Overexpression of insulin receptor partially improves obese and diabetic phenotypes in db/db mice.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the major health concern among the world. Several treatment options for T2DM are in clinical use, including injecting insulin, promoting insulin secretion by insulin secretagogues, and improving insulin sensitivity by insulin sensitizers. However, increasing the amount of insulin receptor in insulin-target tissues has not been explored.

Hypothalamic SIRT1 prevents age-associated weight gain by improving leptin sensitivity in mice.

Aims/hypothesis: Obesity is associated with ageing and increased energy intake, while restriction of energy intake improves health and longevity in multiple organisms; the NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is implicated in this process. Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) of the hypothalamus are critical for energy balance regulation, and the level of SIRT1 protein decreases with age in the ARC. In the current study we tested whether conditional Sirt1 overexpression in mouse POMC or AgRP neurons prevents age-associated weight gain and diet-induced obesity.