Abstract

Pancreatic β-cells are specialized to control blood glucose levels by producing and secreting the hormone insulin. Increasing evidence indicates that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling network has an important function in maintaining β-cell homeostasis. Thus, dysfunction of ER stress signaling has harmful effects on β-cell function, leading to β-cell dysfunction and death in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In this article, we will summarize the role of ER stress signaling in pancreatic β-cells.