Vol 61, No 4 (2010)
Review paper
Published online: 2010-08-31
Insulin as the main regulator of cellular glucose utilization - aetiological aspects of insulin resistance
Endokrynol Pol 2010;61(4):388-394.
Abstract
This review presents the advances in the molecular biology and the pathophysiology of insulin resistance with emphasis on disturbances
in cellular glucose transport. New scientific information about the structure and function of glucotransporters from the GLUT4 and SLGT
families underline their significance in endocrinopathies and metabolic disease pathogenesis as related to insulin resistance. The new
discoveries in this area also contribute to a better understanding of the regulation of insulin receptor and post-receptor reactivity by
hormones and by drugs. They refer to the regulation of glycaemia and to its disturbances in diabetes mellitus, particularly of type 2, to
metabolic syndrome, and, in general, to the pathogenesis of many syndromes and clinical disturbances caused by insulin resistance.
Impairment of cellular glucose transport may be one of the primary aetiological factors in this respect. Therefore, studies of cellular glucotransporters
expression and function promise new clinical and pharmacotherapeutic developments. Progress in this area has already
been transformed into many practical proposals which are improving clinical practice. (Pol J Endocrinol 2010; 61 (4): 388-394)
Keywords: cellular glucose transportglucotransportersexpression and action of glucotransportersinsulindiabetes mellitusinsulin resistance
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