Iron overload increases the risk for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes; however, the exact mechanisms that link the two are unknown. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation , Donald McClain and colleagues at the University of Utah report that serum ferritin levels could predict the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome in humans and were inversely associated with the expression of adiponectin, a blood glucose-regulating protein produced by fat cells (adipocytes). Treatment of adipocytes with iron decreased adiponectin levels, indicating that adipocytes play a central role in nutrient and iron detection. Further, reduction of serum ferritin levels in human patients increased insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. This study underscores the importance of adipocytes in metabolic diseases and points to iron reduction as a possible treatment for diabetes.
TITLE:
Adipocyte Iron Regulates Adiponectin and Insulin Sensitivity
AUTHOR CONTACT:
Don McClain
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Phone: 801 585-0954; Fax: 801 585-0956; E-mail: donald.mcclain@hsc.utah.edu
Journal of Clinical Investigation