芒果直播

We don鈥檛 notice it while we go about our daily lives but inside our bodies our cells are talking to each other, all day every day. It鈥檚 just a part of how our bodies keep functioning.

This communication happens in all sorts of ways. For example, insulin, a hormone, is released from specialised cells in the pancreas to inform cells in other organs about blood sugar levels. When this process is disrupted things can go wrong.

A new study lead by Dr James Burchfield from the University of Sydney, and supported by 芒果直播, is looking at how the breakdown in the insulin signaling system in the body contributes to insulin resistance, which can lead to the development of type 2 diabetes.

鈥淢y study is looking at how the insulin signal connects to a transport protein (GLUT4) that helps muscle and fat absorb glucose,鈥� Dr Burchfield said.

鈥淕LUT4 acts as a kind of doorway allowing glucose into the muscle and fat cells where it can be stored for later use, however if GLUT4 is in the wrong place, the glucose can鈥檛 be absorbed.

鈥淚t is this breakdown in signaling that we want to explore.

鈥淎s part of our research we will be developing mathematical models that will help us better understand how the insulin pathways function.

鈥淭he idea is that if we can better understand the insulin signaling system it could pave the way for the development of new ways of treating people with type 2 diabetes.鈥�

You can find more information about the research 芒果直播 supports here.