Type 2 diabetes and obesity now amount to a worldwide epidemic and predisposes people to numerous complications such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, and certain types of cancer. Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin action, either inadequate insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells or decreased insulin sensitivity in the liver, muscle, and adipose tissues. Obesity results from excess energy intake relative to expenditure. In this regard, neuronal control of appetite, the effect of exercise on multiple systems, and adaptive thermogenesis in adipose tissue are areas of active investigation. While pharmacological treatment for diabetes and surgical treatment for morbid obesity has been significantly advanced over the last decade, there is no cure for these diseases, especially for type 1 diabetes. Further understanding of the tissues and cells mediating systemic glucose and energy homeostasis has been anticipated to develop novel therapeutics. Moreover, stress-dependent changes or fluctuations in cellular identity have been reported in many cell types in this research field, representing a unique aspect of cell-fate determination and maintenance in biology.

This method collection aims to highlight current experimental methodologies to perform molecular and functional analysis of pancreatic β cells, hepatocytes, myocytes, adipocytes, and various immune cells such as macrophages, neurons, and so on. This collection aims to provide easier access to existing methodologies and enhance standardized and reproducible experiments in the field toward a better understanding of glucose and energy homeostasis.