CD36 deficiency associated with insulin resistance

K Miyaoka, T Kuwasako, K Hirano, S Nozaki… - The Lancet, 2001 - thelancet.com
K Miyaoka, T Kuwasako, K Hirano, S Nozaki, S Yamashita, Y Matsuzawa
The Lancet, 2001thelancet.com
No major genes responsible for insulin resistance have yet been identified. CD36 is a
multifunctional receptor, which plays a part in mediating intracellular signalling as well as in
taking up biologically active substances such as long-chain fatty acids. We looked for insulin
resistance in genetic CD36 deficiency, which is common in Asian and African populations.
The euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique showed insulin resistance in the five
CD36–deficient people tested. We conclude that CD36 could be responsible for insulin …
Summary
No major genes responsible for insulin resistance have yet been identified. CD36 is a multifunctional receptor, which plays a part in mediating intracellular signalling as well as in taking up biologically active substances such as long-chain fatty acids. We looked for insulin resistance in genetic CD36 deficiency, which is common in Asian and African populations. The euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique showed insulin resistance in the five CD36–deficient people tested. We conclude that CD36 could be responsible for insulin resistance. The molecular basis for multiple risk-factor-clustering syndromes such as syndrome X1 is unknown. Insulin resistance is the major phenotype in these syndromes,1 but we have found that accumulation of visceral fat is another phenotype and have proposed the concept of "visceral fat syndrome".2 Some research suggests that the murine homologue of CD36—-fatty-acid transporter (FAT)—could be related to insulin resistance.3 Genetic CD36 deficiency is common in Asian and African populations, and was first described in 1990.4 We have since found three genetic mutations that cause the disorder. CD36 is one of the major receptors for oxidised low-density lipoproteins on macrophages, and metabolism of long chain fatty acids is altered in people with CD36 deficiency. We aimed to find out whether human deficiency of this molecule is associated with insulin resistance.
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