The hormone resistin links obesity to diabetes

Claire M. Steppan, Shannon T. Bailey, Savitha Bhat, Elizabeth J. Brown, Ronadip R. Banerjee, Christopher M. Wright, Hiralben R. Patel, Rexford S. Ahima and Mitchell A. Lazar ()
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Claire M. Steppan: Diabetes, and Metabolism, and The Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Shannon T. Bailey: Diabetes, and Metabolism, and The Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Savitha Bhat: Diabetes, and Metabolism, and The Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Elizabeth J. Brown: Diabetes, and Metabolism, and The Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Ronadip R. Banerjee: Diabetes, and Metabolism, and The Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Christopher M. Wright: Diabetes, and Metabolism, and The Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Hiralben R. Patel: Diabetes, and Metabolism, and The Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Rexford S. Ahima: Diabetes, and Metabolism, and The Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Mitchell A. Lazar: Diabetes, and Metabolism, and The Penn Diabetes Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Nature, 2001, vol. 409, issue 6818, 307-312

Abstract: Abstract Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that leads to complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage. Type 2 diabetes, characterized by target-tissue resistance to insulin, is epidemic in industrialized societies and is strongly associated with obesity; however, the mechanism by which increased adiposity causes insulin resistance is unclear. Here we show that adipocytes secrete a unique signalling molecule, which we have named resistin (for resistance to insulin). Circulating resistin levels are decreased by the anti-diabetic drug rosiglitazone, and increased in diet-induced and genetic forms of obesity. Administration of anti-resistin antibody improves blood sugar and insulin action in mice with diet-induced obesity. Moreover, treatment of normal mice with recombinant resistin impairs glucose tolerance and insulin action. Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by adipocytes is enhanced by neutralization of resistin and is reduced by resistin treatment. Resistin is thus a hormone that potentially links obesity to diabetes.

Date: 2001
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DOI: 10.1038/35053000

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