Estrogen receptors: new players in diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a systemic disease characterized by imbalance of energy metabolism, which is mainly caused by inadequate insulin action. Recent data have revealed a surprising role for estradiol in regulating energy metabolism and opened new insights into the role of the two estrogen receptors, ERalpha and ERbeta, in this context. New findings on gene modulation by ERalpha and ERbeta of insulin-sensitive tissues indicate that estradiol participates in glucose homeostasis by modulating the expression of genes that are involved in insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake. Drugs that can selectively modulate the activity of either ERalpha or ERbeta in their interactions with target genes represent a promising frontier in diabetes mellitus coadjuvant therapy.
Barros
Rodrigo P A
RP
Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, S-141 86 Novum, Sweden.
Machado
Ubiratan Fabres
UF
Gustafsson
Jan-Ake
JA
D000818:Animals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000502:physiology*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D007328:Insulin; D004958:Estradiol; D005947:Glucose