Open Funding

Institution:

Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Plymouth

Recipient:

Professor N G Morgan

Project:

Molecular mechanisms involved in the cytoprotective actions of mono-unsaturated fatty acids in pancreatic beta-cells

Summary:

The incidence of type 2 diabetes is rising rapidly in the UK and the condition is increasingly being seen in young people as well as those who are older. This appears to be associated with escalating levels of obesity within the population since there is evidence that elevated circulating levels of fatty acids may cause dysfunction and, ultimately, the death of the insulin-secreting beta-cells in the pancreas. We are studying this process using beta-cells cultured under laboratory conditions and have made a surprising observation. We find that, while some fatty acids are poorly tolerated by the cells, others are extremely beneficial. Indeed, a certain sub-group of fatty acids appears to be able to overcome the effects of various toxic molecules in beta-cells, suggesting that these particular fatty acids activate a very powerful survival pathway. This project will investigate the actions of the relevant fatty acids to understand how and why they protect the beta-cells. It is hoped that this information may then open the way to the discovery of new therapeutic targets that might be used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes.

Amount:

£30,000 (one year)