title: Identifying the links between obesity, insulin resistance and beta-cell function: potential role of adipocyte-derived cytokines in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.
abstract: A combination of insulin resistance and pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction underlies most cases of type 2 diabetes. While the interplay of these two impairments is believed to be important in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes, the mechanisms involved are unclear. A number of factors have been suggested as possibly linking insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have deleterious effects on both glucose homeostasis and beta-cell function, and can disrupt insulin signalling pathways in both pancreatic beta cells and liver and adipose tissue. The anti-inflammatory activity of the thiazolidinedione anti-diabetic agents is potentially beneficial, given the possible role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in linking insulin resistance with beta-cell dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Jean Mayer United States Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and the Division of Endocrinology, Tupper Research Institute, New England Medical Center, Boston MA, USA.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McDaniel
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000502:physiology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide