Of rodents and men: species-specific glucose regulation and type 2 diabetes research

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
• Translational Medicine
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a global epidemic, necessitating effective research models.
• Rodent models are extensively used for T2DM research, generating substantial scientific literature.
• Despite extensive research, human T2DM pathogenesis and prevention strategies remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reasons for the translational discrepancy between rodent models and human type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• To analyze experimental evidence from rodent models of T2DM in comparison to human data.
• To highlight the need for human-based research strategies in T2DM studies.

Main Methods:

• Review and analysis of experimental evidence from rodent models of T2DM.
• Comparative analysis of glucose regulation mechanisms between rodent models and human data.
• Examination of species-specific differences at multiple biological levels.

Main Results:

• Significant species-specific differences exist between rodent models and humans in glucose regulation.
• Discrepancies were observed at the levels of gene/protein expression, cellular signaling, and organ function.
• An immutable translational gap is evident due to these fundamental species-specific barriers.

Conclusions:

• Rodent models present significant limitations for fully understanding human T2DM pathogenesis.
• The translational gap hinders the development of effective pharmacotherapeutics and prevention strategies for T2DM.
• There is an urgent need to prioritize and develop human-based research approaches to combat the T2DM epidemic.