title: A new biology of diabetes revealed by leptin.
abstract: A variety of leptin actions require a re-examination of classic concepts of metabolic diseases. Here we present evidence for two physiologic pathways: a pathway that protects nonadipose tissues from overaccumulation of potentially toxic lipids and unrecognized paracrine interactions between α and β cells revealed by leptin's ability to suppress diabetic hyperglucagonemia. These observations strongly point to new therapeutic possibilities for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Touchstone Diabetes Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9038, USA; VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX 75216, USA. Electronic address: roger.unger@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Roger H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9038, USA.
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002518:Ceramides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D051102:Serine C-Palmitoyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D051102:Serine C-Palmitoyltransferase; D005947:Glucose