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Regulation of Hepatic Metabolism, Recent Advances, and Future Perspectives

  • Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance (M-E Patti, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to provide a brief summary of recent advances in our understanding of liver metabolism. The critical role of the liver in controlling whole-body energy homeostasis makes such understanding crucial to efficiently design new treatments for metabolic syndrome diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Recent Findings

Significant advances have been made regarding our understanding of the direct and indirect effects of insulin on hepatic metabolism and the communication between the liver and other tissues. Moreover, the catabolic functions of glucagon, as well as the importance of hepatic redox status for the regulation of glucose production, are emerging as potential targets to reduce hyperglycemia.

Summary

A resolution to the long-standing question “insulin suppression of hepatic glucose production, direct or indirect effect?” is starting to emerge. New advances in our understanding of important fasting-induced hepatic metabolic fluxes may help design better therapies for T2D.

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Funding

This work was financially supported by the NIH grants (R01DK081418, R01DK089883, and R01DK117655) to P.P, The Chares King Postdoctoral Fellowship to K.S, and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Postdoctoral Fellowship to C.D.J.T.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Av. LC-6219H, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Kfir Sharabi, Clint D. J. Tavares & Pere Puigserver

  2. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Av. LC-6213, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Pere Puigserver

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  1. Kfir Sharabi
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  2. Clint D. J. Tavares
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  3. Pere Puigserver
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Correspondence to Kfir Sharabi or Pere Puigserver.

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Conflict of Interest

Kfir Sharabi and Pere Puigserver have a pending patent to DFCI on selective inhibition of gluconeogenic activity.

Clint D. J. Tavares declares that he has no conflict of interest.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

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Sharabi, K., Tavares, C.D.J. & Puigserver, P. Regulation of Hepatic Metabolism, Recent Advances, and Future Perspectives. Curr Diab Rep 19, 98 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-019-1224-4

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