Hypothalamic-mediated control of glucose balance in the presence and absence of insulin
Teppei Fujikawa1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hypothalamic Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA, Roberto Coppari2Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hypothalamic Research, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
2Department of Cellular Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, Geneva 1211, Switzerland
Received: February 19, 2014Accepted: February 28, 2014Published: March 2, 2014
Diabetes afflicts hundreds of millions worldwide. People affected by type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM; the insulin-deficient form of diabetes) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM; the insulin-resistant form of diabetes) have significantly reduced life expectancy compared to normal individuals. This is due in part to the fact that (despite improvements) current anti-diabetic approaches are suboptimal. Indeed, severe morbidities (e.g.: cardiovascular disease, hypertension) are still too often associated with diabetes. Recent preclinical results indicate that different types of hypothalamic neurons are endowed with the ability to mediate the hyperglycemia-lowering action of the adipocyte-derived hormone leptin in an insulin-dependent and insulin-independent fashion. These results may pave the way for better anti-diabetic approaches and therefore positively impact on life expectancy of diabetic subjects
