Insulin signaling in health and disease.
The signaling pathways used by insulin have been identified [M. White, Insulin Signaling Pathway, Sci. STKE (Connections Map, as seen November 2003), http://stke.sciencemag.org/cgi/cm/cmp_12069]. Now our challenge is to understand how the failure of these signals is associated with obesity and the progressive failure of pancreatic beta cells that leads to diabetes. Whether better management of chronic inflammation can improve insulin action is an important area of investigation. Drugs that stimulate IRS2 (insulin receptor substrate protein 2) synthesis or signaling might be a good starting point. This knowledge will lead to rational strategies that prevent or cure diabetes.
White
Morris F
MF
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, 1 Joslin Place, Boston, MA 02215, USA. morris.white@joslin.harvard.edu
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; C526292:IRS1 protein, human; C526297:IRS2 protein, human; D007328:Insulin; D055504:Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C526295:Irs1 protein, mouse; C526298:Irs2 protein, mouse; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D013002:Somatomedins; D011972:Receptor, Insulin