Liver and insulin resistance: New wine in old bottle!!!

Eur J Pharmacol. 2019 Nov 5:862:172657. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2019.172657. Epub 2019 Sep 6.

Abstract

Hepatic and systemic insulin resistance form the core of metabolic syndrome which is also associated with cardiovascular abnormalities, inflammation, and dyslipidemia. Skeletal muscles and adipose tissues are two main target organs for glucose disposal and hence have been studied for insulin resistance too. The liver is the first organ where insulin reaches after being secreted from pancreas and liver regulates glucose storage and disposal as per the body's demand in response to insulin. There are multiple mechanisms, which regulate hepatic insulin signaling and liver is now emerging as an important target involving several intracellular players. In the current review, we would like to put forward the data and facts deploying liver and its action on lipid regulation and insulin resistance. The liver is known as organ mediating insulin resistance (old bottle) but with advanced research and understanding of detailed and novel mechanisms (new wine), future research can be directed towards developing target-specific agents.

Keywords: Diabetes; Inflammation; Lipids; Metabolic syndrome; Obesity.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Discovery
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Insulin
  • Glucose