Examining the muscles of insulin-resistant mice, the scientists found similar boost in the expression of those key genes.

But was this molecular pathway helping to trigger insulin resistance or just showing up at the scene of the crime?

To find out, the scientists next took muscle cells derived from rodents, reduced the expression of STARS and found that glucose uptake climbed in the cells. They then examined the effect of a chemical that inhibits SRF and found that glucose uptake rates increased in both mice and human cells ”and that the effects were greater in cells from patients who were insulin resistant or had type 2 diabetes. Finally, the investigators showed that giving the chemical inhibitor to mice with high glucose levels also boosted glucose uptake in muscles.

"This pathway holds promise as a target for novel diabetes therapies, and it also gives us tools to understand the pathways of progression to diabetes," concludes Dr. Patti.

Source: Joslin Diabetes Center