Insulin plays a crucial role in regulating the
proper metabolic and energy balance. Once insulin
signal transmissions are decreased, this can lead to a
condition known as “insulin resistance”.
Difference mediators, such as pro-inflammatory
cytokines, free fatty acids, blood glucose and ROS
level can increase the activity of kinases, i.e. several
Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms, c-Jun N-terminal
kinases (JNK), Protein kinase A (PKA), Mammalian
Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) and Mitogen-Activated
Protein Kinase (MAPK), which affecting the signal of
insulin receptors, IRS, and downstream-located
effector molecules. Therefore, better understanding
on the molecular mechanisms of these pathways is
important for developing a more effective treatment
of insulin resistance and associated diseases.
This review summarizes the current knowledge
on the mechanism of insulin resistance, the diseases
associated with insulin resistance and biological effects
of recent agents, which are developed for increasing
insulin signaling, and are currently undergoing clinical
trials
Keywords
Insulin resistance lipotoxity glucotoxicity ER-stress New trend drugs