Sidt2 inhibits islet β-cell dedifferentiation by regulating insulin secretion

β-cell dedifferentiation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). SID1 transmembrane family member 2 (Sidt2) is a lysosomal membrane protein known to regulate hepatic steatosis and lipid metabolism. However, its role in pancreatic β-cell dedifferentiation remains unclear. In this study, we found that Sidt2 expression was significantly decreased in diabetic mice and patients, correlating with impaired glucose metabolism. Through in-vitro and in-vivo experiments, we observed that the loss of Sidt2 accelerated β-cell dedifferentiation, as evidenced by an increase in the number of α cells and a marked reduction in key β-cell markers, such as pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx1), V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog A (MafA), and glucose transporter 2 (Glut2). Moreover, Sidt2 deficiency disrupted islet function, leading to impaired insulin secretion. Further analyses revealed that the dedifferentiation of β cells induced by Sidt2 deficiency was independent of the Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) pathway, a known regulator of β-cell identity. Instead, the primary mechanism appeared to be related to defects in insulin secretion. In conclusion, our study identified a novel regulatory mechanism of β-cell dedifferentiation and insulin secretion mediated by Sidt2. These findings enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying β-cell dedifferentiation and offer new perspectives on the pathogenesis of T2DM, supporting the potential of targeting Sidt2 as an innovative therapeutic strategy to preserve β-cell function and to treat this disease.