Timothy Connor
Australia
Research Article
Metallothionein 2a Gene Expression is Increased in Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue of Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Author(s): Vanessa Haynes, Timothy Connor, Andre Tchernof, Hubert Vidal and Severine DuboisVanessa Haynes, Timothy Connor, Andre Tchernof, Hubert Vidal and Severine Dubois
Study background: Insulin resistance plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome. Many of the genes and pathways involved have been identified but some remain to be defined. Metallothioneins (Mts) are a family of anti-oxidant proteins and metallothionein 2a (Mt2a) polymorphims have been recently associated with type 2 diabetes and related complications. Our objective was to determine Mt2a gene expression levels in adipose tissues from diabetic patients and determine the effect of Mt treatment on adipocyte insulin sensitivity.
Methods: Samples of subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues from lean, type 2 diabetic and non-diabetic obese patients were analysed using RT-qPCR for Mt2a mRNA abundance. The regulation of Mt2a expression was further studied in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated or not with TNFα (10 ng/ml, 72ô€€ƒh) to indu.. View More»
