Arsenic-induced alteration in the expression of genes related to type 2 diabetes mellitus

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 2007 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2007.08.019· OSTI ID:21077859

Diaz-Villasenor, Andrea ^[1]; Burns, Anna L ^[1]; Hiriart, Marcia ^[2]; Cebrian, Mariano E ^[3]; Ostrosky-Wegman, Patricia ^[1]

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1. Department of Genomic Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Circuito Escolar, Cd. Universitaria, Coyoacan 04510 Mexico, DF (Mexico)
2. Department of Biophysics, Instituto de Fisiologia Celular, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Mexico)
3. Seccion Externa de Toxicologia, CINVESTAV, IPN (Mexico)

Chronic exposure to high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water is associated with an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The present revision focuses on the effect of arsenic on tissues that participate directly in glucose homeostasis, integrating the most important published information about the impairment of the expression of genes related to type 2 diabetes by arsenic as one of the possible mechanisms by which it leads to the disease. Many factors are involved in the manner in which arsenic contributes to the occurrence of diabetes. The reviewed studies suggest that arsenic might increase the risk for type 2 diabetes via multiple mechanisms, affecting a cluster of regulated events, which in conjunction trigger the disease. Arsenic affects insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissue by modifying the expression of genes involved in insulin resistance and shifting away cells from differentiation to the proliferation pathway. In the liver arsenic disturbs glucose production, whereas in pancreatic beta-cells arsenic decreases insulin synthesis and secretion and reduces the expression of antioxidant enzymes. The consequences of these changes in gene expression include the reduction of insulin secretion, induction of oxidative stress in the pancreas, alteration of gluconeogenesis, abnormal proliferation and differentiation pattern of muscle and adipocytes as well as peripheral insulin resistance.

• OSTI ID: 21077859
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Journal Name: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 225; ISSN TXAPA9; ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
ANTIOXIDANTS
ARSENIC
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DIABETES MELLITUS
DRINKING WATER
ENZYMES
GENES
GLUCOSE
HOMEOSTASIS
INSULIN
LIVER
OXIDATION
PANCREAS
SECRETION