title: Insulino-mimetic and anti-diabetic effects of zinc.
abstract: While it has long been known that zinc (Zn) is crucial for the proper growth and maintenance of normal biological functions, Zn has also been shown to exert insulin-mimetic and anti-diabetic effects. These insulin-like properties have been demonstrated in isolated cells, tissues, and different animal models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Zn treatment has been found to improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in rodent models of diabetes. In isolated cells, it enhances glucose transport, glycogen and lipid synthesis, and inhibits gluconeogenesis and lipolysis. The molecular mechanism responsible for the insulin-like effects of Zn compounds involves the activation of several key components of the insulin signaling pathways, which include the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/protein kinase B/Akt (PKB/Akt) pathways. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which Zn triggers the activation of these pathways remain to be clarified. In this review, we provide a brief history of zinc, and an overview of its insulin-mimetic and anti-diabetic effects, as well as the potential mechanisms by which zinc exerts these effects.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Montreal Diabetes Research Center, Research Center - Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) and Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada H1W 4A4.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vardatsikos
authors.forename: Nihar R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology*; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D006003:Glycogen; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017526:Receptor, IGF Type 1; D015032:Zinc