The role of HSP70 on ENPP1 expression and insulin-receptor activation.

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) inhibits insulin-receptor (IR) signaling and, when over-expressed, induces insulin resistance in vitro and in vivo. Understanding the regulation of ENPP1 expression may, thus, unravel new molecular mechanisms of insulin resistance. Recent data point to a pivotal role of the ENPP1 3'UTR, in modulating ENPP1 mRNA stability and expression.

Akt2 Gene common allelic variants in insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome.

Background And Aim: Several lines of evidence indicate that glucose homeostasis may be under the control of Akt2 and it can therefore be seen as a candidate gene for human insulin resistance (IR) and related phenotypes. The aim of our study was the identification of Akt2 common allelic variants that might modulate susceptibility to IR and related metabolic abnormalities.

Methods And Results: The Akt2 gene (exons, 5' and 3' regulatory regions) was re-sequenced in samples of 50 blood donors from the Gargano region.

The allelic variant of LAR gene promoter -127 bp T-->A is associated with reduced risk of obesity and other features related to insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance, which is pathogenic for type 2 diabetes (T2D), is under the control of largely unknown genetic determinants. LAR, a protein-tyrosine phosphatase which inhibits insulin signalling, is overexpressed in animal and human models of insulin resistance. We studied the entire sequence of the LAR gene by SSCP analysis and automatic DNA sequencing, with the aim of verifying whether its sequence variants might be associated with insulin resistance.