Title |
Zinc transporters and insulin resistance: therapeutic implications for type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease
|
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Published in |
Journal of Biomedical Science, November 2017
|
DOI | 10.1186/s12929-017-0394-0 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Shaghayegh Norouzi, John Adulcikas, Sukhwinder Singh Sohal, Stephen Myers |
Abstract |
Zinc is a metal ion that is essential for growth and development, immunity, and metabolism, and therefore vital for life. Recent studies have highlighted zinc's dynamic role as an insulin mimetic and a cellular second messenger that controls many processes associated with insulin signaling and other downstream pathways that are amendable to glycemic control. Mechanisms that contribute to the decompartmentalization of zinc and dysfunctional zinc transporter mechanisms, including zinc signaling are associated with metabolic disease, including type 2 diabetes. The actions of the proteins involved in the uptake, storage, compartmentalization and distribution of zinc in cells is under intense investigation. Of these, emerging research has highlighted a role for several zinc transporters in the initiation of zinc signaling events in cells that lead to metabolic processes associated with maintaining insulin sensitivity and thus glycemic homeostasis. This raises the possibility that zinc transporters could provide novel utility to be targeted experimentally and in a clinical setting to treat patients with insulin resistance and thus introduce a new class of drug target with utility for diabetes pharmacotherapy. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 109 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Master | 17 | 16% |
Student > Bachelor | 15 | 14% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 11 | 10% |
Other | 8 | 7% |
Researcher | 8 | 7% |
Other | 10 | 9% |
Unknown | 40 | 37% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 17 | 16% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 16 | 15% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 9 | 8% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 8 | 7% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 6 | 6% |
Other | 11 | 10% |
Unknown | 42 | 39% |