Article Abstract:
Retinoid X receptor (RXR)-selective ligands activate dimers formed between RXR and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) or the orphan receptor LXR. Since PPARgamma is a target for nondiabetic agents, it was investigated whether these ligands affected insulin and glucose signalling. Findings showed that they not only sensitized insulin action in an animal model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and obesity, thus decreasing hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and hyperinsulinaemia, but that the effect was enhanced by PPARgamma agonists. These indicate that RXR ligands have potential as pharmacological agents for diabetes treatment.
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Article Abstract:
A discussion on obesity and type 2 diabetes is presented to illustrate the links between nutrient- and pathogen-sensing pathways and the interfacing of metabolic and inflammatory responses through these links as the mechanistic core of chronic and common metabolic diseases. It is inferred that obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are found to be closely associated with chronic inflammation characterized by abnormal cytokine production, increased acute-phase reactants and other mediators and activation of a network of inflammatory signaling pathways.
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Article Abstract:
Obesity is the main risk factor linked to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which is over-expressed in the adipose tissue of mice and humans, is thought to be associated with insulin resistance. A study of obese mice with mutated TNF-alpha genes confirms that it is an important mediator of insulin resistance. The study reveals that the muscle and fat of mice without circulating TNF-alpha show large increases in insulin-sensitivity, regardless of whether the obesity is dietary or genetic.
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