Rosiglitazone counteracts palmitate-induced beta-cell dysfunction by suppression of MAP kinase, inducible nitric oxide synthase and caspase 3 activities.
Chronic exposure of pancreatic islets to elevated levels of palmitate leads to beta-cell dysfunction. We examined possible involvement of mitogenactivated protein kinases (MAPKs) and caspase-3 in palmitate-induced beta-cell dysfunction and tested the influence of the anti-diabetic drug rosiglitazone (ROZ). Palmitate amplified glucose-stimulated augmentation of intracellular free calcium ([Ca(2+)](