Exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, inhibits cell apoptosis induced by lipotoxicity in pancreatic β-cell line

► Exendin-4 protected MIN6 cells against lipotoxicity by inhibiting cell apoptosis. ► Exendin-4 protected MIN6 cells from lipotoxicity partly via PI3K/PKB pathway. ► Exendin-4 exerted an anti-apoptotic effect partly via mitochondrial pathways. ► Exendin-4 enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in a lipotoxic environment.