S. Korean scientists find 'trigger mechanism' for diabetes

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, March 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korean scientists announced Wednesday they have
found a mechanism that opens new horizons for the future treatment of insulin
resistance and diabetes.
The discovery, published in the latest online issue of Cell Metabolism, cites the
TORC2 transcription factor and its effect on the LIPIN1 protein as the cause of
the widespread disorder.
The Sungkyunkwan University team, led by Prof. Koo Seung-hoi, said experiments
conducted on specially engineered laboratory mice showed a clear link between
TORC2 and the increase in LIPIN1 that causes insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance refers to a condition in which normal amounts of insulin fail
to facilitate an insulin response, leading to diabetes.
Scientists also said that if LIPIN1 is suppressed, insulin resistance
deteriorates, allowing the body to respond normally to the hormone.
Koo, a molecular cell biologist, said the team is currently in the process of
screening candidate materials that can regulate TORC2. They are also planning to
conduct more tests on animals and humans.
In the United States alone, an estimated 12 million people have diabetes, and 41
million people show pre-diabetes symptoms. Meanwhile, South Korean health
authorities said up to 8 percent of the total South Korean population, or 7.2
million people, may become diabetic by 2030.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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