Fig. 2.

Proposed mechanisms by which Elovl6 modulates β-cell lipotoxicity during progression to T2DM. Obesity and its associated metabolic changes including glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and increased FFA delivery lead to palmitate- and oleate-induced β-cell dysfunction, inflammation, ER stress, and apoptosis in pancreatic islets. The loss of Elovl6 function inhibits the elongation of palmitate and synthesis of oleate, resulting in protection against impaired insulin secretion, inflammation, terminal UPR, and β-cell apoptosis in pancreatic islets, maintenance of β-cell compensation, and prevention of T2D