Volume 17 Issue 12, December 2021

Up to one in four women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) also have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Under subcutaneous insulin administration, systemic hyperinsulinism might trigger PCOS in women predisposed to the condition. However, very little is known about the long-term consequences of androgen excess in women with T1DM, and management guidelines are lacking.

An emerging feature of type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus is their association with pulmonary fibrosis, which negatively affects the prognosis of patients. Here, we provide a brief update of the field and the remaining open questions.

A new paper reports that the protein isthmin 1 is secreted by mature adipocytes and triggers a signalling cascade similar to that of insulin. The novel adipokine acts through an unidentified receptor tyrosine kinase and, at pharmacological doses in mice, isthmin 1 ameliorates metabolic disturbances associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, including hyperglycaemia and liver steatosis.

The effects of the gut microbiota on human health are tremendous. Now, a study on the microbiota of wild mice sheds light on how the microorganisms that inhabit the gut between birth and weaning determine resistance to weight gain during adulthood.

By mapping the spatial organization of adipose tissue, Bäckdahl and colleagues identify adipocyte progenitor structures as well as three subclasses of adipocytes with different molecular functions, including insulin sensitivity and leptin signalling.

It is 100 years since the famous experiments that identified insulin and showed that this protein could be used to treat people with type 1 diabetes mellitus. This Review charts the developments in insulin research over the past century and highlights future directions for this field.

This Review highlights the ontogeny of thermogenic adipocytes, regulation of the adipose tissue microenvironment and inter-organ communication between adipose and other tissues. In addition, activation of thermogenic adipose tissue in humans and animal models is discussed, as well as the therapeutic potential of thermogenic adipose tissue.

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) integrates physiological functions and mood states associated with energy and glucose homeostasis. In this Review, Al-Massadi et al. describe how MCH regulates the hedonic component of food intake and discuss its potential as a therapeutic target.

A growing body of research suggests that prenatal exposure to paracetamol (APAP) might alter development and increase the risk of some reproductive, urogenital and neurodevelopmental disorders. This Consensus Statement calls for precautionary action, including a focused research effort, increasing awareness among health professionals and pregnant women and, whenever possible, minimizing use.