Insulin resistance in the defense against obesity.
In the face of the current obesity epidemic, the nature of the relationship between overnutrition and type 2 diabetes is of great importance. Obesity can be considered a state of excessive insulin action that elicits a series of cellular homeostatic responses, producing systemic insulin resistance. These responses occur in four steps: homologous desensitization to insulin action, leptin secretion, inflammation, and, finally, a counter-inflammatory phase that serves to conserve energy storage. The molecular mechanisms underlying these steps are discussed in the context of potential new therapeutic approaches.
Life Sciences Institute, Departments of Internal Medicine and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. saltiel@lsi.umich.edu
Alan R
AR
Saltiel
D000818:Animals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin