Research
Hormonal
Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) preserve beta-cell mass and function by reducing apoptosis and islet amyloid, acting via PPAR-gamma activation.
TZDs are a class of drugs that can help protect your pancreas's beta-cells from dying. They work by activating PPAR-gamma, which reduces cell death and amyloid buildup, thereby improving insulin secretion.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The TZDs improve insulin secretory capacity, decrease beta-cell apoptosis, and reduce islet cell amyloid with maintenance of neogenesis. The direct effects are via peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma activation in pancreatic islets, with TZDs consistently improving basal beta-cell function.
Why this rating
The paper cites significant clinical evidence of effects on human beta-cell function.
Source
β-Cell Failure in Diabetes and Preservation by Clinical Treatment
B L Wajchenberg · Endocrine Reviews · 2007
DOI 10.1210/10.1210/er.2006-0038
narrative_reviewCited 715×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity are major factors causing progressive beta-cell failure in type 2 diabetes through apoptosis.Strong
- Short-term intensive insulin therapy administered at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes can restore beta-cell function and induce temporary remission.Good
- GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., exenatide, liraglutide) and DPP-IV inhibitors preserve beta-cell mass by stimulating proliferation, neogenesis, and inhibiting apoptosis.Moderate
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