Pancreatic β-cell Dysfunction and Diabetes

The prevalence of diabetes continues to increase globally, posing a pressing issue for healthcare. Diabetes is primarily characterized by hyperglycemia, resulting from an absolute or relative deficiency in insulin activity, and is associated with systemic micro- and macro-vascular complications. Although diabetes encompasses multiple pathophysiological conditions based on its underlying mechanisms, pancreatic β-cell dysfunction is a common feature. Pancreatic β-cells play a critical role in maintaining normal blood glucose levels by producing and secreting insulin in response to blood glucose concentrations. However, when β-cell dysfunction occurs, the cells fail to supply sufficient insulin to meet peripheral insulin demands, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. Although multiple mechanisms contribute to β-cell impairment, these mechanisms often share overlapping pathways and can interact to exacerbate their detrimental effects. Understanding the causes of β-cell dysfunction is essential for the prevention and treatment of diabetes. This review highlights the primary functions of pancreatic β-cells, including insulin biosynthesis and secretion, and provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying β-cell dysfunction.