Selective ablation of P53 in pancreatic beta cells fails to ameliorate glucose metabolism in genetic, dietary and pharmacological models of diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background Beta cell dysfunction and death are critical steps in the development of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes (T1D and T2D), but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Activation of the essential tumor suppressor and transcription factor P53 was linked to beta cell death in vitro and has been reported in several diabetes mouse models and beta cells of humans with T2D. Therefore, we investigated the beta cell specific role of P53 in beta cell dysfunction, cell death and development of diabetes in vivo.