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news.Researchers have shown that increasing the concentration of a key regulator involved in glucose metabolism can improve the way the liver produces and disposes of the sugar glucose.
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The investigators from the University of Minnesota hope that by finding ways to increase the concentration of this regulator they may one day find a treatment for diabetes and obesity.
The liver plays an important role in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In diabetic patients, the liver makes too much glucose, and muscles and fat are unable to take up or transport glucose so cells can use it.
“We thought if we could find a way to increase the amount of glucose the liver takes out of the blood, and decrease the amount produced by the liver, overall blood sugar levels would decrease,” said Alex Lange, associate professor of biochemistry at the University of Minnesota.
This process is dependant on a small regulator molecule, called fructose-2, 6-bisphosphate, that helps control glucose metabolism, or how the body uses and processes sugars.
Using a mouse model, biochemistry researchers increased the concentration of the regulator molecule, and found that the mice’s blood sugar went down. The mice were using more and producing less glucose.
The scientists also noted other changes in the cell that have implications for obesity. When the concentration of the regulator was increased, there were changes in the food intake and overall metabolism. Just like in humans, when food intake is decreased and energy expenditure is increased, weight loss occurs.