GPR21 receptor as an innovative pharmacological target for type 2 diabetes
Aree / Gruppi di ricerca
Partecipanti al progetto
- Benetti Elisa (Coordinatore/trice)
Descrizione del progetto
Members of other units:
Gemma Kinsella (NUIM University-Maynooth-Ireland)
Sponsor:
Description:
The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been rising inexorably for the last few decades, and is now recognized as a worldwide epidemic. Unfortunately, despite several pharmacological strategies available, a lot of patients are unable to achieve the glycemic control, so the therapeutic need remains. A member of the G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family, GPR21, has been very recently identified as a diabetes-susceptibility gene suggesting its involvement in the diabetes pathogenesis. Analysis of a GPR21 knock-out mouse revealed that the deletion of this receptor improves glucose tolerance, insulinemia, and systemic insulin sensitivity by decreasing macrophage migration. The main aim of this project is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying GPR21 involvement in insulin resistance development. Advances in the study of GPR21 could lead to a new effective approach to the prevention and treatment o f type 2 diabetes.
Keywords:
Insulin resistance, GPR21, type 2 diabetes