Exenatide enhances INS-1 rat pancreatic β‑cell mass by increasing the protein levels of adiponectin and reducing the levels of C-reactive protein.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a complex and heterogeneous disorder affecting >220 million individuals worldwide; this is projected to reach 366 million by 2030. Exenatide, a long‑acting glucagon‑like peptide 1 receptor agonist, exhibits potential in the treatment of T2MD due to its ability to increase β‑cell mass. However, the molecular mechanism by which exenatide increases β‑cell mass is yet to be elucidated. Exenatide function was explored in the INS‑1 rat pancreatic β‑cell line. Exenatide was found to increase adiponectin protein levels by 20% (P<0.05 versus the control group) and reduce the level of C‑reactive protein (CRP) by 50% (P<0.01 versus the control group) in INS‑1 cells, resulting in an increase in the INS‑1 rat pancreatic β‑cell mass by 20% (P<0.01 versus the control group). These findings suggest that exenatide may ameliorate T2DM by increasing adiponectin protein levels and reducing the level of CRP.