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Ways to improve type 2 diabetes treatments under investigation

Date:
June 23, 2014
Source:
Boston University Medical Center
Summary:
A better understanding of how the transcription factor Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARgamma) works is critical to find new ways to improve medications to treat type 2 diabetes. Drugs that activate PPARgamma, called thiazolidinediones, have long been regarded as a treatment for type 2 diabetes based on their anti-inflammatory and potent insulin-sensitizing activity.
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A better understanding of how the transcription factor Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARgamma) works is critical to find new ways to improve medications to treat type 2 diabetes. Drugs that activate PPARgamma, called thiazolidinediones (TZDs), have long been regarded as a treatment for type 2 diabetes based on their anti-inflammatory and potent insulin-sensitizing activity. When taken orally, TZDs help decrease insulin resistance. However, most medications in that class have now been withdrawn from the market, or severely limited in their usage, given their dangerous side effects, which include weight gain, water retention and heart failure.

One promising approach to target PPARgamma to treat the issues related to type 2 diabetes is to dissect the regulatory strategies that control different subsets of PPARgamma target genes in cells. The ultimate goal would be to target the "negative" side of PPARgamma activity without impacting on the "good" ones.

A recent study led by BUSM researchers, published in Cell Reports, identifies one such strategy regulating fat tissue activity and PPARgamma in adipose cells. It is based on a group of cellular factors that bind to DNA and help PPARgamma in the regulation of a specific subset of target genes, including enzymes important for the mobilization of lipids.

"There is a great need to develop new treatments for people with type 2 diabetes," said Valentina Perissi, PhD, assistant professor of biochemistry at BUSM and the study's corresponding author. "Targeting PPARgamma still represents a powerful approach, however we need to further improve our understanding of PPARgamma function and how its activity is regulated in normal cells in order develop more effective treatments."


Story Source:

Materials provided by Boston University Medical Center. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. M. Dafne Cardamone, Bogdan Tanasa, Michelle Chan, Carly T. Cederquist, Jaclyn Andricovich, Michael G. Rosenfeld, Valentina Perissi. GPS2/KDM4A Pioneering Activity Regulates Promoter-Specific Recruitment of PPARγ. Cell Reports, 2014; DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.05.041

Cite This Page:

Boston University Medical Center. "Ways to improve type 2 diabetes treatments under investigation." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 23 June 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140623131203.htm>.
Boston University Medical Center. (2014, June 23). Ways to improve type 2 diabetes treatments under investigation. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140623131203.htm
Boston University Medical Center. "Ways to improve type 2 diabetes treatments under investigation." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140623131203.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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