Galectin-3 Impairs Calcium Transients and β-Cell Function

In diabetes, macrophages and inflammation are increased in the islets, along with β-cell dysfunction. Here, we demonstrate that galectin-3 (Gal3), mainly produced and secreted by macrophages, is elevated in islets from both high-fat diet (HFD)-fed and diabetic db/db mice. Gal3 acutely reduces glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) inβ-cell lines and primary islets in mice and humans. Importantly, Gal3 binds to calcium voltage-gated channel …