Lipid-Induced Insulin Resistance Mechanisms: The Link to Inflammation and Type 2 Diabetes.

1. Abstract Insulin Resistance is the leading cause of Type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] onset. It occurs as a result of disturbances in lipid metabolism and increased levels of circulating free fatty acids [FFAs]. FFAs accumulate within the insulin sensitive tissues such as muscle, liver and adipose tissues exacerbating different molecular mechanisms. Increased fatty acid flux has been documented to be strongly associated with insulin resistant states and obesity causing inflammation that eventually causes type 2-diabetes development. FFAs appear to cause this defect in glucose transport by inhibiting insulin –stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 [IRS-1] and IRS-1 associated phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase activity. A number of different metabolic abnormalities may increase intramyocellular or intrahepatic fatty acid metabolites that induce insulin resistance through different cellular mechanisms. The current review point out the link between enhanced FFAs flux and activation of PKC and how it impacts on both the insulin signaling in muscle and liver as shown from our laboratory data and highlighting the involvement of the inflammatory pathways importance. This embarks the importance of measuring the inflammatory biomarkers in clinical settings.