Ageing and Diabetes: the Role of Nutrition and Leptin

• Research unit: COST
• Project number: C02.0097

Key words (English)

Ageing; insulin signaling; oxidative stress; diabetes mellitus

Research programs (English)

COST-Action B17 - Insulin Resistance, Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly

Short description (English)

The general aim of this project is to explore the metabolic and signal transduction changes in a physiological model of insulin and leptin resistance: high-fat induced obesity in mice. These mice show accelerated development of complications characteristic of elderly people. This model allows us to explore the processes linking insulin resistance and ageing and asses the role of nutrition and leptin in them.

Partners and International Organizations (English)

A, B, CZ, DK, F, D, GR, H, IRL, IL, I, LT, L, NL, N, PL, RO, SK, SI, E, S, CH, GB

Abstract (English)

Oxidative stress is one of the major element leading to diabetic complications. The importance of reactive oxigen species (ROS) was underlined by experiments showing that the elimination of a redox sensitive transcription factor, NF-KB protects against obesity related insulin resistance. Our two major projects focus on two different aspects of modifying NF-KB signaling. In one hand we examine the role of NOX4, a ROS producing enzyme in insulin signaling and the development of diabetic complications. On the other hand we examine the Stat6-mediated signaling, a transcription factor, that has been shown to modify NF--KB activation.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: COST-DB of the State Secretariat for Education and Research Hallwylstrasse 4 CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland Tel. [phone] Swiss Project-Number: C02.0097