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Production and Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Cancers
07:17

Production and Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Cancers

Published on: November 21, 2011

Reactive oxygen species enhance insulin sensitivity

Kim Loh1, Haiyang Deng, Atsushi Fukushima

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia.

Cell Metabolism
|October 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Mice lacking glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) showed improved insulin sensitivity and were protected from diet-induced insulin resistance. This suggests reactive oxygen species (ROS) enhance insulin signaling in vivo.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cellular Biology
  • Metabolic Diseases

Background:

  • Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is implicated in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
  • Physiological ROS may modulate cell signaling by oxidizing protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of glutathione peroxidase 1 (Gpx1) in diet-induced insulin resistance.
  • To determine if ROS signaling enhances insulin sensitivity in vivo.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Gpx1 knockout (Gpx1(-/-)) mice fed a high-fat diet.
  • Assessed insulin sensitivity, glucose uptake, and PTP oxidation.
  • Administered the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine.

Main Results:

  • Gpx1(-/-) mice were protected from high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance.
  • Insulin sensitivity in Gpx1(-/-) mice was linked to enhanced phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt signaling and muscle glucose uptake.
  • Antioxidant treatment reversed the increased insulin sensitivity.
  • Observed enhanced oxidation of PTEN, a PTP that negatively regulates PI3K signaling.

Conclusions:

  • These findings provide causal evidence that ROS enhance insulin signaling in vivo.
  • Targeting ROS elimination pathways may offer therapeutic strategies for insulin resistance.

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