A recent review paper published in the journal Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism has unveiled significant advancements in understanding the mechanisms underlying type 2 diabetes, presenting new therapeutic targets to fight the disease. This chronic condition, characterized by elevated fasting glucose levels due to insulin resistance, poses a significant health challenge globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers type 2 diabetes mellitus one of the pandemics of the twenty-first century.
The study, led by the UB Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), the Sant Joan de Deu Research Institute (IRSJD), the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences at the University of Barcelona, and the Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases (CIBERDEM), involved notable researchers including Professor Manuel Vazquez-Carrera, Emma Barroso, Javier Jurado-Aguilar, Xavier Palomer, and Professor Walter Wahli from the University of Lausanne.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is marked by high levels of circulating glucose due to a deficient insulin response, leading to severe organ damage. A significant issue in these patients is the hyperactivation of the glucose synthesis pathway in the liver, known as gluconeogenesis. This process, which contributes to elevated blood glucose levels, is currently controlled by drugs like metformin. However, new factors influencing hepatic gluconeogenesis have been identified, offering potential new treatment avenues.
Professor Manuel Vazquez-Carrera highlighted that growth differentiation factor (GDF15) has been found to reduce the levels of proteins involved in hepatic gluconeogenesis. This discovery could pave the way for new therapies targeting this pathway to better manage blood glucose levels in diabetic patients.
Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of exploring pathways like TGF-b, which plays a critical role in the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD), a condition often coexisting with type 2 diabetes. TGF-b is implicated in liver fibrosis progression and increased hepatic gluconeogenesis, contributing to worsening diabetes. By studying the TGF-b pathway’s involvement in hepatic gluconeogenesis regulation, researchers hope to achieve improved glycemic control and combat the progression of type 2 diabetes more effectively
