Expression of selenoprotein P in beta cells

Progressive loss of pancreatic beta cell mass is a crucial feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus. As beta cells express very low amounts of the antioxidant enzymes, they appear to be particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Steinbrenner et al. investigated the pancreatic expression pattern and regulation of selenoprotein P (Sepp1), which may serve as an additional antioxidant enzyme inside and outside of cells. This study shows that pancreatic islets express relatively high levels of Sepp1 that may fulfill a function in antioxidant protection of beta cells. Downregulation of Sepp1 expression by high glucose might thus contribute to glucotoxicity in beta cells. Steinbrenner et al. (2013) Journal of Molecular Endocrinology 50, 31-42.

Read the full article at DOI: 10.1530/JME-12-0105.