Review
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 9, 367-377 (May 2008) | doi:10.1038/nrm2391
Article series: Mechanisms of disease
Adipocyte dysfunctions linking obesity to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
Adilson Guilherme1, Joseph V. Virbasius1, Vishwajeet Puri1 & Michael P. Czech1 About the authors
Abstract
Acquired resistance to the action of insulin to stimulate glucose transport in skeletal muscle is associated with obesity and promotes the development of type 2 diabetes. In skeletal muscle, insulin resistance can result from high levels of circulating fatty acids that disrupt insulin signalling pathways. However, the severity of insulin resistance varies greatly among obese people. Here we postulate that this variability might reflect differences in levels of lipid-droplet proteins that promote the sequestration of fatty acids within adipocytes in the form of triglycerides, thereby lowering exposure of skeletal muscle to the inhibitory effects of fatty acids.
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Author affiliations
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA.
Correspondence to: Michael P. Czech1 Email: Michael.Czech@umassmed.edu