Grant: Operating Grant

Obesity affects more than 25% of Canadians and is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, which affects more than 6% of Canadians. Both obesity and diabetes are major and increasing causes of morbidity and mortality. Recently, inflammation of the pancreatic islets has been found in type 2 diabetic patients. Elevated levels of fatty acids in the circulation (fatty acids are released from the adipose tissue) are often present in obesity, and may lead to type 2 diabetes in predisposed individuals by causing inflammation of the pancreatic beta cell which secretes insulin. The objective of this proposal is to investigate how elevated fatty acids lead to inflammation of the pancreatic islets that causes beta cell malfunction. More specifically, we will identify the receptors and signaling molecules involved and whether fat also reduces the antinflammatory defenses. These studies are important to identify targets to prevent and treat malfunction of beta cells during the development of diabetes and during the progression of beta cell failure in type 2 diabetes.