β Cell and Autophagy: What Do We Know?
Hamid‐Reza Mohammadi‐Motlagh, Mona Sadeghalvad, Niloofar Yavari, Rosita Primavera, Setareh Soltani, Shashank Chetty, Abantika Ganguly, Shobha Regmi, Tina Fløyel, Simranjeet Kaur, Aashiq H. Mirza, Avnesh S. Thakor, Flemming Pociot, Reza Yarani
Abstract
Pancreatic β cells are central to glycemic regulation through insulin production. Studies show autophagy as an essential process in β cell function and fate. Autophagy is a catabolic cellular process that regulates cell homeostasis by recycling surplus or damaged cell components. Impaired autophagy results in β cell loss of function and apoptosis and, as a result, diabetes initiation and progress. It has been shown that in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, and high metabolic demands, autophagy affects β cell function, insulin synthesis, and secretion. This review highlights recent evidence regarding how autophagy can affect β cells' fate in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Furthermore, we discuss the role of important intrinsic and extrinsic autophagy modulators, which can lead to β cell failure.