Apelin to rescue diabeticsNovember 05, 2008Sugar is naturally present in the blood in the form of glucose and is stored in the liver or adipose tissue (fat) thanks to the action of insulin. Glucose is stored or directly used to ensure satisfactory function of the heart, brain and so on according to the body's demands. In certain cases, this mechanism may deteriorate either because insulin is no longer produced (type 1 diabetes), or because the receptors located on the surface of liver cells are desensitized (type II diabetes). Consequently, the cell is no longer capable of assimilating glucose. Such a dysfunction causes a rise in blood sugar levels leading to the onset of numerous complications. Philippe Valet's team has just found that our cells are equipped with a second pathway for the assimilation of glucose. This discovery is based on a protein called "apelin".1 This protein is not only a "key" that is different from insulin; it also passes through a different receptor or "doorway". In type II diabetics where the receptor or doorway is impaired rather than the key, this discovery makes it possible to envisage effective treatment. The results observed by Philippe Valet's team make it possible to short-circuit this mechanism and achieve sugar assimilation by a completely different pathway from that mediated by insulin. Normally, this second pathway is only responsible for a small proportion of sugar integration. However, as proved by tests conducted in mice by Inserm researchers, in the case of type II diabetes, activation of this second route improves the regulation of blood sugar levels. "We now have to check the action of this protein in man. In parallel, we are developing a synthetic molecule that may be used if the tests in man are positive," concluded Philippe Valet. INSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Glucose Current Events and Glucose News Articles Scientists unlock clues for tailoring corn plant for food, energy needs Scientists have long known that the offspring of two inbred strains tend to be superior to both their parents. Now, a team of researchers including a University of Florida geneticist has discovered clues to why that might be the case for one of the most important crops in the world: corn. Scripps research scientists find new link between insulin and core body temperature A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a direct link between insulin-a hormone long associated with metabolism and metabolic disorders such as diabetes-and core body temperature. Cancers' Sweet Tooth May Be Weakness The pedal-to-the-metal signals driving the growth of several types of cancer cells lead to a common switch governing the use of glucose, researchers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have discovered. Scientists find molecular trigger that helps prevent aging and disease Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine set out to address a question that has been challenging scientists for years: How do dietary restriction-and the reverse, overconsumption-produce protective effects against aging and disease? Night Beat, Overtime and a Disrupted Sleep Pattern Can Harm Officers' Health A police officer who works the night shift, typically from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., already is at a disadvantage when it comes to getting a good "night's" sleep. Fat collections linked to decreased heart function Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that fat collection in different body locations, such as around the heart and the aorta and within the liver, are associated with certain decreased heart functions. New study links vitamin D deficiency to cardiovascular disease and death While mothers have known that feeding their kids milk builds strong bones, a new study by researchers at the Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City suggests that Vitamin D contributes to a strong and healthy heart as well - and that inadequate levels of the vitamin may significantly increase a person's risk of stroke, heart disease, and death, even among people who've never had heart disease. Researchers discover mechanism of insulin production that can lead to better treatment for diabetes How a specific gene within the pancreas affects secretion of insulin has been discovered by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with Japanese and American universities. New paper describes connections between Circadian and metabolic systems A paper by University of Notre Dame biologist Giles Duffield and a team of researchers offers new insights into a gene that plays a key role in modulating the body's Circadian system and may also simultaneously modulate its metabolic system. Sweet as can be: how E. coli gets ahead Scientists at the University of York have discovered how certain bacteria such as Escherichia coli have evolved to capture rare sugars from their environment giving them an evolutionary advantage in naturally competitive environments like the human gut. More Glucose Current Events and Glucose News Articles |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||