β-cell adaptation to glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are stress hormones primarily responsible for mobilizing glucose in the circulation. Insulin resistance and glucose intolerance are concerns in patients with endogenous overproduction of GCs or those prescribed GC-based therapy. Fransson and colleagues report a thorough characterization of a new mouse model,  finding that the model mimics the human setting well and that it could be a valuable model for studying the complex mechanisms behind the development of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes, as well as the multifaceted relations between GC excess and disease.

Read the full article at Fransson et al. (2013) Journal of Endocrinology 219; 231–241; DOI:10.1530/JOE-13-0189