Pancreatic stellate cells reduce insulin expression and induce apoptosis in pancreatic β-cells

Islet fibrosis, pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, and β-cell apoptosis are features of pancreatic diabetes and type 2 diabetes; however, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), a major profibrogenic cell type in the pancreas, might affect the phenotype of pancreatic β-cells. α-Smooth muscle actin (a marker of activated PSC)-positive cells were found within and around the fibrotic...