Molecular mechanisms interlinking biological clock and diabetes mellitus: Effective tools for better management

Abstract

Background and aim: Advances in circadian biology have delineated the link between perturbed biological clock and metabolic diseases. Circadian disturbances are associated with the onset, progression and severity of diabetes mellitus.

Methods: We conducted a literature survey using the key terms - circadian, diabetes, circadian and diabetes, clock genes and diabetes, chronotherapy and peripheral clocks in science direct, PubMed, Google, and Embase till August 23, 2021.

Results: Misalignment between peripheral clocks located in pancreas, intestine, liver, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle and with the central oscillator alters the secretion of insulin, incretins, adipokines and soluble factors resulting in the derangement of metabolism leading to chronic hyperglycemia.

Conclusion: Management of circadian health restores glucose homeostasis confirming that chronotherapy will help in the management of diabetes mellitus. Further, administration of circadian clock modifiers has proved potential therapeutic agents to treat diabetes mellitus. The aim of the review is to highlight the molecular mechanisms linking biological clock and diabetes mellitus and how they are useful for effective management of the disease.

Keywords: Chronotherapy; Circadian; Clock genes; Diabetes; Peripheral clocks; SCN.