title: Insulin action in brain regulates systemic metabolism and brain function.
abstract: Insulin receptors, as well as IGF-1 receptors and their postreceptor signaling partners, are distributed throughout the brain. Insulin acts on these receptors to modulate peripheral metabolism, including regulation of appetite, reproductive function, body temperature, white fat mass, hepatic glucose output, and response to hypoglycemia. Insulin signaling also modulates neurotransmitter channel activity, brain cholesterol synthesis, and mitochondrial function. Disruption of insulin action in the brain leads to impairment of neuronal function and synaptogenesis. In addition, insulin signaling modulates phosphorylation of tau protein, an early component in the development of Alzheimer disease. Thus, alterations in insulin action in the brain can contribute to metabolic syndrome, and the development of mood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kleinridders
authors.affiliation: Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ferris
authors.affiliation: Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: Weikang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Section on Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Joslin Diabetes Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA c.ronald.kahn@joslin.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: C Ronald
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D011972:Receptor, Insulin