The molecular events causing increased insulin resistance and secretion and early β-cell failure in diabetes are not well understood. Gema Medina-Gomez and colleagues define a mouse model, derived from insulin-resistant ob/ob mice, that lacks the nuclear receptor PPARγ2. Lipid profiles and other changes associated with early phase diabetes are evident in animals only 4 weeks old. β cells in the pancreas are initially protected from damage, showing increased insulin production and cell expansion. Thus, these mice demonstrate changes similar to humans in the early stage of diabetes.
2009
