Hema Viswambharan
University of Leeds, UK
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Diabetes Metab
Type 2 diabetes is one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease. Insulin stimulates the generation of anti-atherosclerotic signaling molecule like Nitric Oxide (NO). The effects of increasing or decreasing insulin sensitivity, specifically on the endothelium due to the bioavailability of NO and vascular function, has not been widely investigated. We studied different models of insulin sensitivity and its effects in mediating atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. Different experimental models of insulin resistance at a whole-body level and specific to the endothelium demonstrated that insulin resistance eventually leads to an increase in generation of reactive oxygen species and accelerated atherosclerosis via the insulin receptor signaling pathways and these subjected mice have also demonstrated impaired acetylcholine-induced aortic relaxation. This impairment could be reversed by NADPH oxidase inhibitors, suggesting a role of reactive oxygen species in mediating insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction.
Email: H.Viswambharan@leeds.ac.uk
