Selective Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-α Modulator K-877 Stimulated the Expression of ABCA1 in Pancreatic Beta Cells in a Glucotoxic State

ATP-binding cassette protein A1 (ABCA1) is a critical regulator of cholesterol and phospholipid efflux from cells to HDL. Additionally, ABCA1 is important for insulin secretion, as evidenced by impaired glucose tolerance and decreased insulin secretion in mice lacking ABCA1 in pancreatic β cells. Long-term hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus, a phenomenon that causes dysfunction of pancreatic β-cells and insulin resistance, is called "glucotoxicity" and is clinically important as it aggravates diabetes. Here, we investigated the effects of pemafibrate (K-877), a novel selective PPARα modulator, on insulin secretion under glucotoxic conditions.