Antioxidant effect of angiotensin (1-7) in the protection of pancreatic ß cell function

Zhang, Fen; Liu, Chang; Wang, Lei; Cao, Xi; Wang, Ying Ying; Yang, Jin Kui

Islet β cells detect changes in blood glucose and maintain glucose homeostasis. The mitochondrial energy metabolism conditions in pancreatic β cells are crucial for the capacity of sensing blood glucose levels (28) . The importance of mitochondria in type 2 diabetes has been demonstrated by the identification of causal mutations in the mitochondrial DNA in pancreatic β cells (29, 30) . Excessive AngII can increase mitochondrial ROS production, and reduce the mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory control ratio (21) . Recent studies have shown that AT1R blockers can protect the mitochondria in the kidney in a type 1 diabetes mouse model. In the present study, Ang (1-7) restored the impaired MMP and exhibited protective effects on mitochondrial function. The protective effect on mitochondrial function is likely to be one of the mechanisms underlying the antioxidant effect of Ang (1-7) in pancreatic β cells.