Liver, the chemical factory of body, responsible for regulating many functions of body through different proteins.
One of the key functions of liver is to regulate glucose, when in excess store in form of glycogen and and during need break glycogen to glucose. These require the presence of insulin.
Image via Wikipedia
In diabetes, this regulatory mechanism goes wrong. Scientists are struggling hard to figure it out; what exactly goes wrong in liver to pump out more glucose.
Researchers at the John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a powerful molecular pathway that regulates the liver's management of insulin and new glucose production.
The researchers studied a family of proteins called Foxhead box or FOX in mice; and identified that too much of FOX06 gives rise to signs of metabolic syndrome; characterized by increased blood sugar, insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance; which can lead to frank diabetes later on.
Blocking the protein markedly reduced liver production of glucose, although blood sugar did not completely normalize. Within two weeks of treatment, there was significant improvement in blood sugar and glucose metabolism in diabetic mice.
Tests with human liver cells echoed the importance of FOX06's role in glucose production.
It is hoped that If FOX06 activity can be inhibited that may possibly slow the liver's production of glucose in patients with diabetes and better control blood sugar levels.
One of the key functions of liver is to regulate glucose, when in excess store in form of glycogen and and during need break glycogen to glucose. These require the presence of insulin.
Image via WikipediaIn diabetes, this regulatory mechanism goes wrong. Scientists are struggling hard to figure it out; what exactly goes wrong in liver to pump out more glucose.
Researchers at the John G. Rangos Sr. Research Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a powerful molecular pathway that regulates the liver's management of insulin and new glucose production.
The researchers studied a family of proteins called Foxhead box or FOX in mice; and identified that too much of FOX06 gives rise to signs of metabolic syndrome; characterized by increased blood sugar, insulin resistance and impaired glucose tolerance; which can lead to frank diabetes later on.
Blocking the protein markedly reduced liver production of glucose, although blood sugar did not completely normalize. Within two weeks of treatment, there was significant improvement in blood sugar and glucose metabolism in diabetic mice.
Tests with human liver cells echoed the importance of FOX06's role in glucose production.
It is hoped that If FOX06 activity can be inhibited that may possibly slow the liver's production of glucose in patients with diabetes and better control blood sugar levels.
