Diabetes
Ten years ago, it was believed that an increase in IMTGs was responsible for increased insulin resistance. However, the finding that athletes as well as obese individuals have high IMTG levels confounded these findings. It is now believed that it is the IMTG metabolites, such as diacylglycerol and ceramide, which are responsible for the insulin resistance. There are variable results about which of these metabolites is most important. Studies demonstrating the effects of IMTGs, have shown that the mechanism involves the activation of the protein kinase C theta. Protein kinase C theta promotes the phosphorylation of IRS-1, thereby inhibiting the insulin signalling cascade.
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