[Glucose and redox sensitive transcription factors: consequences on the insulin receptor]

During diabetes an oxidizing stress can be observed, whose origins are multiple. This stress can be regarded as a particular messenger, certainly modifying the transduction of the insulinic signal but also the activity of certain transcription factors. Indeed NF-kappa B activity is increased, while Sp1 activity drops in this context. NF-kappa B activation takes certainly part in vascular remodeling and plays a role in the genesis of the oxidative stress. Hence, NF-kappa B activity precociously increases in the states of insulin resistance before hyperglycemia sets in. Sp1 undergoes a significant fall in activity in the presence of glucose. This activity can be restored by antioxydants in the cell culture medium, Sp1 being necessary to insulin receptor expression, the question arises whether this drop in activity modifies significantly the insulin expression.