IRIG: Ceramide in insulin resistance in "Cell Metabolism"

Although it is generally accepted that FFA is a risk factor for insulin resistance, it is quite controversial about the signaling molecules for FFA-induced insulin resistance. Ceramide and DAG are two derivatives of FFA. It has been confusing about which of the two FFA derivatives is the "dominant player" in the translation of FFA signal into insulin resistance. Each molecule is supported by multiple published studies of many labs. In the current issue of "Cell Metabolism", a study using transgenic and pharmacological approaches demonstrated that ceramide is the "dominant player". Inhibition of ceramide  led to blocking of insulin resistance in three models: glucocorticoid, FFA and obesity. In these conditions, DAG level was not changed by ceramide inhibition. See attache PDF file.    
     
     Regarding adiponectin receptor knockout mice, there are two additional studies published in "Diabetes" and Endocrinology" this month along with
the one in "Nature Medicine". It seems that the metabolic phenotypes are not consistent among the three independent studies. Attached are the PDF files from Diabetes and Endocrinology. These two papers are recommended by Drs. Lu Cai at the University of Louisville, and Jianhua Shao at the University of Kentucky.   
 
by Jianping at PBRC

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Jianping Ye, MD
Professor of Molecular Biology
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
Louisiana State University System
6400 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 763-3163
Fax: (225) 763-2525
E-mail:
yej@pbrc.edu
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