title: Insulin, synaptic function, and opportunities for neuroprotection.
abstract: A steadily growing number of studies have begun to establish that the brain and insulin, while traditionally viewed as separate, do indeed have a relationship. The uptake of pancreatic insulin, along with neuronal biosynthesis, provides neural tissue with the hormone. As well, insulin acts upon a neuronal receptor that, although a close reflection of its peripheral counterpart, is characterized by unique structural and functional properties. One distinction is that the neural variant plays only a limited part in neuronal glucose transport. However, a number of other roles for neural insulin are gradually emerging; most significant among these is the modulation of ligand-gated ion channel (LGIC) trafficking. Notably, insulin has been shown to affect the tone of synaptic transmission by regulating cell-surface expression of inhibitory and excitatory receptors. The manner in which insulin regulates receptor movement may provide a cellular mechanism for insulin-mediated neuroprotection in the absence of hypoglycemia and stimulate the exploration of new therapeutic opportunities.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mielke
authors.forename: Yu-Tian
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D011972:Receptor, Insulin