Glucose metabolism in insulin-sensitive tissue: from health to disease and Glucose Transport in Adipose Tissue: Novel Insights into the Pathogenesis of Insulin Resistance

摘要

Take-Home Message: Insulin resistance (IR) is one of the hallmarks of equine metabolic syndrome and is the most common metabolic predisposition for laminitis in horses. It is characterized by the impaired ability of insulin to stimulate glucose disposal into insulin-sensitive tissues, namely muscle and adipose tissue. Glucose uptake is the rate-limiting step and is regulated by a family of proteins, the glucose transporters (GLUT). The functional capability of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter GLUT4 is impaired in muscle and adipose tissue during naturally-occurring IR in horses. Therefore, these insulin-responsive glucose transporters constitute a major pathogenic factor and potential therapeutic targets for equine patients affected by IR.