<p><br />A new study has revealed that fat cells release a protein, called pigment epithelium-derived factor, that makes muscle and liver ignore insulin, triggering a chain of events and interactions that lead to development of Type 2 diabetes.</p>.<p>Prof Matthew Watt of Monash University, who led the team, said: "When PEDF is released into the bloodstream, it causes the muscle and liver to become desensitised to insulin. The pancreas then produces more insulin to counteract these negative effects.</p>.<p>"This insulin release causes the pancreas to become overworked, eventually slowing or stopping insulin release from the pancreas, leading to Type 2 diabetes.</p>.<p>"It appears that the more fat tissue a person has the less sensitive they become to insulin. Therefore a greater amount of insulin is required to maintain the body's regulation of blood-glucose.</p>.<p>"Our research was able to show that increasing PEDF not only causes Type 2 diabetes like complications but that blocking PEDF reverses these effects. The body again returned to being insulin-sensitive and therefore did not need excess insulin to remain regulated." </p>.<p> <br />According to the scientists, identifying the link is a significant breakthrough in explaining the reasons why obesity triggers the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.</p>.<p>"Until now scientists knew there was a very clear pattern and had strong suspicions that a link existed between the two conditions, but our understanding of the chain of events caused by the release of PEDF shows a causal link.</p>.<p>"Type 2 diabetes patients will benefit knowing the two conditions are linked. We already know that weight-loss generally improves the management of blood glucose levels in diabetes patients.</p>.<p>"Researchers can now move forward knowing this link exists and we can begin to design new drugs to improve the treatment of Type 2 diabetes," Prof Watt said.</p>.<p> The findings are published in the latest edition of the 'Cell Metabolism' journal.</p>
<p><br />A new study has revealed that fat cells release a protein, called pigment epithelium-derived factor, that makes muscle and liver ignore insulin, triggering a chain of events and interactions that lead to development of Type 2 diabetes.</p>.<p>Prof Matthew Watt of Monash University, who led the team, said: "When PEDF is released into the bloodstream, it causes the muscle and liver to become desensitised to insulin. The pancreas then produces more insulin to counteract these negative effects.</p>.<p>"This insulin release causes the pancreas to become overworked, eventually slowing or stopping insulin release from the pancreas, leading to Type 2 diabetes.</p>.<p>"It appears that the more fat tissue a person has the less sensitive they become to insulin. Therefore a greater amount of insulin is required to maintain the body's regulation of blood-glucose.</p>.<p>"Our research was able to show that increasing PEDF not only causes Type 2 diabetes like complications but that blocking PEDF reverses these effects. The body again returned to being insulin-sensitive and therefore did not need excess insulin to remain regulated." </p>.<p> <br />According to the scientists, identifying the link is a significant breakthrough in explaining the reasons why obesity triggers the onset of Type 2 Diabetes.</p>.<p>"Until now scientists knew there was a very clear pattern and had strong suspicions that a link existed between the two conditions, but our understanding of the chain of events caused by the release of PEDF shows a causal link.</p>.<p>"Type 2 diabetes patients will benefit knowing the two conditions are linked. We already know that weight-loss generally improves the management of blood glucose levels in diabetes patients.</p>.<p>"Researchers can now move forward knowing this link exists and we can begin to design new drugs to improve the treatment of Type 2 diabetes," Prof Watt said.</p>.<p> The findings are published in the latest edition of the 'Cell Metabolism' journal.</p>