Figure 6.

Under insulin resistance condition, adipocytes are not able to respond to insulin stimuli and downregulate lipolysis. In this way, an uncontrolled release of FFA causes ectopic lipid deposition in body tissues and an augment of lipid intermediates derivate from metabolism (DAG and AcylCoA), which together lead to lipotoxicity and further insulin resistance. On the other hand, FFA are not fully processed by mitochondria triggering incomplete β-oxidation of them, further ROS production and oxidative stress. Finally, lipotoxicity and oxidative stress they both concur to alterations in cells homeostasis and β-cells failure. AcylCoA: Acetyl coenzyme A; DAG: Dyacylglicerol; FFA: Free fatty acids; IR: Insulin resistance; ROS: Radical oxygen species.