Association between interlobular pancreatic adipose tissue and low glucose-induced insulin secretion by β-cells.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional ex vivo study of human cadaveric tissue specimens
PubMed 42284094 · doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00116.2026
What was done
Researchers analyzed pancreatic histology and functional data from 45 cadaveric organ donors using the PANC-DB database. They quantified fat infiltration and fibrosis on pancreatic histological sections and evaluated beta-cell function using glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Functional findings were also assessed in living pancreatic tissue slices.
What was found
In donors without diabetes, higher fat infiltration and larger adipocyte size within the pancreatic septum were associated with lower GSIS, a finding confirmed in living pancreatic tissue slices. This association was dependent on age and global adiposity but independent of pancreatic fibrosis. Interlobular adipocyte size correlated positively with body mass index, age, and HbA1c, and negatively with GSIS. The abstract reported no specific numerical values, effect sizes, or p-values.
Why it matters
This study suggests that specific anatomical localization and adipocyte enlargement within pancreatic septa, rather than total fat quantity or fibrosis, are linked to impaired human beta-cell insulin secretion.
Limits
The study is limited by a small sample size (n = 45 cadaveric donors) and a cross-sectional ex vivo design that cannot establish causality. The abstract omits all numerical values, confidence intervals, and exact p-values.
Cited by
- supports Ectopic fat accumulation within the pancreas reduces the amount of insulin secreted by pancreatic beta cells.