Biomaterial Database

Mechanisms linking diabetes mellitus to the development of atherosclerosis: a role for endoplasmic reticulum stress and glycogen synthase kinase-3. 2006

Lindsie A Robertson, and Anna J Kim, and Geoff H Werstuck

Department of Biochemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Recent decades have seen a significant increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus. The number of individuals with diabetes is projected to reach 300 million by the year 2025. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, renal failure, lower limb amputation, and an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD)--a leading cause of death in Western society. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which diabetes mellitus promotes atherosclerosis is essential to developing methods to treat and prevent diabetes-associated CVD. This review summarizes our current knowledge of the mechanisms by which diabetes may promote atherogenesis and specifically focuses on a novel pathway linking these 2 conditions. We hypothesize that the accumulation of intracellular glucosamine observed in conditions of chronic hyperglycaemia may promote atherogenesis via a mechanism involving dysregulated protein folding, activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and increased glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 activity. The identification of this novel mechanism provides a promising hypothesis and multiple new targets for potential therapeutic intervention in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and accelerated atherosclerosis.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003920	Diabetes Mellitus	A heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by HYPERGLYCEMIA and GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE.
D004721	Endoplasmic Reticulum	A system of cisternae in the CYTOPLASM of many cells. In places the endoplasmic reticulum is continuous with the plasma membrane (CELL MEMBRANE) or outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. If the outer surfaces of the endoplasmic reticulum membranes are coated with ribosomes, the endoplasmic reticulum is said to be rough-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, ROUGH); otherwise it is said to be smooth-surfaced (ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, SMOOTH). (King & Stansfield, A Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed)	Ergastoplasm,Reticulum, Endoplasmic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006943	Hyperglycemia	Abnormally high BLOOD GLUCOSE level.	Postprandial Hyperglycemia,Hyperglycemia, Postprandial,Hyperglycemias,Hyperglycemias, Postprandial,Postprandial Hyperglycemias
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D047428	Protein Kinase Inhibitors	Agents that inhibit PROTEIN KINASES.	Protein Kinase Inhibitor,Inhibitor, Protein Kinase,Inhibitors, Protein Kinase,Kinase Inhibitor, Protein,Kinase Inhibitors, Protein
D048909	Diabetes Complications	Conditions or pathological processes associated with the disease of diabetes mellitus. Due to the impaired control of BLOOD GLUCOSE level in diabetic patients, pathological processes develop in numerous tissues and organs including the EYE, the KIDNEY, the BLOOD VESSELS, and the NERVE TISSUE.	Complications of Diabetes Mellitus,Diabetes-Related Complications,Diabetic Complications,Diabetes Complication,Diabetes Mellitus Complication,Diabetes Mellitus Complications,Diabetes Related Complications,Diabetes-Related Complication,Diabetic Complication
D050197	Atherosclerosis	A thickening and loss of elasticity of the walls of ARTERIES that occurs with formation of ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES within the ARTERIAL INTIMA.	Atherogenesis,Atherogeneses,Atheroscleroses
D038362	Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3	A glycogen synthase kinase that was originally described as a key enzyme involved in glycogen metabolism. It regulates a diverse array of functions such as CELL DIVISION, microtubule function and APOPTOSIS.	GSK-3,gsk-3 Gene Product