Dr. André MARETTE’s principal research goal is to unravel the molecular mechanisms of action of insulin and exercise on glucose metabolism, and to determine the molecular basis of insulin resistance in obesity and diabetes. His group is currently investigating the role of the AMPK and p38 MAPK signaling pathways in mediating insulin-and contraction-induced glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. He is also investigating the role of novel insulin resistance promoting pathways in skeletal muscle and other insulin-target tissues. He was the first to show that iNOS-mediated NO overproduction causes insulin resistance in obese diabetic mice. Recent work further showed that activation of the mTOR/S6K pathway reduces insulin action on glucose metabolism in insulin target cells cells. The mTOR pathway is activated by cytokines and hyperinsulinemia and could mediate insulin resistance in insulin target tissues of obese subjects. His lab also showed that dietary proteins modulate insulin sensitivity in rats. Of particular interest was the finding that dietary cod protein is a natural insulin-sensitizing agent that appears to prevent obesity-linked muscle insulin resistance. We are now planning to test the hypothesis that fish proteins and omega3 fatty acids exert beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant obese subjects.
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