The β Cell in Diabetes: Integrating Biomarkers with Functional Measures

Endocr Rev. 2021 Jun 28:bnab021. doi: 10.1210/endrev/bnab021. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe pathogenesis of hyperglycemia observed in most forms of diabetes is intimately tied to the islet β cell. Impairments in propeptide processing and secretory function along with the loss of these vital cells is demonstrable not only in those in whom the diagnosis is established, but typically also in individuals who are at increased risk of developing the disease. Biomarkers are used to inform on the state of a biological process, pathological condition or response to an intervention and are increasingly being used for predicting, diagnosing and prognosticating disease. They are also proving to be of use in the different forms of diabetes in both research and clinical settings. This review focuses on the β cell, addressing the potential utility of genetic markers, circulating molecules, immune cell phenotyping, and imaging approaches as biomarkers of cellular function and loss of this critical cell. Further, we consider how these biomarkers complement the more long-established, dynamic and often complex measurements of β-cell secretory function that themselves could be considered biomarkers.PMID:34180979 | DOI:10.1210/endrev/bnab021

Source: ENDOCR REV - June 28, 2021 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Steven E Kahn Yi-Chun Chen Nathalie Esser Austin J Taylor Dani ël H van Raalte Sakeneh Zraika C Bruce Verchere Source Type: research