The protective effect of amylin in type 2 diabetes: Yes or no

Abstract

Amylin, which is also called a human islet amyloid polypeptide, is a peptide hormone made up of 37 amino acids that is released from pancreatic β cells. It helps keep blood sugar levels stable by controlling the release of insulin and glucagon. Various studies have indicated its involvement in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) through the induction of apoptosis in pancreatic cells. Conversely, other studies found that amylin plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of T2D by affecting the release of insulin and glucagon. Therefore, amylin has protective and detrimental effects on the pathogenesis of T2D. Consequently, this review aims to discuss the beneficial and detrimental roles of amylin in T2D.