VDR levels in pancreatic beta-cells are critical for maintaining beta-cell mass and function.
  • VDR in beta-cells plays a protective role against diabetes development.
  • Targeting VDR may offer a therapeutic strategy for diabetes prevention and management.

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