糖尿病 z-bo 2020-09-15 424

　　A new study completed by researchers at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute in the United States has identified a new signal that triggers insulin resistance events that lead to obesity. This signal can cause inflammation of adipose tissue and metabolic diseases. This research, published in Cell Metabolism, shows that blocking this signal can prevent the development of metabolic diseases, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases caused by obesity-related inflammation.

　　Research has discovered the precise mechanism that can explain how inflammation occurs in obesity. The results are important because we know that inflammation of adipose tissue leads to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and a major feature of type 2 diabetes. If we can suppress obesity-related inflammation, we may be able to prevent metabolic abnormalities, including Type 2 diabetes related to obesity.

　　NBR1 protein causes inflammation

　　Researchers compared the levels of NBR1 protein between healthy men and women with different body mass index (BMI) and obesity levels with men with metabolic syndrome. The analysis found that men with metabolic syndrome have higher levels of NBR1, and higher levels of NBR1 are associated with metabolic changes and inflammatory markers, which provides the initial clues to confirm that NBR1 plays a role in obesity-related inflammation and metabolic syndrome effect.

　　How does NBR1 work

　　To understand how NRB1 works, the research team gave mice (where the NBR1 gene was inactivated) a high-fat diet. Compared with normal mice, mice without NBR1 have less inflammation and better glucose tolerance, indicating that the protein promotes inflammation and glucose intolerance.

　　Researchers also proved that NBR1 mediates the above-mentioned effects by binding to a protein called MEKK3. When NBR1 interacts with MEKK3, they can cause inflammation of adipose tissue. MEKK3 is a very attractive target protein because the targeted effects of small molecules of this protein can be used to develop new drugs to treat insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

　　The next goal of the research is to find a MEKK3-NBR1 inhibitor that reverses insulin resistance and analyze its potential for treating type 2 diabetes.