On the TRAIL of obesity and diabetes

Hanis H Harith; Margaret J Morris; Mary M Kavurma

doi:10.1016/j.tem.2013.07.001

On the TRAIL of obesity and diabetes

Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov;24(11):578-87. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2013.07.001. Epub 2013 Aug 12.

Authors

Hanis H Harith¹, Margaret J Morris, Mary M Kavurma

Affiliation

¹ Centre for Vascular Research, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400.

PMID: 23948591
DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2013.07.001

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been extensively studied for its preferential ability to induce apoptosis of cancer cells. Beyond the cytotoxic capacity of TRAIL, new physiological and pathological roles for TRAIL have been identified, and there is now growing evidence supporting its involvement in the development of obesity and diabetes. This review summarizes the most recent findings associating TRAIL with obesity and diabetes in both humans and experimental settings. We also present and discuss some of the reported controversies behind TRAIL signaling and function. Understanding TRAIL mechanism(s) in vivo and its involvement in disease may lead to novel strategies to combat the growing pandemic of obesity and diabetes worldwide.

Keywords: TRAIL; apoptosis; diabetes; non-apoptotic signaling; obesity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism*
Humans
Obesity / metabolism*
TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / metabolism*

Substances

TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand