The blood vessel wall as an insulin target tissue

Study of the effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factors on blood vessel walls has been expedited by the ability to isolate and grow components of large and small blood vessels in pure culture. This paper summarizes current knowledge about the effects of insulin and related molecules on blood vessel derived cells, with an emphasis on: (1) peptide receptors, their regulation, and transport and processing of molecules through the endothelium; (2) metabolic and (3) mitogenic effects of insulin and related peptides on the blood vessel wall, with a discussion of major differences between large and small vessel endothelia; and (4) interactions of insulin with barrier endothelia, for example cerebral microvascular endothelium, site of the blood-brain barrier.