However, their most striking finding was that the mice that lacked VEGF-B, and that consequently had lower muscular fat uptake, increased the uptake of sugar to the heart. Since insulin resistance and type II diabetes in humans are characterised by high glucose levels and the reduced uptake of sugar to the muscles, it is hoped that these results can one day be developed into new treatments for several metabolic diseases, including type II diabetes.

"There's a well-known correlation between fat accumulation in muscle tissue and insulin resistance and adult diabetes," says Dr Eriksson. "We are now making rigorous efforts to examine how we can affect insulin signalling and reduce the level of blood glucose in diabetic mice by blocking VEGF-B signalling."

Apart from Dr Eriksson's research team at Karolinska Institutet, the study involved researchers from Uppsala and Gothenburg universities, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital and the University of Kuopio, Finland. Dr Eriksson is also associated with the Ludwig Institute for cancer research at Karolinska Institutet.

SOURCE Karolinska Institutet